Page 88 of Iron Willed Warrior

I dragged my feet as we walked down the hall. We were going toward the employee side of the building, which was convenient. Not far from the door leading to the roof. But aside from that, I had no idea where Westwick was taking me.

Any moment the sprinklers would go off. The passage of the seconds ticked by in my head.

A siren wailed, followed by the wordFire. Westwick cursed as a sprinkler suddenly rained icy water. I shrieked, even though I wanted to cheer. I grabbed his arm. “I know where we can go!” I shouted. “Come on!”

“No, this way.” Westwick hustled me further down that same hallway, opposite the direction I wanted to go.

“Wait.” I dug in my feet, pointing toward the exit. We had to get to the roof access. “I know the perfect spot, I promise.”

When he turned to me now, water streaming down his face, the man’s expression was hard. “I saidthis way, Brianna. Learn to fucking listen.”

My mind worked fast. How bad of a setback was this? I could keep resisting, but then the plan would be toast. Of course, if I didn’t get him to the roof, the plan was also shot.

Either way, I had to make a decision. I still had the flash drive with the virus. Should I comply? Go with him and try to upload it on his phone?

I didn’t hear the door open a few feet away over the noise of the siren. But the movement on my periphery drew my focus.

Ryker stood there in the open doorway.

I went for the knife concealed under my dress. The bodyguard lunged at me. Grabbed my wrists. I kicked him hard in the knee. When his grip on my arm loosened, I aimed a punch at his throat. Ryker’s eyes widened in shock.

But someone else’s arms closed around me from behind. A hand covered my mouth. I bit it and screamed. The sound of the siren, and now shouts of other guests in nearby hallways, drowned me out. Large hands shoved me into the doorway Ryker had stepped out of.

I was in a laundry room. Washers and dryers, carts full of sheets and towels. Immediately I spun, my knife now in my fist. “Let me out of here!” Ryker was there in the doorway along with Manning. Westwick stood behind them in the hallway, looking on.

Manning came forward. I slashed with the knife. The knife blade opened a gash across his palm, and the man shrieked. But Ryker was quick to come at me next, attacking at high speed. I’d lost the element of surprise. He knew I was a real threat. So he didn’t hold back.

Ryker slammed me against a washing machine. He twisted my wrist at an angle. Tingly numbness shot through my fingers, and my knife fell to the floor. “Enough,” he said in my ear. “Or you won’t like what happens.”

“Try me, asshole,” I taunted.

When I kicked again, he was ready with a brutal shove. My breath left me as I smacked flat on my back on the concrete. While I was still stunned, Ryker flipped me and secured my wrists with some kind of plastic cuffs. I tried to kick my legs, but he got my ankles bound. A gag went in my mouth, followed by tape to hold it in place.

“I told you, boss,” Ryker said. “This one’s not what she seems. The trouble’s not worth it. We should get rid of her.”

“No.” Westwick’s tone was sharp and ruthless. “I want her. She’s mine. Go find out what the hell is happening with this sprinkler nonsense. This is screwing my entire evening.”

“I will. Sir, I realize you wanted to stay through dinner, but if the fire department responds?—”

“No, you’re right,” Westwick said. “We need to get her out of here sooner. I’ll find the other seminar attendees and give them my apologies. Take care of the rest of it.” The head of Stillwater stormed from the laundry room.

Ryker turned to the other guard. “Manning, make sure she’s secured and then go help O’Hanlon with Clay. I’ll be back here to get her.”

“Yes, boss.” Manning bent to drag me away from the door. Then both he and Ryker left me there. But they would return before long.

Colewas on the roof. If I could get out of here, I’d be able to warn him. But how?

The sprinklers and alarm suddenly shut off. But everything was sopping wet, which I could use to my advantage. The cuffs were tight, but there was a small amount of give. If I could get them loose enough to slide an arm free…

Then I realized I could do even better. My wrists were bound behind my back, but I could scrunch up my body into a ball and bring my arms around to my front.

It wasn’t easy. My shoulders and elbows creaked from the effort. But finally I got my hands past my butt and around my legs. I brought my hands up and pulled at the tape over my mouth. Spit out the gag. Right away I used my teeth on the plastic cuffs at my wrists.

A small tear opened at the edge of the plastic. I kept working at it.Come on, come on.My heart was up in my throat, thumping in my ears.

Footsteps in the hall. Voices.

The door opened.Ryker. He cursed when he saw what I was up to. “You really are trouble.” Ryker’s boots met my sight-line where I lay on the ground. I screamed, but he bent to shove the gag back in my mouth and fix the tape. “Makes me wonder if you had something to do with this fire alarm glitch. But that would mean you’re a very smart woman, and I don’t believe that. I think you’re a foolish little girl who thought she could get close to Garon. Make use of him. You did some damage with that knife you brought along. But you have no idea who you’re really dealing with.”

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