Page 185 of Until We Burn
The car suddenly veers from the lane leading to the airport.
My brows furrow. “This isn’t the right way. You missed the airport.”
The guards ignore me.
“Hey!” I fidget in my seat, making them tighten their grip on me. “Where the hell are you taking me?”
The car speeds up faster. I lurch back into my seat. I swallow hard, trying to breathe through gritted teeth.
That’s when I realize what’s going on.
They were never going to take me to the airport. They would’ve let me take my stuff. Not send me there with nothing except a ticket.
Honks fire out as the car cuts in front of others on the road. My body jerks side to side. Headlights refract and blur. My heart pounds under my chest, anxiety choking out my breath the faster we go.
They’re going to get rid of me.
A screech suddenly rips out all around us.
Headlights flash. Blinding white light drowns the car. I hold my breath and shield my head. The world shakes around me, metal and steel crashing.
CHAPTER 73
DIANA
I don’t knowwhere they’re taking Kai, but I’m not just going to pace back and forth. I am going to find him.
My eyes trail up towards the slat of moonlight that shines down from the clerestory window in the basement.
Bàba’s guards left me down here a while ago and locked the door. Mama’s begging didn’t do enough to stop him.
“She’ll know exactly how it feels to have nothing,” Bàba snarls. He shoves me to the floor. “Maybe then you’ll think twice about walking away from this family.”
A chill bristles past me and sinks like pinpricks into my skin.
If I prop up the ladder against the wall, I can climb through the window. I just need something to smash it. I rifle through the storage around me, searching for something—anything—that can help me break out. But there are only large marble sculptures that are too heavy to lift on my own, and tea sets that we no longer use.
I rake my fingers through my hair, pacing back and forth. There has to be something here I can use to get out.
And then what? Hans has probably been fired. Who else is going to come and get you out without anyonenoticing?
Suddenly, I hear a sharp thud.
My head snaps up towards one of the clerestory windows. A shadow falls over it before a hammer smashes through the window pane. It bursts. Glass rains down around me.
“Diana!”
I gasp as Sophia leans through the gap. Moonlight slathers over her worried face.
“Sophia?” I hurry over to the window, the glass crushing under my heels. “What are you doing?”
Luke squishes up beside her, making Sophia scowl. “Obviously, we’re here to save your ass!”
My brows arch in disbelief. “You two are working together?”
“Against my will,” Sophia grouses.
“Oh, drop the act,” Luke scoffs, “I know you want me.”
