OUR BOND

Hunter's Mark

Noel's POV

"No" he said quietly. "I'll answer you this time but first - what are you doing here, Noel?" I went closer to him, my gaze holding that, I just practically told you why I'm here but okay look.

"I'm here because I have some questions. Questions like why you left, you know, stuff like that " his expression shifted, that sharp focus of his settling on me like a weight.

"I don't care about whatever excuses you've cooked up" I continued, voice steady. "I just want to know why I didn't deserve your transparency, and sort of relieve my fourteen year old self from all the thoughts I won't mention"

Something flickered in his eyes, guilt, regret or whatever emotion his brown eyes were showing. He opened his mouth, breath catching like the words were right there..

"Shut up."

His brows shot up, startled, but I wasn't looking at him anymore. My gaze was fixed on the front door, every muscle in my body tense.

The handle rattled.

Then, with a deafening crack, the door burst inward off its hinges.

I cursed under my breath." Of course" Cyrus was already moving, reaching for the weapon tucked under his shirt, his limp forgotten in the rush.

Three men rushed in first, guns already raised, their movements sharp, trained. Another pair followed close behind, and I didn't need Cyrus to tell me they weren't ameteurs. Dani's men, had to be.

The first shot went off before I could blink.

Cyrus shoved me sideways, both of us diving behind the leather couch as bullets tore into the walls. The sound echoed like thunder in the wide living room, glass shattering with each spray. I pressed my back against the couch, adrenaline sparking through me.

"Well" I muttered, catching Cyrus's eye. "your home security gets an F"

"Now's not the time, Noel" he bit out, returning fire over the couch. Two quick shots, clean, precise but more were pouring in through the broken doorway.

I leaned just enough to spot one creeping low on the left flank. My hand closed around the spare gun Cyrus had shoved in my hands earlier. I hadn't planned on using it, but survival had other plans.

The minute the man popped into view, I squeezed the trigger. He dropped and Cyrus glanced at me, something sharp sparking behind his eyes.

We moved as a unit, him firing right, me covering left. Bullets shredded the couch cushions, wood splintering under the barrage. My ears rang with every crack, but instinct carried me, duck, fire, move.

One tried circling to the back hallway, but Cyrus limped after him, rough but fast, catching him with a hard strike to the throat before putting him down. I covered his retreat, dropping another who thought the stairs would give him an angle.

"Garage" Cyrus barked, jerking his head towards the side door between bursts of fire "If we stay here, we're dead"

"Smartest thing you've said all day" We bolted as one, weaving through the hail of bullets. I caught another graze across my arm, nothing deep, but it fueled the rush pounding through my veins. The garage door was heavier than hell but Cyrus slammed the panel open with his shoulder and dragged me through.

Inside, rows of sleek black cars gleamed under the overhead lights, a billionaire's showroom. "Pick one" I snapped, breathless, as more fire rattled against the walls.

Cyrus threw me a look before hitting the fob on a matte black SUV. The lights blinked alive.

We dived in, barely shutting the doors before bullets clanged against the metal shell. Cyrus fired up the engine, tires screaming as he slammed into reverse and tore out of the garage. The gunmen poured after us, but their shots bounced off the SUV's reinforced plating.