Page 33 of Sanction

“Dani, I’ve got to talk fast.” He swallows. “I’m going to need you to trust me.”

I scoff and turn my head.

“I’d never trust a fucking Serpent.”

He goes to the other boot. “He said you wouldn’t.”

My eyes shoot to his. He reaches in his pocket, pulling out a small object. When he opened his palm, something lodged in my throat. I don’t know if it's tears or vomit, maybe both. My bracelet. His bracelet.

“He told me to tell you, ‘Travis has got you’.”

He places the colored stones in my hand as a tear slides down my cheek.

“They’re coming. Soon. They have a plan. But I can’t let these guys find me out. Not till the Knights get here, or I’m a dead man.”

My eyes scan his face and I can tell he is being honest. He looks just as scared as I do.

“He’s coming?” I whisper.

He nods. “They all are.”

“There is something I’m supposed to do…. just know I’m not…. I’m not going to hurt you…I just have to play the part until they get in here,” he says quietly.

His face looks pained and it hits me what he’s supposed to do.

Boss gave us the green light.

“I’m going to unlock this chain, but leave it in place like it’s dummy locked, okay?” He says as he reaches up to insert the key.

The click of the metal makes me jump and I fight the urge to rip my arm out. I could right now. I could jump up, get one good hit on him, and get Tanner out. But I look at the bracelet in my hand. No one knows I gave this to him. He’s telling me to hold on. My eyes sting as the tears swirl under my eye lids.

“Okay,” I finally croak as he takes a step back.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers right as the bedroom door swings open.

“You ladies ready to party?”

My eyes shoot to Tanner who is plastered to the wall. The panic on her face makes my stomach churn and I squeeze the bracelet tighter in my sweaty palm. With a slow movement I shove it into my back pocket, trying to calm my heart as I flicker my eyes over to the kid.

“Blondie is mine.” The big guy rasps through the sound of his belt buckle being unclamped. Fuck.

The boy steps towards me. “I got her.”

His voice is confident, but I’m looking right into his eyes. They mirror mine. Fear. He leans down, jerking me up to a standing position. His lips aim towards my neck as he pretends to push me against the wall.

His voice is soft and quiet. “When I tell you to. Run.”

I nod and push against his chest to show I’m putting up a fight. He wrestles me, not hurting me, but making it believable. I peer over his shoulder as the other guy grabs Tanner by the hair and he forces her to her knees. She’s sobbing and clawing at his wrists.

The faint sound of a gunshot stills us.

“What the fuck?” The other guy growls.

As he steps away, distracted by buttoning his pants, the kid charges him. They tumble to the floor in a ball of leather and curses.

“Go!” He shouts at me before he lands a blow on his chin.

“Dani!” Tanner screams.

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