Page 80 of Kill Me Sweetly

Again, I tried to speak but I couldn’t.

“Don’t cry, baby. I got you.”

Was I crying? Just as another guard was racing down the stairs, he spun around, pointed his gun, and shot.

“Gabe, get the keys.” I watched as Shep picked up an ax…what kid had an ax? He lifted it and freed my arms first. I couldn’t keep myself up and fell like a deck of cards.

Fortunately, Shep caught me.

“Got ’em.” Gabe kneeled beside me. “One of these has to be for the shackles.”

“No time. The ax!” Shep held me close. I could smell the twinge of copper on him from the blood, but also the woods, nights by the fire, his cookies.

Metal on metal made me jump. “It’s okay, JJ. Next leg, Gabe.” The sound jarred me.

Shep lifted me, but I couldn’t stand.

“Shep, you have to carry him. His kneecaps…” That was all Gabe said, but I knew what had happened here, knew what they’d seen.

“Get to the red door. We need to get the fuck out of here.”

As gently as Shep held me, every jolt was like nails through my bones. I tried not to cry or scream but when he had to press against the wall to avoid a bullet, I screamed.

“I’m sorry, baby. We’re almost out of here.”

“The door!” I saw where Gabe pointed, and we were so close. He pulled out the keys and was trying each one.

“Hurry,” Shep yelled.

“I don’t know which fucking one.”

I closed the one eye I could and leaned into his chest, hoping they’d get us out of this place. I tried to stay awake, but my body felt done. Before I slipped into the darkness, I prayed I’d wake up one more time to tell Shep I loved him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

SHEP

The minute JJ’sbody went still and limp in my arms, my heart shattered into a million pieces and nothing mattered except getting out of this hellhole and saving him.

When Gabe and I had run down those stairs and the first thing I’d seen was JJ hanging from a wall broken and bleeding, a rage like I’d never felt had taken over.

I’d torn through anything and anyone who’d tried to stop me from getting to my vicious viper.

“Gabe, fucking hurry. He’s slipping.”

Gabe’s eyes widened, and he picked up the pace even though he was already going fast.

“Got it!” The door pushed open and we hurried through, closing it behind us. “Run.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I raced through the sewer as fast as I could, not caring what I was stepping in as I did.

“Look up,” Nick said. “Manholes. If my too-fast research is right, the third one should be far enough off the property and near the vehicle…I hope.”

It was better than what I had, so I’d listen to Nick. I counted, “One, two.” I heard someone go through the red door behind us. “Three!”

Gabe moved in front of me and thankfully, the manhole cover was loose. He lifted it.

“Mason,” I heard Gabe shout. “Shep, give him to me.”

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