Page 178 of Barinov

66 days since Bella’s kidnapping.

Rez’s boots strike the basalt stones as he paces in front of the entrance. “That’s what? At least five shots now?”

“At least,” Roman confirms.

Daniel rakes his hands on the back of his neck. “And my son only has one. That fucker set him up for failure.”

“He’ll be fine,” I whisper, even as my fingers twitch toward the metal biting into my throat.

“No!” Lex’s voice rips through the arches. “No, please!”

“Lex!” I lunge forward.

“Cade, no!”

Rez catches me mid-step, arms locking around my chest to yank me back.

“Let me go,” I choke, twisting in his grip.

His hold tightens. The warm, tatted muscle is a steel trap around my trembling body.

“We can’t go in there.”

“Why not?” I snap, already knowing.

“For one,” Rez mutters against my temple, “the fucking collar.”

I stop fighting.

“And two.” His voice drops. “I made a promise to my cousin a long time ago. That if there was ever a moment he couldn’t protect you, then I would.”

My stomach drops. “W-what?”

“And I don’t break promises.” Rez’s grip loosens enough that I can breathe. “So if I let you go, you don’t do anything stupid. Deal?”

My throat is too tight to speak, so I nod.

He releases me.

I stumble forward, boots slipping against the stone.

BEEP.

We all freeze.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The sound slices through the air.

My pulse stutters. “Rez,” I say, my voice cracking as the sound increases. “Rez!”

“Shit.” He grabs the collar, digging his fingers into the metal. “Fuck! I don’t know how this thing…”

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

“Get away from me,” I say, backing up.

He closes the distance, his shadow looming over me.