Page 75 of No Escape

Saylor whimpers, watching him jog off to join the fray.

“Anyone left on the court is getting tranqed,” another guard bellows.

The omega’s cheeks are wet with tears as she steps over, grabbing my hand. It twists in my hold as she spins around and stretches out the other for Leo. “Come on. They’re not kidding. We need to get somewhere where we can talk.”

I never quite managed to forget how much I missed her, but I thought I was giving her a chance at the kind of life she deserved. The opportunity to find a pack her own age. Men without blood on their hands, who could settle down and live a white-picket-fence life.

Saylor drags the two of us along with purpose.

I’m not sure what state I expected to find her in, but she doesn’t seem to be crumbling.

Maybe that will come later?

No one would blame her if she needed a solid breakdown, but goddamn, I hope she’s okay—that nothing happened to her that she can’t come back from.

I don’t care why MI6 or the CIA or any of those intelligence agencies are interested in this place. They only seem to act when it’s in their best interests, anyway. I’m lucky because the government no longer owns my ass.

Our boss sent me and Leo here on a mission to find and bond Saylor to get her out of this hellhole.

That’s our directive.

I intend to be successful, but if this place is responsible for any lasting emotional damage…

Well, I don’t really give a fuck who else’s mission I might fuck up. I will burn this place to the ground on the way out if it comes down to it.

* * *

Saylor ignores everyone in the cafeteria, even as quite a few heads swivel her way. She guides us to the racks of food and nods. “I’m sure you’re hungry. You can take your masks off in here. It’s one of the designated areas, but I’m not staying. I’m too angry.” She goes to one of the massive refrigerators near the end of the hot bar and begins grabbing bagged lunches. “We can take these back to our room.”

The door slams loudly, and she moves to the drink case next to it.

Leo and I stand frozen.

I’m not sure what to do.

I ache to pull her into my chest, question her about what’s happened to her these last few days, and assure her that everything will be fine, but she’s barely looked at either of us.

It was always going to be an uphill battle to regain her trust, but she doesn’t even seem all that excited that we’re here to get her out.

Leo steps over, taking several of the bottled drinks from her arms. He also makes sure to collect a few packaged snacks from the display at the end of the food line.

I turn back, appraising the crowd and making sure no one gets any bright ideas about trying to touch Saylor.

She glances at the two of us and says, “Come on.”

We follow her out of the cafeteria and down the winding hallways. She stares up every few doors and eventually comes to a stop in front of the room next to the one we were given. Her shoulders shake as she lets out a heavy breath, and she rips open the door, heading inside.

Saylor drops her armful of food on the small table and glances around like she’s not sure what to do next.

She turns toward us as Leo puts down everything he carried in. “I didn’t think he would actually get a message out, but I guess he did.” She crosses her arms over her chest. She’s in a long white T-shirt and sweats, but they clearly aren’t sized for her. “Thank you for coming. I hoped Shadow Security would send someone, but in no way did I expect it to be you. Why don’t you guys eat?” She gestures to the table, then hikes a thumb toward one of the loft beds. “I just need like five minutes to nest and cry. After that, I’ll get myself together, and we can make a plan.”

My mouth goes dry.

She’s just as beautiful as I remember, but the softness and openness that made her so vibrant are gone. Maybe she’s just really unhappy to see me and Leo, but fucking hell, I hate the shell she seems to have built around herself.

“Really, I mean it. Thank you for coming for me. I’m sure you’re getting a nice payday, but I still appreciate?—”

“We’re not getting paid shit to be here,” I growl, taking a step forward. Everything in me wants to pull her to my chest and never let go. “We heard you were missing and got on the first flight.”

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