Page 106 of Buried in Blood
The girl—Brooke—doesn’t look up as she’s escorted from the stage by one of the guards I paid off. I recognize the slight nod he gives. It’s done. We have five minutes.
Five. Maybe six if God’s feeling generous tonight.
I rise from my seat and button my jacket with surgical precision. My boots echo across the polished floor as I step into the aisle. Calm. Silent. Predator posing as prey.
Islip into the rear corridor, following the girl’s handler at a calculated distance. No one stops me. Not yet.
Then I see her.
Brooke.
She’s in front of the south exit, flanked by two guards I don’t recognize. The handler is speaking to them, gesturing toward a waiting black vehicle idling outside. The plan. Stick to the plan.
But something’s wrong.
The guard on the left leans in. He’s frowning.
Don’t fucking question it. Just move.
I close the distance, fast enough to draw attention but not alarm. I flash the ID badge—real name scrubbed, barcode active, Damien’s clearance signature perfectly forged.
“She’s mine,” I say coolly, just loud enough to command.
The handler nods. The suspicious guard doesn’t.
“What’s your verification code?” he asks.
“G7-92-LA. Issued this morning,” I reply without hesitation. It’s a bluff—one I know only three people can confirm.
But two of them are dead.
The guard narrows his eyes.
Then shrugs. “Fine. Take her.”
I almost don’t believe it.
But then he’s stepping aside.
Brooke follows, silent, barefoot on the concrete. Her hair is still curled. Her lips, red. Her eyes flick to mine once—barely a glance—but it’s enough.
She knows she’s not going where she was supposed to.
Good.
We reach the car. The door swings open. I shove her inside, slide in behind her, and shut it fast.
“Drive,” I snap to the man behind the wheel.
Hepeels out of the lot without a word.
We hit the tree line in less than thirty seconds. My heart doesn’t slow. It pounds harder, faster. I yank the blazer off, toss it into the backseat, and lean forward to unlock the glovebox.
Inside: burner phone, cash, adrenaline injector, and a second weapon.
I glance at the side mirror.
No headlights.
