Page 81 of Bite of Vengeance

A loud alarm began blaring. “Lockdown. Shelter in place.”

Red lights flashed from the ceiling, and I shifted, knowing we had to leave soon, or we’d never get out of this building.

“Let him go,” Keeva repeated, losing her patience. “Or I’ll sever the bond you have by killing him.”

I slowly released Rowan’s arm before snatching the gun from the holster and shoving him to the side. Keeva let go of Zan to duck out of the way when I shot at her. I pulled the trigger again, hitting her in the stomach. An anguished scream tore from her throat as she dropped to her knees.

“I guess it’s a good thing they didn’t torture you with hawthorn,” I murmured, walking up to her. “Or this wouldn’t have worked.”

“You’ll regret this,” she huffed out, grabbing her bleeding stomach. “You chose the wrong side.”

I shot her in the head, and she slumped to the floor.

“You won’t leave this building alive,” Rowan shouted over the deafening alarm. “Listen to me and I’ll spare him.”

Before I could shoot him, footsteps alerted me that my time was up. Multiple men in PARA uniforms flooded the end of the hallway, already raising their guns.

“Shoot them,” Rowan screamed.

I grabbed Zan’s arm, hauling him to his feet and pulling him with me. Bullets hit the walls around us, and I let out a hiss when I was hit in the leg. Limping forward, I shoved open the closest door and was met with stairs that went up as far as I could see.

Chapter 32

Zan

Kali craned her neck, looking at the stairs we had to climb, while I glanced back, hoping there was a way to lock the damn door to keep the soldiers from following. A deadbolt was at the top, and I slid it just as someone shoved at the door from the other side.

“Let’s go,” she said loudly over the ringing alarm. “We need to be out of here before Rowan digs that bullet out of Keeva.”

She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore how my body was writhing from pain. Bleeding that guy dry was nowhere near what I needed to heal. Time and rest along with more blood was what I needed, but there wasn’t time for that now. And I was slowing her down. If I thought arguing would do anything, I’d make her leave me here.

We rushed up the steps, my labored breathing echoing in my ears. Kali patiently ran next to me even though she could go much faster if she was alone. It was amazing to see her strength after everything she’d endured. Her body took the hawthorn, and she only grew stronger. It didn’t poison her anymore like it did me and other Shadows. I had no idea that was even possible.

We raced up three flights, my ribs and head throbbing with pain. Kali stopped at a door, letting out a curse when it was locked. She shoved against the reinforced metal a few times, but it didn’t budge.

“Keep going,” I said, grabbing her arm. “There has to be another one that’s open on a different floor.”

“We don’t have time for this.” She went first as we started climbing again. “If Keeva catches up, I’m not sure I can win against her.”

“We’ll get out,” I said firmly, not voicing my concerns. She was getting out of here no matter what I had to fucking do.

After what felt like forever, we reached the end of the steps, and Kali stared at another door with apprehension. The alarm was grating on my nerves, and I could only imagine what was happening outside. If Shadows were in Project Hope, it was probably chaos.

“Fuck,” she cried out when the door wouldn’t open. “I can’t open it.”

“That’s the point,” I grumbled. “They wanted to make sure you couldn’t escape.”

“Zan.” She faced me, her eyes wild with panic. “It’s not me I’m worried about. You heard Keeva. If her words are true, then they can’t kill me. But they will kill you. I have to get you out.”

“Kali,” I grated out. “Stop talking like you’re staying here. Because that is not fucking happening.”

Just then, the door was pushed open from the other side, and I went rigid, preparing to fight. Kali spotted the person first, and her eyes widened in surprise.

“Viggo—”

My brother barreled into the stairwell, a stake in his hand that he had aimed at Kali. She snatched the weapon from his grip before shoving him back.

“What are you doing?” she snapped.

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