Page 9 of Promise Maker

I hear the sounds again, and my heart increasesspeed.

Are those gunshots?

I quickly stop the microwave. But I’m nervousabout leaving the kitchen.

Footsteps bustle towards me.

My heart calms a little when Dad appears in thedoorway, Mathew right behind him.

“Sol!” Dad sputters, reaching for my hand. Heseems rattled. “Come with me!”

“What’s going on?” I exclaim.

“No time for that. Move!”

As we hasten into the passage, gunshots echo evenlouder from outside, followed by shouts of anguish.

“Oh my god!” I yelp. “Who’s attacking us?”

Dad tugs me into his office.

Mathew remains at the door, gun aimed at thehallway, ready to shoot.

“Give me your phone,” Dad orders.

I nervously take it from my jeans and hand itover.

He drops it to the carpet, smashes the screen,then grips my shoulders. “Listen to me. Go through the secret passage. Grab thedisposable phone and run. Don’t stop running even when you reach the exit; youkeep going. Call the saved number.”

“No, Dad, come with me,” I sob.

He jerks me. “Do as I say, Solari!” It’s the mostfearful I’ve ever seen him, and it’s the fear of losing me. “Martellionly.Trust no one else, understand?”

“Ye-yes,” I stammer, tears streaming down my face.

He pulls a gun from his waistband and shoves me tothe shelves, pressing the button to open the secret door. “Go, baby girl.Remember, I love you more than anything in this world. You need tolive.”

“Dad…please come!”

“I can’t just abandon my men, Sol. This ishappening because of me.”

Mathew fires his gun, startling us.

Dad snaps to me. Eyes blared open. “Run!”

I don’t hesitate. I bolt into the eerie escapepassage, swiftly retrieve the phone from the ground, and continue running. Thedoor closes behind me.

Gunshots spray in the background.

I know what’s happening, but I can’t think aboutit, or I might turn around.

I keep running as fast as I can.

My panicked breaths are punctured and loud.

Racing heart threatening to rip through my chest.

I reach the exit at last.

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