Page 75 of Guarded from Danger

“Yes, Iknow,” I snap, anger shoving my fear to the side. “You’ll kill him. Or me. I get it.”

Pride moves across Xavier’s face. Then he pins Peter with a hard glare. “And what about Lucy? Do you think I’m going to let you drug me and leave Lucy alone with you?”

“Oh, that’s funny,” Peter replies with a laugh. “Like you have a choice. But don’t worry. I’m not interested in Lucy like that.”

Fire burns in Xavier’s eyes. “You are going to wish you’d left this alone. I promise you.”

“I don’t think so. Now, inject him. Before I lose my patience.”

I don’t want to. Everything in my body is screaming at me to do something, anything to stop this. Xavier tied up is one thing, but drugged? Unconscious?

A sob escapes. “Please. Don’t make me do this.”

“Do it.” The gun jabs into the tender skin at my nape, and I flinch. “Or I’ll shoot him instead.”

Crying now, I lift the syringe with a trembling hand. “Xavier?—”

“It’s okay, Luce.” His gaze sends a silent message. “It’s going to be okay.”

How can it be?

As I slide the needle into Xavier’s arm and press the plunger, I feel like everything inside me is dying.

What if I just signed his death warrant? What if?—

“Let her go,” Xavier demands. “You have me. That’s enough.”

“Oh, no, it’s not.” The empty syringe is taken from me and tossed to the floor, and another is set in my hand. “It won’t be enough until I say it is.”

“What—” I start, as my heart rockets to triple speed. “I’m not giving him another injection. I won’t.”

“Of course not.” Peter moves in front of me, that horrible gun still aimed at my head. A slimy smile spreads across his face. “I don’t want him dead yet. You’re going to inject yourself with it. And you know what will happen if you fight me on it.”

I clench my teeth until pain stabs through my neck and jaw. “Just stop. Now. Please. I’ll pay you. Anything you want. Just stop?—”

“I’m going to get plenty of money, Lucy. Don’t worry.” His voice rises. “Now do it!”

Xavier looks murderous as I lift the syringe to my arm, shaking so hard it’s hard to aim the needle. But he catches my eye for a second, and a moment later, his gaze flickers to my ear.

“Do it,” barks Peter. “Now!”

As I inject myself with whatever is inside the syringe, my panicked mind tries to decipher Xavier’s signal.

“What now?” Xavier growls. “Why don’t you just say what you want?”

What is Xavier telling me?

Then.

In a flash of clarity, I remember.

The earrings. With the tracker in them.

If you’re ever in trouble, Xavier told me weeks ago,just press the center of one of them. Hard. It’ll send an alert to us. We’ll come to you right away.

But Peter is watching me. Will he notice if I touch my ear? Will I give it away?

Oh.

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