Page 97 of Boxed In

Then he eased the door open and peered into the alley. As far as he could see, it was clear. But he knew someone could be waiting in the shadows for them to make a move.

He had no idea how the Poisoned Ones could have figured out where to find the temple, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were around here somewhere—waiting. He didn’t tell any of that to Olivia as he led her down the alley.

His leg was starting to throb, but he ignored the pain. He’d just been shot the day before, and under ordinary circumstances he wouldn’t have been able to walk without crutches. Now he gritted his teeth and kept going, telling himself that he only had a few more minutes before he reached safety.

At the entrance to the street, he stopped again and slung his arm around Olivia’s shoulder, then bent to whisper in her ear. “Do you see the houses?”

“Yes.”

“Look at the line between them.”

“I am!”

“And you don’t see anything?”

“No.”

He repressed a curse, silently admitting that if she couldn’t see it, she might be barred from entering. But maybe he could get her inside. Or maybe the priests would take pity on them.

A rough sound rose in his throat. The priests had never taken pity on the warrior. They had insured his loyalty, then doomed him to hell for centuries.

“What?” Olivia whispered.

“Nothing. Follow me.” He stepped out of the alley and hurried to the corner, hearing her high-heeled shoes clicking right behind him.

Damn. That was another mistake he'd made. He should have told her to wear something more practical. But he'd wanted to see her all dressed up.

They crossed the street, and he stopped for a moment, fighting the tension in his gut.

“Do you see it yet?”

“I’m trying.”

His mouth dry as sand and his jaw set in a grim line, he started across the street. At that moment, three men flew out of the darkness, heading directly for him.

The Poisoned Ones. Desperate to get the box before it was too late.

Olivia screamed. As Luke whirled, facing the closest attacker, he knew he had to relinquish command of his body again.

This time, he asked Zabastian to take over, feeling the man’s martial arts training seize his muscles and tendons.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Olivia stand paralyzed for a long moment. Then she reached into the small purse she still carried.

He’d forgotten about the purse. Forgotten that Brand had told him she would be armed.

“Run for the temple,” he shouted.

She didn’t reply, and she didn’t run.

Instead she pivoted, facing one of the men as he charged toward Luke.

He still saw her only from the corner of his vision as he flung one of the Poisoned Ones to the ground, then blocked a lethal blow from one of the others.

As he whirled again, the bad leg buckled, and he had to call on every ounce of discipline he possessed to keep from falling over.

A shot rang out, and he realized that Olivia had fired her gun. One of the bad guys staggered but kept coming

“Kill the harlot,” he shouted.

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