Page 53 of Craving Danger

Seeing Jessica exhale her last breath and her eyes lose all life is the most horrific thing I’ve ever witnessed.

“Run, boss. We’ll keep them off as long as we can,” I hear one of the guards shout.

My breaths explode over my lips, and a cry is ripped from me as Mr. Vitale yanks me to my feet.

More bullets slam into the walls and tiles, and I hear the guards firing their guns.

Mr. Vitale pushes me toward the stairs, shouting, “Go, Samantha!”

The intense shock makes it feel like every inch of my skin is being pricked by thorns.

I’m yanked toward the emergency stairs and stumble a couple of times because Mr. Vitale is moving much faster than I’m able.

As we enter the stairwell, I hear a bullet slam into the wall a couple of inches behind me and let out a terrified shriek.

Mr. Vitale grabs my hand in a brutal hold, and I’m yanked up the flights of stairs.

My lungs are on fire from the breaths sawing over my lips, and there’s a sharp pain in my side from the sudden exercise.

I think we’re on the fourth floor when Mr. Vitale abandons the stairs, and we rush into a lobby. When he finally comes to a stop in an empty hallway, I gasp like a fish out of water while trying to catch my breath.

My mind refuses to process what’s happening, and I feel as if I’m stuck in some kind of alternate universe where nothing makes sense.

I watch as Mr. Vitale checks something on his wristwatch and wonder why the hell he needs to know what time it is.

“I’ve pressed the panic button. Backup will be here soon,” he says.

I can only stare at my boss as he shrugs his jacket off, and then the man pulls a gun from behind his back.

What. The. Hell?

His eyes lock on my face, and the severe expression tightening his features demands my attention.

“We’re under attack. You need to do everything I say.”

“W-w-why,” I stammer through the terror. “W-what?”

Picking up his jacket, he tosses it into a small office, then I’m grabbed by the hand and pulled down the hallway.

“I’ll explain everything later. Right now, we just have to stay alive until backup arrives.”

Stay alive. Jesus.

I’m yanked into an empty office and pushed against the wall.

“Stay behind me, and don’t make a sound,” Mr. Vitale orders.

Our dire circumstances register with one hell of a force, and my body begins to tremble like a leaf in a shitstorm.

“Oh my God,” I gasp.

Why the hell are people attacking us?

Do they want to kidnap Mr. Vitale for ransom?

My eyes lock on the gun in his hand, and seeing my grumpy boss hold a weapon looks weird.

“Find him!” someone shouts out in the hallway.

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