Diamond Kisses (The Jewelry Box #4)

Someone struck my nose, leaving me blind for a moment with excruciating pain. A gush of blood covered my chin and throat.

Staggering to the side, I snatched off my mask and shook my head. Doing my best to stop the flashing lights and light-headedness, I twisted the dagger in my fist. The blade dripped with sweat and scarlet.

Grasping it tighter, I attacked the panting guard who approached me. I sank the knife into his chest just as another whacked the butt of his gun against my temple.

I dropped to one knee.

Another guard punched me for good measure.

Another kicked my calf, trying to topple me.

Pushing upward, I leapt to the side and threw a look at Ily and Peter.

He’d gotten her off the altar, but they stood surrounded by Masters in black velvet robes. “Run!” I growled before launching at the barricade of guards again.

Peter roared and threw himself into the fight.

Ily screamed and followed.

They were swallowed up by the Masters.

Another element of blackness fell over my eyes.

I let loose a guttural groan and ploughed my way through the guards.

Punching, slashing, choking on cries of pain as they beat me, kicked me, broke me. My heart skipped as fists thumped against my back and shoulders. My vision flickered as two struck me in the head.

Agony swelled like the tide crashing against the cave, making everything sluggish and hard.

But I kept fighting.

Kept pushing.

I had to get to Victor.

If I could kill him, the jewels would be safe.

If I killed him, this all ended.

Peter cried out as a Master grabbed him by the throat, and two others took turns punching him. He dropped to his knees, his arms covering his head as they rained abuse on him.

Ily whimpered as she suffered the same fate. A fist to her belly and a kick to her ankle. She fell, landing heavily on wet cave rock.

“No!” I lost myself again. I stabbed another guard. He twisted out of my reach just as I went to gut him. Another kicked my wrist. My fingers opened involuntarily; the diamond-hilted dagger went skittering into the gloom.

Fuck!

No matter.

I reached for the weapon holstered on his belt.

I managed to pull it out.

A gun banged.

It reverberated around the cave, making everyone duck and press their hands to their ears.

It wasn’t me who’d shot.