Page 21 of Cruel (Brutal Academy)

We trotted up the stairs faster, keeping to the side to stay out of sight of anyone who might look back down. Every so often, I glanced up, gun ready to blow out brains.

"They went that way," someone shouted.

"Get after them," that was Hades.

At a signal from Zeke, we started to run. It was clear by now, no one was looking back. Their attention was all focussed ahead.

We bolted past a couple of landings, all the way to the third floor. A room full of chairs and a stage was empty.

"Backstage," Zeke said. He wasn't even puffing.

We slowed down and headed up the stairs onto the stage.

"This is more familiar," Asher remarked.

I rolled my eyes and resisted the temptation to shoot him in the back of the head just to shut him up. Only because I didn't want to waste a bullet.

We stepped into a dressing room. A woman's body lay on the floor. For a heart stopping moment, I thought she was Lila. Her hair was the same colour, the same length. There was so much fucking blood.

My brain finally registered that it wasn't Lila. I released a ragged breath.

Several men lay dead around the room. One had so many holes in his chest he looked like Swiss cheese.

"Anyone want to bet our girl was here?" I asked.

"Without doubt," Hunter said proudly.

"I'm guessing they went that way." I jerked my head toward an open door that also looked shot up.

"Let's go carefully," Zeke said. "If those women did this, the assholes might get desperate. We don't want them to shoot first and ask questions later."

"No, we fucking don't," Hunter agreed.

Guns raised in front of us, we stepped carefully through the doorway. It led to a long corridor lined with doors. At first glance, there was no sign of Hades and his people.

We walked silently across the worn linoleum floor. This section of the building wasn't meant to be seen by men in Armani suits. This was for staff. The doors must be offices or storage.

"Put your guns down," a male voice said from around the corner, just beyond the end of the corridor.

"You first."

I grinned. I knew that voice. Lila. Thank fuck she was alive. No doubt she was the one leading this escape. We were just here to help if necessary. The woman was a motherfucking badass.

"We have you pinned down in there." He sounded very confident. "We can wait here for reinforcements to arrive. You have nowhere to go. Put your guns down and no one will get hurt."

"We already have been hurt." That was a female voice I didn't recognise. She sounded distraught. Honestly, who could blame her? This whole situation was sixty-nine different kinds of fucked up.

"You can be hurt worse if you want," the man growled.

"Or you can fuck off," Lila replied. She sounded like she was past done with their bullshit. Honestly, she had a low tolerance level for bullshit in the first place. The last couple of days would have stretched her to the limit and beyond. She was going to need lots of chocolate, bubble bath, cuddles and orgasms after this. I knew just the three guys to give them to her. Especially me.

"I suggest you do what the woman says."

I frowned. That sounded like Slade. He must have gotten here right before we did. Evidently he hadn't bothered to wait for us.

Rude.

"Fuck this." Hades' minion sounded pissed off. "Let's just—"

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