A hand clamped over my mouth and I struggled as I was pulled out of the tunnel against my will. I heard the vent slide back into place behind me and I tried to scream into the palm covering my lips.
“Quiet, Kira. We have to get you out of here,” Zaavyr’s voice rang in my head.
They’d come to rescue me. Or to damn me to hell.
My heart shattered into a million little pieces.
Jax ripped the file from my arms and took a lighter from his pocket. He lit the contents on fire. I stared at him. He hadn’t even looked at what was inside.
He met my eyes.
He had known what it said all along.
I watched as the papers burned, the fire lighting quick, the folder burning to a bundle of ashes in a matter of seconds.
Aedan put his palm forward, waiting for me. I put the knife in his hand.
My mind raced. The gift with the knife. It was from Zaavyr. Nadia with the folder. The loose screws in the vents. A series of events like that was unlikely to be a coincidence.
I met each one of their eyes in turn.
Zaavyr. Aedan. Coltan. And then Jax.
Jax smiled gently, his eyes telling me everything.
They’d planned the whole thing. They’d known I would kill him.
“Is he dead?” Jax ventured, searching my gaze, recognizing my wet hair, my damp skin. I probably should have dried myself off more before I ran.
I paused before answering. I analyzed their gazes, saw their hope, not anger or judgement as I had expected.
“Yes.”
“Good fucking riddance to that asshole,” Aedan replied, and I breathed a soft sigh of relief.
They had trusted me, sent me on a mission unawares.
“Great job, little rebel,” Coltan said with a grin.
“We knew you could take him,” Zaavyr added.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” Aedan said quietly, his tone emotional.
“Let’s get her back to our apartment. We need to stay quiet until this blows over. She might be implicated, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens next,” Jax said, ushering us forward.
Still in Zaavyr’s arms, I didn’t fight and just allowed them to take me.
Chapter Thirteen
Kira
My Vakarrans rushed to their apartment and the moment they passed the threshold, we all breathed a sigh in relief. I held onto Zaavyr tightly as we entered the bedroom and he deposited me on the bed.
All four of them stared at me, hungry, needy, wanting.
I wanted them too. I wouldn’t deny it now.
Needed their touch to chase away the feeling of Strohass’ grubby fingers on my body.