Merciless Saints (St. Monarch's Academy 1)

“This is becoming absurd,” I mutter as I shove a bag against his chest. I take my own and begin to load my selection of weapons and ammo while my temper flares to life.

DAMIEN

As soon as we have what we’ll need for the attack, I shrug the backpack over my shoulder and grab hold of Winter. I pull her behind me as I walk to Luca.

“Where’s the restroom?” I ask him.

“Down the hall, first door on the right.”

I nod at him as I leave the group and drag Winter to the restroom. I shove her inside, and as soon as I shut the door behind us, she snaps, “What the hell, Damien?”

I try to breathe through the fear clawing at my heart. The emotion is foreign and overwhelming.

What was I thinking? God. If something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.

Winter inches closer to me, and I shake my head. She reaches up and framing my jaw with her palms, she says, “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

“I can’t focus with you here,” I admit the words I never thought would cross my lips. It’s the one thing I could always pride myself on. Having focus. Going in, getting the job done, and getting out.

Understanding settles in her eyes. “Remember the laser game?”

I nod.

“No one shot me.”

“That was a fucking game,” I growl.

“At the hanger. That wasn’t a game. I killed three men and didn’t get myself shot, and I was beside myself. I’m focused now. You need to believe in my abilities, Damien.”

My eyes dart over the woman who’s reduced me to a worrying mess.

She’s small.

She’s fast.

Winter can handle a gun.

She doesn’t miss a target.

My breaths slow down, and the worry retreats slightly.

Taking hold of Winter, I pull her against my chest and hold her tightly. “I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t,” she murmurs.

I pull back and stare down at her.

So this is love? Worrying every second of every day that I might lose her? Threatening every man that dares to look at her? Fighting her into submission? Fearing the day I won’t be there to protect her?

“I don’t want to love you so much,” I admit.

Winter frowns at me.

“It’s driving me insane.”

She lifts herself on her toes and presses a tender kiss to my mouth.

“That’s not helping at all,” I grumble at her.

She lets out a soft burst of laughter as she presses another kiss to my lips, then she murmurs, “Isn’t that what obsession is? It drives us insane for each other, so we’re willing to do the unthinkable for the other person.”

I lift my hand to her face and brush my fingers over her soft skin. “I’ll burn the world down for you if that’s what it takes to keep you safe.”

A beautiful smile lifts her lips. “I’m obsessed with you too, Damien.”

“Don’t leave my side again. I can’t think straight if you’re not next to me.”

She nods quickly. “I won’t. I promise.”

I stare deep into her eyes, and seeing the love she feels for me, calms the storm in my chest.

“Are you ready?” Winter asks.

I nod and kiss her one more time before we leave the restroom.

We return to the group, and Demitri comes to stand next to me. “Should I worry?”

I shake my head as I meet my brother’s eyes. “I’m ready.”

Demitri hands us earpieces. “So we can communicate.”

We each take one and place it in our ears, and then we shake Luca’s hand. As we leave, he mutters, “Good luck.”

With our weapons, we take two SUVs, splitting into groups. I climb in behind the steering wheel and start the engine. As I follow after Demitri, Winter murmurs, “This is it.” Excitement flushes her cheeks. “I get to watch them all die.”

I place my hand on her thigh and give it a squeeze before returning it to the steering wheel.

Under the cover of darkness, we reach the road where we have to split up.

Demitri’s voice comes over the earpiece, “Let one of the men stay with the car and keep a lookout for reinforcements or the police. Be safe.”

“You too,” I murmur, and then I turn up the road that will take us to the back of the villa.

I park the car a couple of meters from the house, and getting out, I scan the area for any kind of threat. I sling the submachine gun over my shoulder and keep the Heckler and Koch in my hand as I walk around the car. Winter shrugs on her backpack, also holding her gun ready for use.

“Sergei, stay with the car,” I order.

He nods and climbs in behind the steering wheel.

I take a deep breath, and then I lead my group toward the wall. I use one of the men to hoist myself up the wall and then reach down for Winter. Her fingers fold around mine, and I pull her quickly up. I wait for her to climb over and then jump after her. We land in crouching positions and wait for the other two to join us.