Page 44 of Dragon Bodyguard
“That we probably can’t just stroll,” he said.
“We’ll have to sneak,” she filled in.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. She mirrored the expression.
They shared a smile.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Through a side door that I can get open even if it’s locked. It’s close to a set of stairs into the basement and once we’re there… I might have to knock out a few people I really respect. So that sucks,” he sighed.
She leaned forward, placing a kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you,” she said.
“It’s my job,” he smirked, getting punched in the arm for the comment.
“Can you get your hands on a weapon of some kind?” she asked. “I mean, don’t you need one?”
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “I don’t want to shoot anyone. That’s my family in there.”
“Oh, right,” she nodded.
He glanced at her with a look that said he couldn’t believe she’d somehow forgotten that he wouldn’t want to kill the people he worked with every day, the people for whom he was a leader. She bit her teeth together, making a face of contrition.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded.
He waited for another handful of seconds, then led them across the grass to the mentioned back door. It was locked, but as promised he got it open by jiggling the handle in what looked like a very specific way.
“Nice job,” she said once it swung upon, allowing them entrance.
“It’s been loose for years,” Misha said. “I really ought to have someone fix it.”
She gave him a look at that.
“Well, aren’t you happy I didn’t?” he asked in response, following her through the door and pulling it closed behind him.
“Down there,” he pointed where to head.
She took the lead down the hallway. All was quiet. Eerily quiet. Maybe it was a trap. Maybe Dmitri was in on the scheme, and they were getting ready to auction her off to the highest bidder. She shook the thoughts out of her mind. There was no point riling herself up. Especially since she could feel her inner dragon welcoming it. There was a need for retaliation the likes of which she had never experienced. If they did try to auction her off, there would be damage done. She was itching for it.
“Here,” Misha said, grabbing her hand and pulling her back a few steps as he pushed a door open, taking her down a flight of steps. “Quiet,” he whispered as they reached the bottom step.
She paused behind him as he looked around the corner of the hallway they’d reached.
“Empty,” he whispered. “We need to turn right, then left, then right,” he added. “That’s where Byron will be. All right? Stay close to me.”
The adrenaline was coursing through her body again, setting her on high alert. The sound of steps walking overhead made her heat up from within in preparation. She hadn’t been able to defend herself last time, but if anyone came at her this time, she would breathe fire in their face.
No, she stopped herself. No, she wouldn’t.
Calm down, she told the roused dragon within her.No one is dying today.
Misha rounded the corner and she stayed close, approaching the next corner, sliding their backs against the wall once they reached it.
The sound of sudden, approaching footfall made Misha reach an arm out, keeping her behind him as he backed them both away from the corner, but too late. There was no retreating from the oncoming group of men, led by Dmitri himself
