Page 60 of Secured By the Buyer

“It exits into the service hall. Run while I hold them off. Don’t slow down,” he whispers in my ear. “If I don’t make it, go out the back door and make your way to the back parking lot. Our people will direct you to a car and get you out of here.”

I shake my head, turning to him. “No, I’m not going without you.”

A hard glint fills his eyes as he bends and crushes my lips with his in a bruising kiss. Then he lifts his head and snarls, “Go!”

I move instinctively, racing across the open space. More gunfire cracks through the air, but I make it through the door without being hit and turn back.

“Keep going!” Liam slams into me, shoving the door shut behind us, and pushes me up the stairs. “I told you not to stop!”

“And I told you I wasn’t leaving without you!” When I peer over my shoulder, I trip, and Liam catches me, hauling me the rest of the way to the top.

At the doorway, he hides his gun inside his jacket, and we step into the service hall, the garish carpet muffling our footsteps.

Jaw clenched, Liam scans the area and points toward the door at the end. “There. Let’s go.”

Not trusting that I can speak, I nod, and we hurry down the empty hallway. The exit sign glows ahead of us, promising escape from this nightmare.

Steps away from freedom, a familiar voice calls out, “Milo! Stop!”

My blood runs cold, and I whirl around to find my old manager emerging from the break room. His face twists with anger, and he raises a handheld radio to his lips to alert security.

Liam’s hand flies to his waistband, reaching for his gun, and my heart leaps into my throat.

“No!” I grab his wrist. “The casino has cameras everywhere.”

Fierce protectiveness twists his features. “Sabastian took care of them.”

Before I can protest again, Liam yanks his arm free, draws, and fires. The shot cracks like thunder in the enclosed space, making me flinch. In slow motion, my manager crumples to the floor, his radio clattering beside him.

Weapon still out, Liam grabs my hand, pulling me toward the exit. “Come on. We need to go. Security will arrive soon to investigate.”

I force my feet to move, stumbling after him in a daze.

We burst out into the chilly night, darkness surrounding us. Glass shards on the ground from the broken bulb crunch beneath our shoes as we race along the wall, heading for the back parking lot.

My lungs burn with every desperate gasp as we slip between parked cars, the getaway vehicles just ahead.

“Stop right there!” a voice bellows behind us.

I risk a glance over my shoulder, and my blood turns to ice. A security guard bears down on us, his hand reaching for the radio at his belt.

Liam curses under his breath as he whirls around, raising his gun to fire, but only a hollow click sounds in the night air. He’s out of bullets.

“Milo, run!” Liam shoves me to keep going. “Get to the car, now!”

I grab hold of the back of his shirt. “I’m not leaving you!”

I can’t lose him, not after everything we’ve been through.

Liam’s broad back acts as a solid wall of protection as he faces down the guard, his arms spread to shield me. “I’ll be right behind you. Go!”

The sound of a gun cocking freezes me in place. “Neither of you are going anywhere.”

Liam snarls at me, his Alpha taking control as he Commands, “Get moving, Milo!”

I try to cling to him as my body moves unwillingly to follow his order. How dare he take my will from me!

“If you do this, I’ll never forgive you!” I tell him, his shirt slipping from my fingers as I move away from him.

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