Page 102 of Diamond Kisses

Something’s not right.

Ben and Stewart careened to a stop further down the wall. Panting hard and sweat glittering in the night, they waved.

Ben hissed, “What’s going on? Why is it so quiet?”

I pressed my finger to my lips and shook my head.

Regardless if this was a trap or not…the less the snipers heard, the better.

Pointing up the stone steps, I motioned climbing.

I didn’t wait to see if they’d follow.

Slinking through the small doorway, I ordered my legs to keep going. One step in front of the other.

My mind blanked for a second. I blinked back into consciousness.

Soon I could rest.

Soon I could eat and sleep and pass out.

Soon…

The rock-hewn steps throbbed with ice, making my bare feet ache and toes go numb. I didn’t know if I shivered from cold or trembled from weakness, but I gritted my teeth and ignored everything.

Up and up the stairs went, cutting right through the middle of the wall, leading to the walkway on the top.

My breathing echoed harsh and shallow, but I kept going.

Shoes scuffed behind me.

I hoped to fuck it was Ben and Stewart and not snipers about to ambush me.

Black spots danced in my vision as I reached another door on a narrow landing. The stairs branched off to the side, leading toward yet another door that probably led to the very top.

I swayed to continue going up, but…a nudge in my belly.

A strange little insistence to go this way instead.

Swallowing hard, I rested one hand on the handle. My other wrapped around the trigger of my gun.

Sucking in a breath, I shoved the handle down and kicked the door open. With my elbow pressed against the hole in my waist, I aimed the gun into the room beyond.

Light made me wince.

My vision went hazy as I blinked away the dark and focused on an empty corridor with arrow slits and sconces. Icy wind howled and lamented through the narrow nooks, acting like blades of air.

But no guards.

What the fuck is going on?

Ben and Stewart crowded the small corridor behind me.

We all shared a worried look.

Fuck.

Had Victor already escaped?

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