Page 160 of Barinov

Brother.

I stare at the empty doorway, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat before returning my focus back to Roman.

Roman’s eyes lock on mine. “Remember the rules?”

“Yeah.” I nod, pulling off my shirt and slamming it on the countertop. “Follow the flares and fight my way through hell in the dark. Then get to the antidote before this shit makes me blackout and stop breathing.”

Cade gasps at my words. I don’t dare look over. Not right now. I can’t afford to lose focus by worrying about him.

Roman nods slowly.

“How many are out there?” I ask, attaching the ECG patch on the skin where the Bella tattoo lives.

“Enough,” Roman confirms, peering down to check his phone. “Knox says he can see your vitals. It’s time.”

I lay my arm flat on the icy counter.

“Good luck, Lex,” he says, slowly sliding the needle into my flesh. A rush of warmth shoots up my arm when he presses the poison into my vein.

♥♥♥

By the time I reach the first flare, my heart is racing and my palms are sweating. But at least my vision is still clear.

For now.

“Well, well, well,” DeShawn’s smug voice cuts through the treeline. “What do we have here, Chase?”

I whip around. Two of my Hollow Kings brothers step out from the shadows, gripping wooden baseball bats. Both uniform in dark jeans and black V-necks. The red skull masks on their faces looking like fresh blood underneath the moonlight.

“Let’s get this over with,” I growl, rolling my shoulders. I square up, trying to find a center that keeps shifting under my feet.

Chase swings first.

I duck, the bat whistling inches above my skull. I sweep his legs and take him out by the ankles. He hits the dirt hard. I lunge for the wood, my fingers barely closing around it. A boot slams into my hip before I can get a firm hold on the thing.

“Nice try,” DeShawn taunts, smashing his bat down into my thigh. Pain radiates up my leg. He kicks Chase’s bat out of my reach. “On your feet, Lex.”

I shove myself up, my heart pounding in my ears.

DeShawn swings for my head. I grab it, but my hands are too sweaty from whatever Roman shoved in me.

“Fuck!” I yell as the wood slides through my fingers.

Chase comes from behind with a low blow that kicks my knees out from under me. I hit the ground again, palms scraping against the grit. The bat slams into the base of my spine. White flashes across my vision right as the pressure hits.

Chase flips me onto my back and jams the wood across my throat, cutting off my air. I claw at it, my fingers slipping and lungs burning.

“You’re weak,” Chase sneers through the mask, leaning his weight into my throat. “You’ll never find her.”

Rage detonates.

I twist, bucking hard enough to throw his ass off balance. My boot connects with his gut in a sickening thud. He stumbles back. I surge up and rip the bat from DeShawn’s grip before he has a chance to blink.

And then start swinging.

Once.

Twice.