Page 51 of Born Free

“We have to get her out of here,” I say in a whisper as Orlando starts monologuing again. Jon’s welled, red eyes rise up to mine, and I see them widen for a second as the realization hits him. He sniffs and nods. Mason sobs and continues to curse Orlando from the floor as he watches Jon hook his arms around Elena, pulling her up easily. Through the crowd, me and my father work our way out.

I make sure to catch Orlando’s gaze, giving him the evil eye.

It’s justified. She’s my best friend. I’d be pissed if she were going to stay dead. So, this is all part of the show.

I can’t worry about what’s going on in there right now. I don’t know if there is a time limit to my gift.

“The man is a damn maniac,” Jon seethes as we wait for the elevator. “Juliet, I thought…”

“I know,” I cut him off as we step into the elevator. I press the button for the third floor instead of ground. “We just need to get somewhere safe, quiet. Private. I’ll be dead for about five minutes, but Elena will immediately come back. At least, that’s how it worked with Roman.”

“Juliet, I don’t know if I can handle watching you die,” Jon says, shaking his head and more tears well in his eyes.

I wave him off. “I’ve died a couple dozen times now. Trust me, it’s no biggie. And I promise, I will come back.”

The elevator slides open, and I breathe a sigh of relief. The lights are off, and there’s not a soul around. I wave Jon forward until we tuck into a hall with no visible cameras. He lays Elena on the ground, and I look anywhere but at the huge bloodstain on her dress.

“You ready?” I ask as I kneel next to her. “It’s going happen fast. Stay calm, okay?”

The look on his face is absolute terror and dread. But he gives me an unsure nod.

I grab Elena’s arm, and instantly agonizing, familiar pain rips through my chest. My ribs break. The pain darts directly into my heart. And I drop to the ground, dead, once more.

The surge begins,a deep rumble, the passing of air like I’m strapped to the front of a jumbo jet. Faster, faster, until finally, I pop back into existence. It’s the sound of cursing that hits my ears, and with a gasp for air, I sit up from the ground.

“Holy mother of Louis Vuitton!” Elena screeches as she scrambles back from me, her back hitting the wall behind her. “You really can come back from the dead.”

I stretch out my muscles, working through the death that’s crept into my limbs. “Told you. Did you time me?” I ask Jon as I climb to my feet.

My father looks at me with complete and utter disbelief. “Uh, not really. But about four minutes, maybe five.”

I nod, stretching my neck to one side and then the other. “Seems pretty consistent, then. It’s still a learning process. This was only the second time I’ve used my gift. I’m still figuring out the parameters.”

Elena shakes her head, looking like she’s seen a ghost. “You were so dead. And now…”

“And now I’m not,” I say, getting antsy. I grab the handkerchief out of Jon’s pocket and wipe away the blood on my chest. It was Elena who was staked, yet there’s blood on my chest just like it was me who was. “Look, I’m sorry. I would love to stay here and process your shock with you, but I really need to know what shit is going on upstairs. Jon, take Elena back to the church. No one can see her until further notice. That means no work for you, got it?”

“What church?” she asks, reminding me that we haven’t filled her in on every secret shared between Roman and me.

I shake my head. “Just go with Jon. But seriously, no one can know you’re back for now, okay? And I think it’s better if Tabitha continues to think you’re dead for now.”

“’K,” she says with a nod. She’s still staring at me like I’ve grown two extra heads as we go back to the elevator. I press up, they press down. Their elevator opens up immediately.

“Stay out of sight,” I say again, staring at her with wide, serious eyes.

She just nods, looking a little too shocked for comfort. I’d rather not have her brain glitch out on us while she tries to process, but at least she isn’t alone.

Twenty seconds later, the elevator opens for me, and I step inside to ascend to the club. When I step out, there are four of Roman’s team members waiting to go down.

The look in their eyes tells me they’re dying to tell me what’s going on. But the open door behind them leading into the club prevents any sharing of information.

I can only give them a nod as I walk by, heading back inside.

Roman stands at the back of the room with his arms folded over his chest. I find Sebastian across the room, watching the scene darkly. And Mason sits in a chair away from everyone, tears soaking his normally happy face. But right now? Mason looks like he is radiating death.

I pray that he remembers what my gift is, but honestly? He’ll be a better actor if he doesn’t.

Orlando is questioning Ivana, but the woman isn’t giving anything away.

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