Page 97 of The Heart

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Give me those!” I say, throwing two of the duffles over one shoulder, grabbing the other and hauling Leena against me as I practically drag her down the hall.

That’s when I hear the elevator doors open.

“How did they bypass our security system?” Leena hisses, frantic.

“I don’t know.” I urge her toward the door, then pull out my SIG, placing myself between her and where someone is about to round the corner. I raise my weapon, but it’s not one person.

It’s too many to count.

I start firing.

“Leena, run!” I shout over the echoing cracks of firepower.

“Colton!” she yells back.

“Go! Now!” I grind out.

By the time my magazine is empty, I’m already slamming the sliders shut behind me. I loop the shorter straps of one of the duffles, the bag I know they don’t actuallyneed, over the door handles and hope to fuck this glass is as bulletproof as they paid for.

I run, shoving through the gate as the sound of heavy fire against the glass continues behind me. It seems to be holding for now.

But I know it won’t for long.

“Get in!” I shout toward Leena, who is standing just outside the chopper. Thank fuck, she listens for once.

I hear the glass shatter.

Bullets begin to spray around me.

I keep the bags at my back, because they feel safe. But I know they won’t stop a bullet. Helpless, I run across the open rooftop toward the landing pad.

Toward Leena.

The fray continues, and my heartbeat grows heavy in my chest. The sound of the blades thrums in slow motion.

It’s at this moment I understand: I’m not going to make it.

My eyes drift down, watching my own footfalls as if I can will them to move faster. But they don’t. The bullets tear up the stone at my feet, and I feel completely empty.

Luke and Sebastian trusted me to save her.

I didn’t save her.

I failed.

“Agh!”I shout, stumbling forward. A sudden pressure at my hip throws me to my hands and knees. I don’t feel pain, not yet, but the burning heat causes a shudder to run through my entire body.

Between the numbing shock, the adrenaline coursing through my veins and the urgency to get Leena the fuck out of here, I somehow get to my feet. I keep moving forward, waiting for the next bullet to hit.

That’s when I hear a weapon go off closer.So much fucking closer.

I panic, but when I look up Leena has taken a knee just outside the chopper with an AK-47 against her shoulder as she fires on the men behind me.

The onslaught of bullets instantly stops while they take cover.

I watch the kickback of the weapon punch Leena’s shoulder, but she doesn’t let up, not even as I move past her and quickly toss the bags inside.

“Leena!” I shout, reaching my hand out to her.

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