Page 73 of Come Fill Me

If his brother died, Zeke would hunt Carreon like a crazed man, not caring how reckless his actions were, wanting nothing more than the revenge he’d denied himself for too long. He’d go to Carreon’s stronghold. There, he’d confront the man but wouldn’t get far. Carreon’s lieutenants would capture him. Roberto would gather his pliers, knives, and other instruments of torture. Within minutes, Zeke would pray for death.

“Dammit, open.”

Liz pounded the heels of her hands against the door. She clawed its seams, breaking her nails down to the quick. The pain was instantaneous, searing and deep.Fuck, fuck, fuck.She hopped in place, trying to stop it, her attention shooting from the narrow bed in here to the lone chair, small table, and desk lamp.

She picked the chair up. On a noisy grunt, she swung the damn thing against the wood as hard as possible. Two of the chair’s legs broke, but the freaking door remained intact. Shehadn’t even put a gouge or a scratch in the stupid thing. What in the hell kind of wood was it?

She stood on tiptoes, running her fingers over the top of the jamb, searching for the release. On her knees, she did the same at the bottom seam.

Nothing.

Maybe it was on the sides. No, she’d already checked there. Maybe—

“Stop it,” she ordered herself, rocking in place as adrenaline continued to pump through her body, pushing her to fight, run, do something. “Think.”

There had to be a means of opening the door from the inside; otherwise, there was no way out until someone happened down the hall. She chewed her lower lip, wondering if Zeke’s people used this room to punish the clan’s children, keeping them prisoner until they behaved.

No. That was nuts. She’d seen his clan interacting with the kids. Even with the rowdiest ones, the adults’ chastisements were mild, meant to teach better manners, not instill fear.

There was a way out. All she had to do was find it.

She regarded the bed and then the desk that also served as a nightstand. It was close enough so that anyone lying on the mattress could reach over and turn off the light, casting the room in utter darkness.

A thought rose in Liz’s mind then skittered away, not allowing her to pursue it.

Frowning, she continued to stare at the lamp. There was something about it…something she needed to try. What?

She padded to it, removing the shade as she’d done to Jacob’s lamp. Just as she’d suspected, there was a hunk of stone where the bulb should be, the glowing rock illuminating the room. She didn’t dare touch it, afraid it would turn out and the walls in here wouldn’t light up, casting her into darkness.

She ran her hand down the lamp’s base then up again, stopping at the switch.

On a whim, she turned it. The thing made a small clicking sound. Behind her, the door whooshed, its seal broken.

Liz didn’t pause to celebrate her success. Little by little, she edged past the door to peek into the hall.

Empty.

Bursts of gunfire sounded from the left. She flinched at the sounds even though distance muted them.

How had Carreon’s men found this place and gotten inside?

What in the hell did it matter now? She had to get to Carreon and murder him before Zeke tried. It was the only way to save him, his clan, and her father.

She closed the paneling so Zeke wouldn’t realize she’d escaped then stopped in the middle of the hall, determining her next move. If she was remembering correctly, the tunnel’s entrance was in the opposite direction of where she’d heard the gunfire. All she had to do was retrace the steps Zeke had taken when he brought her up here then follow the same route they’d used upon arriving here in the van.

Down the stairs she ran, not wanting to consider what she’d do if she got to the entrance and the door was closed. Her palm print sure as hell wouldn’t open it. From what Zeke had claimed, not even explosives would do the job.

Be open, please.

The balls of her feet smacked into the stone floor as she bolted down one hall then another, halting abruptly at one of Carreon’s men, his body crumpled against the wall, his throat and chest covered with blood, his eyes staring into eternity.

Shivering, Liz edged past him, fearful he was faking, waiting for her to get close enough so he could grab her leg.

He didn’t move. She tore past a series of doors, all riddled with bullets, the rooms empty. At the end of the hall, she stoppedand pulled air in through her teeth. For the moment, the gunfire had stopped. Why?

From where she stood, the hall branched off to the left and right with Jacob’s room in the latter direction, several yards down. His door was open like the others, but no one was around.

Had Carreon’s men moved on when they hadn’t found Zeke or her inside? Surely, they were looking for them both. Liz lifted her face to the ceiling, wondering if they were now on one of the upper levels, searching it for—

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