Page 109 of Forged in Deception

He had found the two women at last.

Cora was lying on what he could only describe as a wooden altar, and Lily was standing in front of her.

When she shifted her weight, Asher’s terror deepened.

Though there was no sign of a gun, Lily was holding a large dagger in both hands, and its point was pressed firmly against the younger woman’s throat.

CHAPTER

FORTY-SIX

ASHER

There was no time to think, but Asher didn’t need to.

The momentary fear he’d felt ebbed away more quickly than it had come, leaving behind nothing but pure instinct and the years of training that had honed it.

He reacted in a mere heartbeat, rushing out from the shadows and into the center of the room, his gun a comforting weight in his hands.

Lily turned and spotted him. Her eyes were filled with genuine surprise, and he could see by the way she stood trembling now that she realized it was far too late for her to try and run.

He pointed the gun at her.

“Drop the weapon. Now!”

His voice was firm, and loud enough to echo through the space.

Behind him, he could hear the rest of the small crowd moving around and calling to each other in panicked voices. There was a chance one of them would pull a weapon and try to sneak up on him, but he couldn’t afford to turn around.

Not until Lily dropped that knife.

He knew now what she was capable of.

“Lily, move now or I’ll shoot!” he called out again, louder this time. He stared at her, refusing to let his gaze waver even an inch. He didn’t want to hurt the woman, but he would if he had to.

He wouldn’t hesitate.

But to his relief, this time, she obeyed immediately.

The dagger clattered loudly against the floor, the sound mingling with the insistent pounding of the drumbeats.

He glanced behind him, but no one was close. Already, the space was clearing out. The others were rushing off in all directions, retreating into the hallways that surrounded the central room. Hopefully, they would hop on their little ATVs and head for the hills. The authorities would have to round them up later, but at least the missing girls would be safe.

“Hands above your head,” he said, no longer shouting. He didn’t need to. Lily’s face had sunk with defeat, and Cora was now sitting up on the altar, watching blankly as the others scurried away.

Suddenly, the sound of the drums went quiet.

Asher looked behind him, expecting trouble, but instead he found Karlin in a far corner of the room, clicking a button on a large black stereo.

Lily and Cora stared at him, and he stared back, keeping the gun pointed in their direction as he waited for Karlin to cross the room and join them.

For a few more moments, they listened to the retreating sounds of running feet, and then there was only silence.

KARLIN

Karlin forced herself to walk slowly toward Axel, Lily, and Cora.

Though she knew he had the gun–and therefore, control–the situation still felt terrifyingly volatile, like a tiny spark could set off a conflagration at any moment.

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