Page 49 of One Way Out

There’s no way to guess his age.

He has crinkles by his eyes and gray near his temples and in his beard near his sideburns.

“No need to block such a lovely face,” the man says with a thick British accent. “Dante Amato, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Y-You too,” I lie.

“There are two more coming your way,” the guard at my right says. “Move. Perhaps now is a good time for you to get her into your transport vehicle?”

“Of course,” Amato says, pulling me forward a few steps. We stand face-to-face, but he reaches under my arm, linking his hand over the top of my forearm. It successfully holds me in place without much force. “My, my, you are a beauty. Valor has excellent taste. I trained him well. I couldn’t have chosen better if I made the call myself.”

I really donotlike the way he’s talking. It’s almost like he’s insinuating he’s welcome in my pack, which he isnot.

Fear courses through my system as his citrusy scent hits my nose. It’s spicy, not appealing in the least, and I ache to get as far away from him as possible.

“Tell me, have my men been good to you?” Amato asks, studying my face.

I don’t know why he’s putting on a nice guy act, but I don’t buy it.

Not even for a millisecond.

My instincts are convinced he’s a threat, and the overwhelming urge to run hits me square in the chest, making it hard to breathe.

A whine sits heavy in the back of my throat, and I bite my cheek to keep it from escaping. The only thing it’ll do is amp up Valor’s need to get to me, and that could put him in danger. I whimper at the thought and glance over my shoulder at the door to the van.

The guard who pulled me out is in the doorway, so I can’t see Omen or Valor.

“I’m told you speak English,” Amato says, gripping my forearm painfully. “You’ll learn this, but I don’t appreciate being ignored.”

“I’m sorry,” I lie, swallowing thickly. “I’ve been sick for days. It’s hard to focus. I don’t mean to be rude. Please, forgive me.”

“Such a sweet girl. You and I are going to get along just fine.” Amato grins and reaches up, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Your skin is burning mine. Might I hazard a guess that your heat is coming?”

I open my mouth to answer, but all hell breaks loose.

Several whooshing thwacks fill the air, and my head swivels just in time to spot the blood and bone matter. The facility guard closest to the hood of the van slumps over it.

A shrill shriek escapes my lips as blood sprays from his helmet. The caved-in hole in the side of the plastic is a gruesome sight that I barely get to focus on as Amato uses his hold on my arm to pull me to the ground. He shakes his hand free of my arm, shoving me violently.

I land on my ass, skidding across the concrete.

More silenced gunshots fill the air.

My back is to the van, and I use my feet as leverage to scramble closer to it. The guard who pulled me from the vehicle falls against the pavement with a hole in his vest. The bullet must have gone all the way through his body. A river of dark red blood spills from under him and across the concrete.

Amato’s guard was at his side the last time I saw him, but he crouches and takes two shots. I have no idea who he’s aiming at. I don’t know where the third facility guard is or where the rest of Amato’s men are.

That doesn’t matter.

Okay, it really does, but it’s not like I’m going to be able to help.

What I need to do is focus on keeping myself alive. If I die, it’ll be pure agony for Valor and Omen. I don’t know if the van gives them any added protection, but I do know I’m a sitting duck.

Amato’s man focuses on me right as I pull my feet closer to my body to attempt to go for the handcuff key.

He aims at my forehead, but Omen flies out of the open van door. He’s still cuffed, but his hands are now in front of him. He tackles Amato’s guard, which I guess is someone he used to work with.

There’s arguing and loud noises and screaming that all overwhelm my already frazzled senses.

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