Page 76 of The Last Strike

He looked over his shoulder to see Victoria and her guard right behind them.

James stopped at an ornate mirror and hinged it open, creating an entry into the next room.

“Go!” he said, ushering Asher through. He jumped through behind him and yelled, “Close it!” Asher assumed that was aimed at Victoria’s guard, but he didn’t have time to think. His heart was racing so fast he could hear his pulse in his ears.

Asher knew the plan, but right now it gave him no confidence, because he didn’t know if things were going to plan.

James ran to the next wall and did the same with the mirror.

Once they were through, James put a finger to his lips, looking at each person in turn. He stood beside Asher and whispered, “Do everything I say. Understood?”

“Yes,” Asher whispered, surprised that his fear hadn’t consumed him. “Is Luang okay?”

“He’ll be okay.” James crept forward and placed something on the floor. At first Asher thought it was a pearl, but then it shot forward straight underneath the door.

James pressed his ear to the door but kept his palm up as if stopping traffic. Asher barely dared to breathe. He looked at Victoria; seeing her eyes darting around the room Asher felt a lashing of guilt. He had coordinated this—he had brought her here and put her in danger.

“Is Luang alive?” she asked under her breath.

Asher nodded, hoping it wasn’t a lie.

“Copy,” James said as he walked back to them. He looked to Victoria’s guard. “We need to split up. The hallway is clear. Go right, all the way to the end of the hallway. Then go left and then right again. I have a team to back you up, but we can’t wait for them. You need to move now before we’re trapped. I’ll take Asher and we’ll meet up with you in the west wing.”

The bodyguard looked to Victoria, who nodded. “Do what he says,” she confirmed, then looked back to James. “Your reputation precedes you, and you’ve kept him alive thus far.”

“He’ll remain alive,” James said confidently. He pulled an earpiece from his pocket and passed it to the bodyguard. “Keep it in so we can communicate.”

James looked to Asher. “Let’s go.”

Asher turned to Victoria. “I’ll see you soon,” he said, keeping his emotions out of his voice.

She nodded quickly, then looked to her guard.

Asher continued forward, needing to focus.

“Do everything I say,” James reminded him.

“Yes,” Asher said, pausing at the door.

“Copy,” James said quietly. He opened the door, using a mirror to check it was clear. “Go!” he said, grabbing Asher’s arm. They ran down the hallway, James always in front of Asher.

“Right,” James said as they ran around the corner. Asher heard more gunfire and his heart skipped a beat. The plan was scrambled in his mind and he felt disoriented in the never-ending hallways.

“Keep moving!” James said. He didn’t slow down, he didn’t stumble. “Copy,” he said, holding out a hand to slow Asher down.

James brought a finger to his lips and Asher nodded. They came to a stop a few paces from the junction of another hallway and James crept along the wall, his shoulders pressed back against it. Asher followed, doing exactly the same.

James peered around the corner and Asher’s ears strained to listen, but he didn’t hear a sound. As they moved forward, he prayed Victoria and Luang were okay.

“Left!” James said, and Asher almost stumbled into James, who had come to a sudden stop a few steps later.

Asher looked up, his heart in his throat when he recognized the uniform: Adani soldiers. This was it.

“King Asher, it is a pleasure,” one soldier said with a cunning grin. “I appreciate this tour of Santina’s presidential meeting rooms. Tell your guard to step aside.”

“Keep him talking,” James whispered under his breath.

“You will stand down before I order my security teams to kill you. You don’t have to die tonight. Leave now,” Asher said, fighting to keep his voice even.

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