Page 109 of The Devil We Know

I turn to see Seamus running toward us, not slowing until he grabs the corner of the cage. Using his grip, he abruptly turns himself so he is kneeling in front of it next to Ivan, a key ring in his hand.

He shoves the key into the lock, and it turns. Then I'm staring at an open door.

Seamus is already up, running back across the room, yelling over his shoulder, “Get your finger out. We gotta go.”

That gets my attention.

I quickly crawl out of the cage, immediately gaining my feet and pulling Ivan to his. We both race after Seamus as I shout to Ivan, “You're going to have to lead the way. I have no fucking idea where I am.”

Seamus is right in the doorway, and Ivan runs through, the two of us directly behind him. He sprints down corridors, briefly slowing to manage corners. I swear I can hear the tick-tock, tick-tock of a clock in my brain.

We’re sprinting toward a doorway at the end of the corridor, and Ivan stops short before barreling into it head-on. He hits the bar, and it doesn't budge. He hits it again and again. Istand there, gasping for breath as I say, “My people probably barricaded this one.”

Seamus glares at me, and Ivan immediately pushes off the door and takes off again. “I know a better way.”

Seamus and I sprint after him, Seamus muttering lowly, “We're out of time. We're out of fucking time.”

We increase our speed, sprinting blindly now as another door comes into view. We barrel toward it, all three of us together, knowing that if this one is locked, we're completely fucked.

I pull up abreast to Ivan, the two of us zeroing in on the door as we run full out. At the last second, we each turn a shoulder, our hands out, bracing to push the bar.

I grip the cold metal a split second before my shoulder smashes into the door. At first, it doesn't give, and then Seamus comes up behind us, slamming into us full force. The door bursts open, and we fall through it, our forward momentum rolling us out onto the ground, just in time to feel the inferno at our back.

I’m shoved further by the force, bodily thrown through the air, the impact from the explosion behind us scorching and vibrating. I hit the dirt face-first, my chest driving into the gravel, forcing the air from my lungs, but I manage to get up on my hands and knees, my palms digging into the dirt as I choke and cough.

Then I fall forward, rolling onto my back, my arms coming over my face as dirt and debris rain down on me.

With my ears ringing, my arms fall to my sides, then I blink up into the inferno-tinged sky.

Yeah, that fucking sucked.

I manage a small choking laugh, and then I sink into the darkness.

45

A Case of the Darius’

Matt

“This isn't going towork,” Antoinette sputters.

I try to hide my smile and fail. I look over at Tony, who has the same amused expression, and then he meets my gaze with a shrug, laughing loudly. “This is fucking wild.”

“Do you feel different?” I ask seriously. "Because I think I feel different."

“Yeah,” Tony replies. “It's like just pretending to be him makes me feel invincible.”

“You two fucking cut that out,” Antoinette exclaims.

We both attempt to put on a serious face, though I see Tony's lips twitching in time with mine. Then Kaian says from behind me, “I always knew it must feel good to be The Beast. And this just proves it.”

He shoves something in front of my face, and then I'm staring at my own reflection.

Or rather, Darius' reflection.

I smile broadly and then laugh loudly. I turn to Kaian, laughing again, to find I'm just staring at another version of Darius.

“I don't know,” Declan replies from my other side. “I was definitely better looking before.”

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