Page 117 of Breaking Point

“I don’t…” he growls, still searching as I spot a security guard appearing by the private stairwell closest to the elevators. I step further back, hiding behind an opening door. “Basement saysRestricted Access.”

That’s where they’ll be then.

Harvey curses. “Chase found me.”

“Harvey-“

His line goes dead. I peer around the door to see the security guard gone, and a million thoughts racing through my head as I debate what to do next.

“Skar?”

“Go,” he orders. “I’ll find Rema. You find Olivia and Aleks. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

I push off the wall, scouring my memory for a route that would lead me to the basement. One path takes the private stairwell. All likely monitored. I’d have a better chance trying to hide amongst the crowd.

So I do, passing by the entirety of the ballroom unnoticed. I flash my badge at either of the guards stationed at the elevator, and I take stairs one level down where the noise of the party is more muffled.

The left leads to the kitchens and the right leads to a couple of laundry rooms and the wine cellar. I head for the right, keeping my hand on my gun. When I hear two voices around the corner, I withdraw my pistol slowly.

I move without thought. I sneak behind one of the guards, covering their mouth and keeping their head in a lock as I aim my gun at the other.

“Scream and I shoot.”

He moves for his radio, and I fire a single round into his leg. Before he can shout, I shove them both into the nearestroom. I slam them into the wall, knocking them unconscious. Stripping them of their electronics, I pile everything on a shelf above their heads. I zip tie their hands and ankles so they can’t move.

My gun is still in-hand as I check the hall, tracking the wall with my hand. I check a few of the rooms, cursing when I find most of them empty, but when I peer down a hall and find the empty wine cellar, I pause.

I notice a silhouette sitting just inside the darkened room, and I prowl forward. My heart hammers as I push the door open.

“Olivia,” I mutter in relief, but I see her tense, turning over her shoulder to look at me.

I drop to my knees in front of her. “Crew?” Pulling a knife from my boot, I cut through the zip ties around her legs. “What are you doing here?” she croaks.

“You’re safe, Princess. I got you,” I tell her, and once her legs are free, I notice one of her hands is already cut loose. I can’t stop myself from reaching up and cupping her face.

Blood is scabbed over her hairline, and I touch the bruise gingerly, frowning when she hisses.

“I’m okay,” she murmurs as I turn her chin to see the red bruise on her cheek. “I’m okay, Crew. Please just-“ she tugs on the remaining zip tie.

When I see a letter opener in her lap- a clear sign she was trying to escape- I grin, brushing her hair back again. “That’s my girl.”

I cut the last tie, and as soon as I do, she throws her arms around me. Just the weight of her, the smell of her shampoo, makes the ache in my chest fade.

“I know where Rema will be,” Liv says into my neck, and I sweep her hair away to assess for any more wounds. Shewinces, her skin flush. “I- I can find him. But there’s more of them. And Sofia-“

“Sofia?” I blurt, still absently touching her cheek. Still not believing she’s real. I yank myself back to reality. “There’s not enough time. Let’s go.”

I curse when the lights flicker on. I find Donatello Rema standing in the doorway. He claps slowly. Threeguards tail him, guns aimed at us. I block her from view, knowing I could take them on my own- but not while protecting her.

His grin is all cocky. “I have to give you credit for getting this far. But I can’t say I’m not disappointed you didn’t plan better,” he scoffs.

Come on Skar, I think. But the more time passes, the more I’m filled with doubt.

Then Rema’s phone rings… and his smile falls.

I grin, knowing that we haven’t lost yet. “Answer it, why don’t you?”

He digs it out of his pocket, and when he answers and hears Skar’s voice over the line, I watch everything fall into place.

---