Franco’s face blackened. “Je vais la garder en sécurité.” I’ll keep her safe.

My heart stuttered in relief. I trusted Franco as much as I trusted Frederick. As long as Tess was with them, I could keep my mind sharp and find a way to survive—away from her—away from the distraction of trying to keep her from being hurt.

I have to get them to leave.

“Stop speaking in French if you don’t want your little girlfriend’s brains splattered all over the glass you f**ked her against.”

Goddammit, I needed to kill these bastards. And I would, one way or another. In this life or the next. My teeth ached to tear into them. My hands already steamed with phantom blood—their blood. I f**king hated to think of Tess seeing this—especially after everything I’d done to save her.

Stumbling upright, I glowered at the man holding my woman. “Leave her alone.”

There was no denying I deserved this. After all, I’d put more traffickers down while searching for Tess than the worldwide Interpol had in three years, but it didn’t mean I was prepared to pay their price.

What did they expect?

Money? My life? Torture?

If I knew their end goal, I might be better prepared. I’d know which weapon to use. The only positive thing was they’d come for me. Not her.

The man planted a kiss against Tess’s cheek. She jerked away, only to careen back into his arms as he yanked her back. My spine stiffened, every urge inside saying attack. Fucking attack.

The muzzle of another gun bruised the base of my skull. “You’re no longer in the position of control, Mercer.”

My heart cannonballed but I kept my face blank. “Let’s sort this out here and now. You want cash—fine. Take it.”

He laughed, dragging the gun through my hair till he held it in the middle of my forehead. “We don’t want your f**king money. We want something more than that.”

Tess sobbed, fighting her captor. “Leave him alone!”

Tearing my eyes from her, I steeled myself. “And what is that?”

“Your f**king life of course. You’ve been costly to a lot of associates. Your debts are being called. Time to meet the unemployment line.”

Tess screamed, going nuts. She managed to get free, only to slam into another man’s arms. Her face was white, fear taking her limbs hostage in a jittery dance.

Fucking hell. My heart clawed its way out of my chest to go to her. To tell her it would all be okay. At least they hadn’t killed me in front of her. If they meant to take my life, I wanted it as far away from Tess as possible. I didn’t want her to see that. I didn’t want to haunt her for the rest of her days.

“Fine! Let’s go.” Shoving the ass**le away, I strode toward the door—cursing the burn in my leg, doing my best not to limp like a dog about to be put down.

“Where the f**k are you going?” the man yelled.

Stopping, I crossed my arms. Hoping my cocky nonchalant attitude would piss them off. I was still in f**king control. As much as they thought otherwise. “You want me. Fine. I’ll come with you. But not here. Not like this. You leave her alone, and I won’t fight. You can have your f**king vengeance.”

Tess screamed, “No! Q—don’t. You can’t! Don’t leave me.”

My heart hurt worse than the bullet in my leg. Walking away from her would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I wouldn’t put her through anymore. I wouldn’t ruin her mind any more than I already had. I’d done what I needed. She would be okay. In time.

Franco shouted in a ream of French, but I tuned them out. I didn’t need to hear their pleas—this was the only way. Three lives instead of one.

It was a good trade.

My eyes locked with hers. My lungs stopped working at the horror pinching her face. “Pardonne-moi, Tess. Sache que je t'aime jusqu'à la fin des temps et je te retrouverai si ce n’est pas dans cette vie ce sera dans la prochaine.” Forgive me, Tess. Know that I love you till the end of time, and I’ll find you again, if not in this life, then in the next.

Tess’s eyes dried from tears, burning with terrible anger. Her face flushed as she shoved the man away. “Non! Je ne te laisse pas partir. Pas maintenant. Pas après tout!” No! I won’t let you go. Not now. Not after everything!

I wondered if she knew she spoke in French. She was so fierce, her tongue lilting over the language as if she was born to it.

The leader seemed lost for words but the moment I tore my eyes from Tess and opened the door, he leapt into action. Stalking toward me, he pointed at the unconscious man I’d attacked, ordering his troops, “Pick him up. We’re leaving.”

I paused for one last moment before I was shoved out the door—carted away from any happiness I might’ve found.

Please let me see her again.

Tess stood frozen on a sea of white carpet looking part-angel, part-goddess, totally lost and heartbroken.

She shook her head, disbelief bright. “Q—please!”

My heart stayed behind with her—I didn’t need it where I was going.

Au revoir. Goodbye.

The door swung closed.

I might have given in to protect Tess, but I wouldn’t die for nothing.

I would take as many down with me as possible.

I would die with their blood on my tongue.

Chapter Eleven

Intertwined, tangled, knotted forever, our souls will always be twisted together,

our demons, our monsters belong to the other,

Bow to me, I bow to thee, now we are free

It couldn’t be real.

It can’t.

I didn’t believe it.

I don’t!

The instant the door clicked, blocking me from Q, I felt adrift. Broken. Missing the matching piece of my soul.

I couldn’t handle the amputation of something so fundamental. I couldn’t think straight—my mind kept me frozen, replaying the gunshot, the beating, the never ending sentence of horror: Your f**king life of course.

They meant to kill him. He left so I wouldn’t see. He left to protect me. Always protecting me regardless of his own safety.

Rage.

I’d never felt such a complex mix of rage and absolute helplessness. I should run after them! Go!

I gripped my hair, tugging it hard. My heart thundered, shooting agony through my chest. All instincts said to find a weapon and go. But I had to think clearly.