Page 71 of Sovereign Oaths

But he might not be.

He might be coming to finish his job.

Who’d been his target? The laser hadn’t stayed on one person for long; either they were untrained or hadn’t had a specific target within the box. Ama and Pedro didn’t seem the likely choices. Dias had more than enough people wanting to go after him or his girlfriend.

Fuck.

They’d been too public. His enemies were now hers.

Anyone who wanted to hurt him would simply go for her.

We were too open here. I wanted to get us somewhere secure as quickly as possible, but according to the floor plans I memorized, this was the only exit.

I’d been in far worse situations, but not while protecting so many innocent people. No one but Dias deserved a bullet here.

“Derek!” Em called out as the group began to move forward. My hand went to my hip under my suit coat, ready to draw my gun.

“Go,” I yelled back, hoping it urged everyone to get moving.

Dias was still in the box, doing God knew what with his pathetic excuse for security.

As one mass, we moved out of the VIP area and down the main stairs to an emptying lobby with more space.

Police stood at every exit, waving guests out.

My phone vibrated, and I prayed it was the guys letting us know they were outside. I didn’t have time to check, but I made sure the four of us stayed together as we stepped onto the sidewalk.

Em looked side to side, then pointed and ran toward a waiting sedan.

“Who is that?” Ama asked as I found Marco standing next to the open back door.

“My security,” Em explained as she waved for Ama and Pedro to get in. She slid in after them, and Marco closed the door while I got in the passenger seat.

“Where’s my brother?” Ama cried as Marco pulled away from the curb.

“He never left the box,” I explained from the front seat while checking my phone.

Derek: Where’s Dias?

Javi: With his team, searching the boxes.

“It’s too dangerous! We need to wait for him,” she protested.

I twisted to face her. “He’s with his men. They’re checking the upper floors.”

Pedro gripped her hand. “He’ll be fine. He would want you and Millie out of there.”

She gazed at him with wide eyes and nodded. “Are we going to the house?”

Marco tightened his grip on the wheel. Neither of us wanted to, but it was the only choice. We couldn’t take Pedro and Ama with us to the apartment.

“Yes, we’ll do a sweep when we get there though.”

“I’ll call and get our guards on it,” Ama said before putting her phone to her ear. “It’s me. Is everything okay there?” She paused. “Do another check, inside and out. I want everyone available at their stations. High alert.”

Marco and I shared a look. She was able to give orders like that? She knew what to do? That didn’t seem like something an oblivious sister would calmly execute.

Had we underestimated her?

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