Page 44 of Understanding Fate

As long as Bri cooperates and we don't have any surprise guests, we should be fine.

“How long until the jet is wheels up?” Jess asks

“Twenty-five minutes from now, so you two need to get moving. Cameras are set. Good luck. I’m here if you need me,” she says, and my eyes meet Jess’s.

“You ready?” I ask, my hand reaching for the door.

She nods, and we exit the room, heading for the stairs to the fourth floor. Once there, we open the door to the hallway in full view of Tate.

“Gotta hand it to you, though. It’s not every day I get to make a grown man cry. Who knew I’d be consoling you through the movie?” Jess says, falling back into conversation.

“I wouldn’t exactly call that crying. It was dusty in there,” I counter.

“Say what you want. Those were tears,” she adds, turning and shoving my shoulder. I let myself fall off balance and into the wall, using the distraction to see what Tate is doing as Jess giggles and saunters in front of him, leaving me behind a few steps.

His head follows her path, eyes scanning their way to her ass when I make my move.

My arm slides quickly around his neck, closing off his airway before he can make a sound. Jess turns back, pulling a small syringe from her sleeve, and inserts it into his neck before he can send off a mind-link, raising the alarm.

Seconds later, he’s limp in my arms, and I carefully set him down against the wall before tapping on the door.

“Tate’s down,” I whisper to Pres, giving Jess the go-ahead to move for the exit.

Jess is back through the stairwell door when Bri finally opens it, a smile forming immediately.

“Cain… what are you…” she starts before I step closer, interrupting her.

“We have to go. Grab what you need. We’re leaving right now,” I say, trying to force calm into my voice.

“Wait, why? What’s happening? How did you…” It’s then she sees Tate’s limp form on the floor. Her eyes go wide, a gasp escaping her lips and causing her to gape. My hand reaches up, palm resting on her cheek to pull her focus back.

“I’ll explain on the way, but we need to move now,” I say, urgency slipping into my tone.

She closes her mouth with a large swallow and nods before stepping into the hall.

“I don’t have anything to grab,” she says in a shaky voice. I hear her pulse racing as her breath comes out in short huffs that signal she has begun to panic.

“Breathe. I’ve got you, Firefly,” I whisper before dropping my hand and checking Tate’s status. Still alive. Still knocked out.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I close the door and steer her toward our exit. She falls into step with me, and we descend without issue.

As we hit the first floor, I see Jess leaning casually against the wall closest to the exit.

“Just in time. We have less than a minute,” she relays before waving at Bri. “I’m Jess. Sorry to meet like this, but we need to move.”

She tosses me the keys to the rental.

“It's parked to the left,” she states, turning to leave.

“But how will you get…” she cuts me off before I can ask.

“Nyxon’s outside. Good luck, Cain.”

With that, she pushes the crash bar on the door, leading us into the back lot.

“Thanks, Jess,” I say, sincerity in my voice.

My heart swells, knowing the risk my pack is taking for me. For my Mate.

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