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I don’t respond and a tense standoff ends with Dante grabbing s me down an entryway on the far end of the hall

I look up over the staircase, praying that Angel’s alright My heart leaps with hope as I catch hiun pointed our way

Before he can fire, though, soel, down to the uards firing up at my fiancé

“No!!!” I kick and screas me into the darkness

The backyard terrace looks like ancient ruins by now The cobblestone is cracked and half the statues are sliced in two In the distance, jungle trees burn The fiery light silhouettes Dante’s bloody figure, as he sits on the edge of a cracked fountain, glaring at ainst his knee

“Is he dead?” the younger Montoya brother asks, when a group of his soldiers co outside to us

“We don’t think so,” one of them says

“Good Set up a peri the balconies Funnel him here, but keep a close watch If he tries to shootirl then him”

“Yes, sir” The men scramble back out

“You’re really going to kill your own brother?” I ask with a sneer My elbows and knees are scraped and burning, s are on fire, my stomach is all twisted in knots, butat a thousand rates per second Angel is here, and he’s going to come rescue me

“No, I’ve changed my mind I think he’ll suffer more if I let him live But first, I need to make sure he never tries to come back for you”

“ What does that mean?”

“Itto make him choose between his own life and yours If he chooses yours, then I’ll let him live Otherwise”

“You’re sick” My stomach lurches at the cruelty

“I’ainst his temple