Page 144 of Into the Woods

CHAPTER 45

BEX

Time stopped as the warm body at my back held me prisoner. I inhaled deeply, and my knees almost buckled in relief as I recognized the soft scents of leather and citrus.

I knew that smell.

I knew these arms.

“Court.” I choked on his name. My knees wobbled as I leaned against him.

“Hey, princess,” he greeted, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through my body. His hand tightened on the gun aimed at Alex. “Get on the fucking ground, asshole.”

Alex shot me a look. “Uh, Bex? Can you—”

Court spun me away, into the arms of someone else, before stalking forward and pressing the gun to Alex’s temple. “Get. The fuck. Down.”

“Hey, Bex,” Linc murmured, angling himself in front of me. I spotted a third guy but couldn’t tell who it was. Just that he was prime panty-melting material—tall, dark, and muscled.

“Wait, Court, it’s okay. I think,” I added as an afterthought.

Alex lowered himself to the floor, and Court glanced back at me. His dark eyes were empty voids behind the black mask over his face.

“He’s helping me,” I continued.

Linc scoffed. “Like fuck he is. That’s Eric’s brother.”

“I know,” I replied. “He was helping me find the women. Eric sold Cami.”

“Fuck,” a voice that sounded a lot like Rook grumbled.

“Where are they?” Court demanded.

Alex let out a weak cough, sending a puff of dust and debris tumbling across the floor. “I already told Bex—they’re in the tunnels by now.”

“Tunnels?” Linc asked.

“Apparently there are tunnels that connect the buildings underground,” I informed them. “It’s how they’re moving everyone.”

“There aren’t any tunnels on the schematics.” Yeah, that was definitely Rook.

Alex let out a humorless laugh. “No shit, genius. They’re secret for a fucking reason. Hey!” he cried out as Court ground the gun against his head. “I’m trying to help!”

I snorted and shook my head before looking at Court. “We need to go. If they get away—”

I’d lose Cami.

I couldn’t lose her.

Rook sighed. “Royal, we need you in here. We have a lead on the women.”

I gave him an odd look. “Uh.”

Court tapped his ear. “Ear piece.”

That made more sense. “Your dad is with them,” I added.

“And the general,” Rook added to Royal with a snarl. An automatic rifle hung from a strap wrapped around his torso like a G.I. Joe accessory, but I knew that weapon was the farthest thing from a toy.

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