I grip the gun tighter. “Saint knows that maze better than Sinner. If anyone has the upper hand, it’s him.”
A shot rings out from inside the maze, followed by shouting. “I’m going in. Stay here in case we need help.” I wish I had my cell with me, but it’s sitting in my purse back at the table.
“Do you even know where you’re going?” He holds on to my waist, not wanting to let me go after them.
“I went over the plans with the gardener.” I tap my temple. “It’s memorized in here.” I stretch up, pecking his lips. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“I’ll always worry.” He kisses me hard. “And I’m not letting you go in there by yourself. We’ll find Saint together.”
I don’t bother arguing, because there’s no time to waste.
We run toward the maze, and Caz stops me at the entrance. “That motherfucker can’t leave here alive today.” His eyes drill into mine, and I nod, already realizing that truth.
The initial plan had been to get Sinner locked up. To ensure justice was served, but that’s not going to happen now. Sinner would never make it to trial. Randall or the head of Homeland Security or some other corrupt bastard within the very organizations supposed to champion justice would ensure he “committed suicide” or had an unfortunate accident before he ever stepped foot in a courtroom.
That bastard deserves to die at our hands—not anyone else’s.
“Stay down and stay behind me,” I whisper as we enter the maze.
Working off gut instinct, I veer left, hoping my memory is serving me well and that I’m heading in the direction of the place Galen loves most. He took me here that one time when we were kids, explaining how it was his favorite part of the maze because it had a wooden bench, a small water feature, and a stone toy chest his grandma had installed just for him and his sister. Galen and Saint were practically joined at the hip growing up, so if Saint is hiding anywhere in here, staking out his dad, I’d bet my left tit he’s there.
My arm whips out, holding Caz back when voices tickle my eardrums up ahead.
“Drop it, or I’ll kill you right now,” Sinner says, raising all the hairs on my arms.
I point right to Caz, cautiously slithering around the other side of the neat shrubbery so we can scope out the scene.
“You won’t get away with this,” Saint spits out. “The place is crawling with Feds, DEA, and VERO.”
“You think I haven’t planned for this day?” Sinner chuckles. “I’ve known this day would come, and no crooked motherfucker is taking me out. You’ll like where we’re going. The ocean is crystal clear, the sky a cloudless blue, and there’s untapped pussy for the taking.”
“You’re insane. You won’t make it out of this house alive.”
Slowly, I poke my head around the corner, sucking in a sharp breath when I see the predicament Saint is in. Sinner has him in a firm headlock with a knife at his jugular.
“You have such little faith,” Sinner says, moving them forward a few steps. “I have a crew waiting at the back of the property and a private jet being fueled at a private airfield as we speak.”
“Then leave me here and go,” Saint says.
Sinner chuckles. “I’m going nowhere without you, son. Contrary to what you think, I love you.”
This is such bullshit. Sinner must be bluffing, unless Randall tipped him off, but that doesn’t make sense. It’s probably a ruse to attempt to get Saint to leave with him.
“What a crock of shit,” Caz whispers, mirroring my thoughts. I nod while computing solutions. I can’t shoot Sinner from this angle without risking Saint, but if we move around and he spots us, he could kill Saint before I get to end him.
“Well, I don’t love you.” Saint slams his head back into his father’s skull while simultaneously elbowing him in the ribs. It’s enough to free him from Sinner’s hold, and it’s most likely our only opportunity.
I race toward them. “Get down,” I roar, raising my gun. Saint dives on the ground as Sinner grabs at him, and I take my shot. The bullet lodges in Sinner’s shoulder, and an animalistic howl rips from his mouth. Stalking toward him, I plant another bullet in his other shoulder and one in his knee. He drops to the ground, screaming in agony, as Caz rushes to Saint, helping him stand. I press down on Sinner’s hand to loosen his hold on his knife, but he’s already dropped it somewhere. Bones crunch under my foot, and Sinner roars, rolling on his side and clutching his knee.
I offer the gun to Saint, and we stare at one another. The kill shot belongs to my love, but I’ll understand if he doesn’t want to do it.
The choice is his.
Caz stomps on Sinner’s ankle, and more screams litter the air.
The sound of approaching footfalls increases the urgency.
It’s now or never.
Saint curls his fingers around the gun, and I nod. Without hesitation, and without uttering a single word, he aims the gun at his father’s head and pulls the trigger.
The screams instantly stop. Sinner’s eyes glaze over as his chest heaves his last breath, and his body stops fighting. Silence descends, blotting out all other sounds.
It’s a profound moment.
As if a calming wave has blanketed the Earth, quieting all the noise, rolling over any resistance in its path, soothing the land and restoring peace.
I hook my fingers in Saint’s, squeezing his hand, as we stare at the motionless body of the man who gave him life.
“Jesus.” Galen slams to a halt, his eyes instantly meeting Saint’s. Theo materializes beside him with Howie, Diesel, and Bry taking up the rear. We stand around Sinner’s lifeless body, staring at a man we all hated, as the realization sinks in.
He’s dead.
And we’re free.
A shuddering breath leaves me as relief floods my system. “Thank fuck, you’re all okay.”
“You killed him,” Diesel asks, glancing between Saint and me.
I nod. “We did. He had to die.”
Now it’s Diesel’s turn to nod.
“I hope he’s rotting in hell,” Galen says, viciously kicking his corpse a couple times.
“Amen to that,” Howie adds, crouching over him and punching him repeatedly in the face.
“Where were you?” I ask Diesel.
His eyes roam me from head to toe, checking I’m intact. “Dealing with a snake.”
“Randall?”
Diesel bobs his head.
“You knew he was dirty?”
“Not until recently. I—”
“This’ll have to wait,” Galen says, cutting across us. He eyeballs me with a solemn expression. “Our moms have been taken to the hospital in an ambulance. I said we’d follow.”
“Okay.” I move to walk off, but Galen steps in front of me.
“Hang on. I need to check something first.” Taking my hand, he strides with purpose toward the stone box nestled alongside the freshly painted wooden bench with Theo following suit. My brows pucker, and I throw a look at Theo. His shoulders lift, his puzzled face conveying he knows as much as me.
Galen opens the lid, and expletives rip through the air.
“What is it?” Saint asks, staying where he is while Diesel, Howie, and Caz all step forward to join us.