Page 38 of Devil's Claim

“We’re soon to have company and trust me, they’re much worse than Malcolm.”

“What are you talking about? Kruz. Talk to me.” He wasn’t interested in answering me. There was a strange vibe coming from him, a dim electric hum that was entirely different than what I’d felt the night before.

He was on edge, his hand in his pocket.

An eerie sensation washed over me as if we were being watched. There was another kind of electricity in the air. Everything shifted into a tight vacuum. Sights. Sounds.

Suddenly, I could feel the rapid beating of my heart as it thudded against my chest. I looked down and noticed his weapon. The feeling of danger was all around us.

Kruz wasn’t wasting any time, pushing his way through the crowd, not worrying about almost knocking guests to the side. Sensing his hurry to get out of the house, another wave of fear swept through me.

Then everything settled into slow motion as the front door was flung open, men in suits filling the room.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

As soon as gunfire erupted, Kruz pushed me against the wall. His weapon was in his hand and he swung around. “Stay down!”

“What is happening?”

“Do as I say.”

There was no choice.

People were running, screaming, and the men who’d filed into the room were shoving them aside. Everything was crazy, the melee turning into people being trampled.

“Kruz!” I called just as one of the unknown men came into view. There was no doubt by the look on the man’s face that he was aiming for Kruz.

Kruz pushed me away and spun around, firing off two shots. Without hesitation, he fired off several more.

Different people suddenly appeared and it was obvious Kruz knew them. He shouted something, but everything was echoing in my ears.

“Kruz,” a man with a deep voice said. “At least eight of them.”

“Jesus Christ. Get her out of here. Now!” he yelled at one of them and suddenly, I was in another man’s arms being jerked toward the entrance. He was shielding me with his body, forcing me to go with him even as I struggled to jerk from his hold.

“Kruz. Wait. Please!” Whoever I’d been passed off to was strong.

“No!” the mystery man finally hissed and pulled me into the fresh air. The gunfire continued and there was no sign of Kruz anywhere. Oh, my God. What was going on?

A crowd rushed the door, terrified of the gunfire.

There were dozens of them.

Another round of gunfire.

Shouting.

Running.

Tripping.

The man tried to shield me, crowding close to the exterior wall, but a sudden thud broke me free from his hold. Within seconds, I was being pushed with the crowd, chaos ensuing.

I stumbled, almost falling on my face. When I struggled to a standing position, I spun around. The man working with Kruz was pushing his way toward me.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm, yanking me in the opposite direction. Screaming, I flailed my arms, fighting just to get to a better position. I had no idea who was holding me. One of Kruz’s men? Or someone else?

The man had a menacing look on his face, hatred in his eyes. My instinct told me to run. I took off sprinting but didn’t get very far. I was grabbed by the back of the neck, jerked around like a ragdoll.

---