Page 141 of Into the Woods

“That sounded like it came from the docks,” Dad muttered. He gave me a worried look. “We need to get out of here.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying,” I snapped, exasperated.

His jaw tightened. “We’ll go down the stairs and out the side door.”

“What? No. Cami’s in the other room, behind a black curtain,” I replied, shaking my head. “She’s already been s-sold.” I choked on the words.

“Camille isn’t my concern—you are.” Dad stared at me.

Why was he being so stubborn about this? He’d picked a helluva time for his paternal instincts to kick in.

Unless…

Aw, hell.

I lifted my chin. “Is that it? Or are you hoping Court will let you make a run for it if he finds us together?”

The guilty look was the last twist of the knife I could take. He was still thinking of himself.

“Think of all the good I can do to help people, Becca,” he pleaded as he grabbed my hands. “Locked up, I’m no good—”

I yanked away. “Screw you, Dad. Do whatever you want. I’m going to save as many people as I can.” I spun away and pulled open the door, then thundered down the stairs before Dad could stop me.

Not that he tried.

He didn’t even call my name, though I knew he followed me down because I heard his thundering footsteps. When I looked back, I saw him split off from me at the landing and run for the door on the opposite side of the room. He ripped open the door and ran into the night.

Fucking coward.

My heart splintered, another piece breaking off and falling into the abyss, but I’d unpack those emotions later when I had time. Not while people were shooting guns a few yards from me.

Over the chaos of people scrambling and guns firing, I heard the low, familiar whine of sirens in the distance. Another blast went off, this one seeming to come from the direction of where the cars were parked.

A woman hiding under a seat to my left shrieked, her shrill cry bouncing off the walls until the man beside her slapped a hand over her bright red lips. He dragged her backward until they were out from under the seats. Then he grabbed her hand, and they ran for the side door, disappearing into the night after my father.

Tiptoeing toward the foyer, I peeked my head around a partition and gasped when I came face-to-face with Alex. The foyer was empty except for him and two bodies dressed in the dark tactical gear of General Woods’s men. The front door gaped open ominously.

“Alex—”

He covered my mouth with his hand and propelled us backward into the room I’d just come from. My heels tangled in the hem of my dress, and we toppled to the ground, Alex landing heavily on top of me.

I struggled, fighting to get his weight off me.

“Stop fighting, dammit,” he snarled, grinding the side of my face against the dirty gray floor. “I’ll fucking leave you here.”

I stilled, even as my heart thrashed inside my ribcage, my eyes wide as I tried to look at him.

“Don’t scream,” he warned, slowly peeling his hand from my lips.

“Get off me,” I demanded as soon as I had the ability.

He scoffed, narrowing his eyes. “Looking for your boyfriend?”

“Fuck Eric,” I snarled.

His left eye twitched. “You might not be as stupid as I thought.”

“Where is he?” I demanded, realizing how quiet things had gotten. I tried pushing him off again. “I need to get Cami.”

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