Chapter 607

As Bruno topped the massive crocodile on the head, the creature lunged toward Hayden and the others. The pond was already swarming with crocodiles, but now there was a dominant one among them. Even with Hayden, Yara, and Jace working together, they probably couldn’t hold them off. I couldn’t even breathe—I couldn’t bear to watch.

Yara’s sharp scream broke through, and I saw her stabbing at something with everything she had. Hayden grabbed Jace, throwing him toward the shore. Then, he pulled Yara up and, using the crocodiles’ heads as stepping stones, jumped to safety with her. They’d actually made it out of the jaws of death.

Just as I was about to exhale, Bruno’s mocking applause filled the air. His face was eerily calm. “Agent Hart really is extraordinary,” he said, not an ounce of panic in his voice. Before the words even left his mouth, Yara lunged forward, pressing a knife to Bruno’s neck. “If you don’t want to see your boss bleed, let her go!” she yelled, directing her words toward the high platform in the distance. They’d escaped…and now they were trying to save me.

I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of surprise. Yara’s first instinct had been to rescue me. But her threat didn’t work. The people on the platform didn’t move. Bruno wasn’t fazed by the knife at his throat. Instead, he taunted, “It’s useless. They only take orders from me. If I die now, that girl will just hang here and dry out in the sun.”

“Let her go,” Yara barked, pressing the blade harder against his neck, drawing a thin line of blood. Still, Bruno remained unfazed, his gaze cold. He turned to Hayden and said, “The test game is over. Now it’s time to settle things between us.”

Hayden’s face was unreadable as he answered, “Fine. I’ll settle it with you. Let the others go.”

“No problem,” Bruno said, too easily, as if he’d been expecting this. Yara exchanged a look with Hayden before turning back to Bruno. “Well? Let her go already.”

Bruno smirked, tilting his neck. “Move that knife away from me. I can’t stand people pointing blades at me.” He made a gesture, and suddenly, I was dropping again. This time, I was so close to the water that my feet dipped into it. I saw a swarm of crocodiles surging toward me.

“Ah!” I screamed, terrified. But before they could reach me, I was yanked back up, Hayden’s angry shout echoing, “Had enough of your games yet?” Bruno laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. Then, slowly, I was lowered back down to the ground.

Yara rushed over, cutting my ropes and helping me up. She nodded at Hayden. “Let them go,” Hayden ordered, his voice firm. Bruno didn’t reply. I shook off Yara’s support and made my way to Jace. He was hurt, badly, especially his arm. His clothes were torn, and blood was still pouring out. He’d bled for me…. Neither of us could afford to lose too much blood.

“We need to get you to a hospital,” I said, trying to steady him. Hayden turned to Yara. “You leave, too.”

“I’m not going. I’ll stay here with you,” Yara replied, like she and Hayden were in this together, no matter what.

I felt numb. I knew I couldn’t help by sticking around. I helped Jace to the exit, but as we moved, Bruno chuckled behind us. “Snooker girl, don’t you want to stay and see how we settle this?”

I didn’t care. I didn’t want to watch—wasn’t interested in their twisted game.