Page 456 of Broken Oath

I stumble over a parking barrier.

His arm locks around my waist, keeping me upright.

He doesn’t release me.

The service door bursts open beneath his shoulder.

Cold rain strikes my face as we race into the alley.

A black SUV waits at the curb.

The driver’s seat is empty.

I glance at Caleb. “You planned this?”

“I plan everything.”

For the first time since I heard Graves’s voice in that underground corridor, I almost smile.

Another shot strikes the brick wall beside us.

Caleb throws open the passenger door and shoves me across the console. Then he climbs behind the wheel and slams the SUV into gear.

The tires spin on the wet pavement.

A man appears at the mouth of the alley and raises a rifle.

Caleb drives directly at him.

The shooter jumps aside before the SUV reaches him.

Caleb swings onto the street and accelerates into traffic.

I twist around in my seat.

The garage disappears behind us.

No dark SUV follows.

Not yet.

I face forward and notice blood on Caleb’s hand.

“You’re bleeding.”

“Glass.”

“You should let me look at it.”

“Later.”

“That’s what men say when they don’t want anyone to discover they’re hurt.”

He glances at me.

“You say that from experience?”

“Extensive experience.”