Page 62 of Being Bold
I’m so out of shape.
She panted even though she’d barely made it up one flight. Her gaze shot out, peeking past the overhang of steps. This building only had five levels, right? Were they going to the top? What if she couldn’t make it?
Her breaths were wheezing out of her abused lungs by the second flight. Still, she didn’t stop. Not until she heard a grunt of pain. Then, she spun around.
Bo and Felix grappled on the landing below her position. She couldn’t tell who had the upper hand, and all she could think about was Bo getting tossed down the stairs. He threw a punch, hitting Mr. Dao’s henchman under the chin and knocking the bigger man’s head back.
Glancing in her direction, Bo yelled, “Keep going! To the roof.”
Felix recovered, charging at Bo, and she screamed. He managed to dodge at the last minute. She didn’t want to leave Bo to deal with Felix alone, but he shouted, “Go, Selene. I’m right behind you. Go!”
He briefly met her gaze, and the look in his eyes—the calm calculation—told her he knew exactly what he was doing, andshe didn’t want to stick around for what was about to happen. Maybe that should’ve shocked her, but it gave her comfort instead. When Bo palmed the knife she’d found under his mattress, she turned and ran, breath sobbing as she pushed herself on the next flight. He would be fine, and Felix wouldn’t be a threat anymore.
When she topped the last set of stairs, the huge “R” painted by the door made her groan, “Thank God!”
If she was going to be on the run, she seriously needed to think about doing regular cardio. Hot yoga three times a week did not prepare her for this. Pulling in huge gulps of air, she pushed the lever and stepped out onto the building’s roof.
Now what?
As if in answer, a massive helicopter flew over her head. She stumbled in surprise as Duke landed on top of the building. When the skids set down, she gaped. The thing looked longer than a tractor-trailer. Its blades kept turning, throwing icy wind at her. She gritted her teeth and turned away to watch the door, waiting for Bo to exit the building.
Where is he?
When she’d started to worry that the fight with Felix had gone south, Bo burst onto the roof. “Let’s go!” he shouted over the roaring rotor blades.
Her legs were wobbly with relief as he pulled her toward the helicopter. She’d never ridden in one before and didn’t know what to expect. Bo helped her up, then hopped in after her. She plopped down on a forward-facing seat in what seemed like the cargo area, the muscles in her legs thanking her. She’d undoubtedly be sore tomorrow after the calf workout she just got from climbing the stairs.
When Bo shut the door, the machine’s noise changed from a deafening whop to a loud hum. The vibrations intensified as they lifted off the ground. Letting out an involuntary gasp, shegripped Bo’s hand. He caught her eyes, and the warmth she’d glimpsed earlier was back. It was dangerous, making her hope for things he likely wouldn’t give. When he shifted, letting out a pained grunt, she trailed her eyes over his body, looking for injuries, but didn’t see any.
Thank God.
Settling beside her, he squeezed her hand and spoke into a headset she hadn’t seen him put on. Romeo and Herc sat in the two seats in front of their row. They swiveled to Bo at something he said, nodded, then turned around. She noted Victor’s buzzed head in the copilot seat and realized the whole team was there.
Except Yumi.
Tugging Bo’s hand to get his attention, Selene asked over the din when he met her gaze, “What about Yumi?”
He tapped the comms in his ear, then frowned. Hoping her friend could still hear her, Selene spoke, “Yumi? Are you okay? What was the package?”
But she got no response.
Bo must’ve seen the worry in her eyes, because he said, “She’ll be okay, ocean-eyes. She knows the plan.”
With a nod, Selene blew out a breath and tried to get more comfortable on the stiff seat. She had to trust that Yumi would be fine. She’d keep searching for the servers like they’d planned. Selene hadn’t given up hope Yumi would find them before the meeting with Mr. Dao.
Bo’s arm came around Selene’s shoulders, pulling her into his side. When she leaned against him, she thought she felt his lips brush over her hair before he said, “This is almost over.”
Was it? And what happened when it was? She ducked her head as her eyes welled with tears. She didn’t want to say goodbye to Bo, but something told her he had no intention of sticking around when his job was finished.
The pain wrenching her heart made her desperate enough to hope it never would be.
The thought terrified her. Did love make you stupid? Because that was the dumbest thing she could possibly want. To remain on the run for her life. Where had her control gone? Her organized and well-thought-out lists? She knew which side was heavier here, and yet . . . she was willing to ignore all the cons to be with Bo.
Would he ever feel the same way? Or acknowledge it if he did?
Her head supplied an answer she didn’t want to hear. Staring at their joined hands, she ignored the single tear that tracked down her cheek. Even though her brain said pull away, her heart wouldn’t let her. When the time came, she wouldn’t allow him to leave without a fight.
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