She lasts four minutes.
And then she falls, and all I can see are arms being pulled back, knives jamming downward, blood on the floor.
So much blood.
“We need to find the others.” Dom’s breathy voice sounds directly by my ear. “Ellie!”
Zane moves to stand in front of me, blocking my view of Kaila.
I pray she’s dead.
I don’t think I could stomach it if she were still alive, gasping in agony as the group literally tears her apart like hungry wolves.
Oh god. I’m going to be sick.
“Ellie.Princesa.” Zane grips my chin, forcing my gaze to land on his. Despite his harsh tone, his eyes are warm. Sad. “We need to find the other four while they’re distracted.”
“Don’t let her sacrifice be in vain,” Beckett adds, sounding choked up.
And I realize that he’s right. Kaila had to know she wouldn’t survive this. Yet…yet she remained behind. Allowed herself to be murdered.
To give the others more time to run and hide?
She might just be the bravest person in the world.
“You’re right,” I tell them, my voice hoarse. “We need to go. Now.”
I grip first Dom’s hand and then Beckett’s. Together, we move toward the twisting hallway.
Just before we enter it, however, I feel a pair of eyes grazing the back of my neck.
I turn to see The Divine One’s masked face swiveled in our direction.
There’s no doubt Aria knowsexactlywhat we intend to do—save every last “lamb” from slaughter.
Yet she doesn’t stop us.
I turn away from her and follow my guys into the darkness.
22
RYKER
Agent Larissa Marsha and Agent Timon Jeffries scare the shit out of me.
The two imposing FBI agents seem to innately command respect from everyone in the room. They don’t even see me, yet I can’t seem to look away.
From where I crouch behind a banister, my hood pulled up to cloak my face, I watch the female agent shake hands with Raymond. The man simply nods stoutly.
Then the two agents exit through the front door.
“Did you hear anything they said?”
I don’t startle at the voice coming from directly behind me. I’ve known Landon was there for a while.
I wait for a moment, studying Raymond keenly, watching as the older man scuffs at the floor of the lobby with the toe of his boot. Releasing a sigh—one I see rather than hear—he moves out of sight. Only when I’m sure he won’t overhear do I turn toward Landon.
“The agents wanted updates on POP. Raymond said he had a few people on the ‘inside’ and will have more information soon.” My upper lip curls away from my teeth. He didn’t clarify that the people on the ‘inside’ are actually his eighteen-year-old niece and three boyfriends. I can’t imagine the FBI would be too happy about that.