Page 92 of Pervade London
It was as though I wasn’t here as they dealt with their unspoken grief for the man they’d sent in James’ place.
“No one knew about the flight,” whispered Xavier.
“Someone knew,” said Ballad, and he glanced at me.
“She wasn’t out of my sight.”
James gestured to the door, indicating Xavier was to leave with him. “Let’s give her adequate time to think about her future…and how she’d like it to play out.”
“Ten seconds,” said Xavier. “That’s all I need. Then I’ll be out.”
James gave a nod and headed for the door. “I’ll be outside.”
With James gone, Xavier hurried over to me and his mouth crashed against mine. He was stopping me from speaking, worried that Ballad would overhear.
His kiss was firm and passionate, his tongue lashing mine. His affection soothed me in this dark, foreboding place. His touch at my wrist made me jolt until I felt him loosening my binding.
When he made it to the door, he glanced back with a look that told me this was it—my last chance to escape.
The door slammed and I heard the sound of a key turning. They’d locked me in.
I tried to ignore the rusted shackles on the walls. That cage for a human. A cupboard-like structure that looked like a person would be shoved inside. My jaw tightened as my secret burrowed deeper.
I worked my way out of the binding and with a free hand was able to get my left wrist undone, too, and then the rope at my feet. With shaky legs, I pushed off the rack and hurried to the door. Despite the echo of a key turning, I managed to pull the rusty door open. Xavier had rigged my escape.
There was no time to explore.
Hurrying along the hallway and up the winding staircase, I made it to the vast foyer and sprinted to the front door.
It was locked.
I’d find another way.
Voices carried…theirs.
No, I couldn’t do it…couldn’t leave Xavier behind. If I could just get his attention, I might be able to draw him away from James.
Tiptoeing down the hallway, I closed in on what sounded like an argument. Pressing my ear against the door, I tried to make out their conversation.
They were talking about a land to air missile. It had taken down that helicopter.My heart skipped a beat at their anger revealing someone had attempted to assassinate James. Or even Xavier. My being at that military base had prevented their trip. Xavier was making this his argument to prove my innocence. Telling James he should set me free.
The door flew open. I staggered back.
James jolted to a stop when he saw me.
Shit.
I bolted down the hallway to escape him and heard his footsteps behind me fast approaching…
Sprinting around the corner, I skidded precariously on the floor, hitting the wall with outstretched hands. My focus snapped up to the jousting stick fixed on two hooks, and I eased the long wooden pole down as it wobbled dangerously.
Heaving it under my arm to balance the thing, I gripped it to still its teetering and readied it to point at Ballad.
Come and get it, fucker.
James rushed around the corner and closed in on me.
His hand knocked away the tip of the joust as he skidded past, swearing as he dodged it.
