Page 16 of Jackson

Xander leads me into the kitchen and through a few doors where the maintenance tunnels are used to bring food in and out. He uses a key to unlock the door and then swings it open. I’m just about to step through when I hear a voice behind us, and it’s all too familiar.

“Well, well, I wonder what she has on you to get you on her side.”

Hound.

Turning slowly, Xander and I face him, and see he’s standing with a huge grin on his face like he’s just won the lottery. How the hell did he get in here? Who did he have to bribe? How did he even know what we were doing? Or did he manage a swift escape when the chaos unfolded? I don’t know, all I know is this is bad, and if I don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to end up stuck.

Xander pulls out his taser and holds it toward Hound, who is unbothered by this little attempt to stop him.

Instead, he laughs. “You’re not going to use that on me, because if you do, I’ll make sure everyone knows what you’ve done here.”

“What do you want?” I snap, my voice shaking.

“Oh, it’s simple, really. I’m coming with you.”

“Over my dead—” Xander begins, but is quickly cut off when Hound steps forward and flashes him a grin so cold and evil, it has even me taking a step back.

“What?” Hound murmurs, his voice icy. “Your dead body? I can have that arranged, Officer. Don’t doubt it. I know exactly what you’re doing here, and your little plan could get you killed. I know who you are, I know what you owe, and I know the deal you made to get out of it. You want to keep that deal, you’re going to let me go.”

If Hound gets out, he’s going to come after the club, I know it.

But if he stays, Xander’s entire life is on the line.

I can’t let that happen.

Not when he’s done so much to help me.

“Let him come,” I say, my voice shaky.

Xander’s eyes swing to me. We’re running out of time, and he knows it. “He’ll kill you. I can’t ...”

“Not now he won’t, because there is a group of bikers out there waiting, and if he so much as tries, he’ll be dead before he takes a step into his freedom.”

Hound smirks. “I won’t kill her ... yet.”

A problem I’ll have to deal with.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, offering a weak smile in Xander’s direction. “I promise it’ll be okay.”

He hesitates, and I see the moment he decides he can’t let it happen. I shake my head, desperately trying to get him to stop, but he moves quickly. Hound sees it coming and lunges at Xander before he can get the taser out. The makeshift knife plunges into Xander’s chest, and, as if in slow motion, his hands fly up to the wound and his eyes widen as he stumbles backward.

Hound stabs him again.

And again.

“Stop,” I scream. “Stop. Please. We can go. We’ll go. Just please stop.”

Hound is now hovering over Xander’s body which has crumpled to the ground. He stares down at him, then wipes the blood off onto his pants and pushes away, leaving Xander helpless.

I rush over, dropping to my knees and putting my hands on his chest. He’s alive, and, thankfully, his eyes are still very alert as he frantically searches my face. “I’m okay,” he croaks. “Go. Get out of here before he stops you.”

“You need medical assistance,” I cry, holding the pressure on his chest.

“It’ll come. I have a radio. Serenity ... go.”

I hesitate—I don’t want to leave him here to die.

Shouting voices alert me to the fact that someone is coming.

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