Page 11 of Until You

The music died and Lucian’s voice rose above the crowd. “Everyone, I’m so sorry, but we have to cut the party short. There’s a gas leak, and we need to evacuate the building immediately. The fire department has been called, and for your own safety, it’s imperative that you get outside and as far away as possible. Please.”

Olivia rushed over to Lucian, Cora in her arms, and he whispered something in her ear. Her expression darkened, and Kayla had never seen Olivia look so scary or intimidating. With the utmost calm, she gathered her things, retrieved Cora’s stroller from the corner and started for the door, her father and one of Lucian’s men in tow.

“A gas leak?” asked Willa, and when her eyes met Kayla’s, Kayla shook her head slightly and lifted her eyes in the direction of the roof. Willa paled visibly, but she didn’t even have time to say anything before Max was bundling her out the door.

Sebastian wrapped a protective arm around Kayla, and it felt as though everything were moving in slow motion. The steady flow of people through the door, the soft murmurs of concern, the eerie silence permeating the crowd. Kayla saw Lauren and Theo from across the crowd, and they pushed their way through to them.

“This isn’t a gas leak, is it?” asked Lauren, her green eyes wide.

Sebastian shook his head, and Theo pulled Lauren tight against him, his eyes sweeping over the space.

With his arm still around her, Sebastian used his free hand to grab Max’s elbow. Theo leaned in so he could hear what Sebastian was saying. “When we get outside, stick close to the edge of the building and move fast. There were guys on the roof.”

“Shit,” Max said, pulling Willa closer.

“Oh, God,” whispered Lauren, closing her eyes for a moment. They made it to the door, and when they did, Sebastian held Kayla tight and guided her in front of him, keeping them as close to the edge of the building as possible. Max, Willa, Theo and Lauren were all behind them.

“When we get to the corner, go right and then take the first left. Keep moving and don’t look back,” said Max, and Kayla nodded, a stuttering, jerky motion that made her brain feel as though it were rattling around in her skull.

And then the sound of gunshots rang out, three sharp and unmistakable cracks that made her jump. “Just keep moving, baby,” Sebastian said in her ear, his tone surprisingly calm and reassuring. “Everything’s going to be fine. I’ve got you.”

They moved in tense silence, shoes clicking on the sidewalk, until finally they’d navigated far enough away that the shooters—who Kayla knew probably weren’t there for them but for Lucian and his men—couldn’t reach them. Max hailed the first available taxi and they piled in.

“No, no, is too many people!” shouted the cabbie, trying to shoo them out of his cab. Max was in the front seat while the rest of them were piled into the back like sardines.

“Just drive, please,” said Max, who quickly opened his wallet and handed what had to be a thousand dollars to the cabbie. The cabbie stared at the money, shrugged, and then said, “If I get ticket, you pay that, too.”

“I will. Please. Just get us home.” He gave his and Willa’s address to the cabbie, who wove his way deftly through the typical Manhattan traffic. A tense silence hung over the group, and Kayla swore her heart was beating so loudly that everyone could hear it. Hell, people in New Jersey could probably hear it.

Kayla sucked in a breath as the adrenaline racing through her veins started to subside, leaving her feeling shaky and nauseous, her head pounding. She snuggled into Sebastian, laying her head on his shoulder and breathing in his warm, familiar scent, trying to anchor herself. To remind herself that they were all safe, and that everything was going to be fine.

Lucian. Olivia. The baby. All of the other guests. Faces flashed through her mind, and as they drove, she sent up prayers for each and every one of them.

When they reached Max and Willa’s building, they all tumbled out of the cramped cab and hurried inside. Max was already on his phone, trying to find out what happened and if Lucian was okay.

“Yeah,” he said into the phone as they headed into the private elevator. Willa tapped her keycard on the pad and they started to rise smoothly. “Okay. No, I know. We’re fine. Yeah, we walked a few blocks and then took a cab back to my place. And Olivia…okay. Good.” There was a long silence, the expression on Max’s face grim. The elevator doors slid open smoothly and they all stepped into the pristine living room with the soaring windows and spectacular view. “And what about tomorrow?” asked Max, heading for the sleek bar in the far corner of the living room and bringing back several glasses along with a bottle of Irish whiskey. “You’re sure? Lucian, there were—” He stopped abruptly. “I see. Okay. Yes, I’ll let them know.”

He disconnected the call and tossed his phone down on the couch and then pushed a hand through his hair. “Lucian, Olivia, Cora—everyone’s safe. There were armed Triad enforcers on the roof who were waiting for their chance to send a message, but thanks to Sebastian, they never got the chance. They won’t be a problem any longer, according to Lucian, and the wedding is still happening tomorrow as planned.”

A silence hung over the group as everyone processed what Max had just said. Theo reached for one of the glass tumblers Max had set out and poured himself a drink, then took a healthy swallow.

“Okay, I need to know,” he said, setting his drink down and loosening his tie. “Just who the fuck is our brother?”

Theo and Lauren knew next to nothing. Kayla, Sebastian, Willa, and Max knew more, but Kayla wasn’t sure just how much everyone knew. Even what she knew was nebulous at best.

Max poured himself a drink, slugged it back in one, and then unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves. Then he sat down and made eye contact with each and every one of them.

“What I’m about to tell you does not leave this room. Understand?”

Everyone nodded. Willa stood. “I know all of this, so I’m going to make some tea. Anyone?”

Kayla nodded and Willa disappeared into the kitchen.

Max sighed. “Lucian is the head of an organization called the Kings of Hell’s Kitchen. They used to be tied to the organized crime families in the city, policing them, doing favors for them, sort of existing on the periphery. But that all changed two years ago when the Italian mafia kidnapped Olivia. Lucian decided then and there that they were going in a different direction, and instead of policing the criminals from within, they were going to take them down.”

“Take them down how?” asked Lauren. “I don’t understand.”

“Wait, Olivia was kidnapped?” asked Kayla, her eyebrows shooting up. “I never heard about that.”

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