AllFreeNovel
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Maison is out of the chair. Somehow, without help, he’s out of the chair.He must have been free all along.
Nathan is grabbing Carter, pulling him to his feet. “It’s time. Come on.”
Benny is helping a slave that has fallen to his knees. Carter knows from the plan they all went over that Benny must be talking to him about the champagne.Did he have any? Is he just upset, or is he feeling sick?
After a few more seconds, Benny stands up and walks over to help another slave a few tables away. A majority of them are clustered toward the back of the room now, clearly panicking. No one has tried to run yet.
“My name is Maison Beckett,” Carter hears Maison say into the microphone. “I need you all to remain calm. I am here to-”
“I should go to them,” Carter tells Nathan. He’s trembling. Hard enough for his teeth to be clacking together. He’s leaning heavily on Nathan in order to keep from falling, his legs feeling like rubber. “I - I should help them.”
“Carter, no. It’s time for you to go. Do you understand? You’re in the first car out of here. You and Casey. Like I told you.”
“But-”
“No. Can you walk, or do you need to be carried?”
Carter slowly moves away from Nathan, testing his strength. He’s wobbly, but he can manage. “I’m okay.”
“Let’s grab Casey, then.”
Another shot rings out. Nathan quickly moves his body, blocking Carter from the rest of the room. A second shot goes off. Carter digs his fingers into Nathan’s jacket. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know. Let’s move.”
“Nate-”
The man looks over his shoulder, relaxing when he sees whatever it is he sees. Then he grabs Carter’s arm again and guides him towards the exit. “A guest tried to shoot Maison. It’s handled.”
Carter’s stomach flops. “He’s okay?”
“Maison’s fine. Come on.”
Carter tries to search for Maison as he’s pulled along. Instead, he finds himself staring at Todd Henley’s body. The man is either dead or passed out. Carter yanks out of Nathan’s grip, ignoring him when he shouts, “Carter, stop!”
He’s barefoot, but Carter doesn’t care. He puts as much of his weight as he possibly can and stomps down on Todd Henley’s crotch. The man jolts and screams.
Nathan lifts a gun Carter hadn’t noticed and points it at Henley’s thrashing head. “Cover your ears.”
Carter slaps his hands over his ears. He watches Nathan’s finger squeeze the trigger, jumping when the sound vibrates the air around them. He doesn’t bother looking at Todd Henley again, not in a hurry to see brain matter - even if it is the brain matter of a terrible fucking person like him.
“Tell me next time you want to stomp on a piece of shit,” Nathan grumbles, pulling him along again. “Gave me a fucking heart attack there.”
“Sorry.” Carter giggles, feeling giddy. They’re only feet away from the exit now. Benny is already standing there with Casey.
Nathan just shakes his head at him, but he’s smiling.“Now can we please get the fuck out of here before I toss you over my shoulder?”
Carter lets himself look around the room a final time, taking in all the people on the ground and the slaves Benny is trying to help calm down.Is this really over? Did he really survive?
A hand slips into his and squeezes. He blinks and finds that Casey is beside him. “Come on, Carter. Time to go.”
Together, they let Nathan lead them to the back door. Warm air washes over them. A black SUV with tinted windows is parked in the alley, engine running. A door swings open and a man in black cargo pants and a black shirt hops out. “You’re 2 minutes late, Travis.”
“Take it up with Beckett junior. He’s as stubborn as his brother.” Nathan nudges Carter forward, which brings Casey forward as well since they’re still connected by joined hands. “Carter, this is Ace. He’s the fourth person on our team. I told you about him. It’s his one and only job tonight to get you to the safehouse. I trust him with my life, and yours. Listen to him.”
A blanket is suddenly draped over his shoulders. By Ace. He glares at the man, who slowly steps away with his hands raised. “Sorry. Just… protocol.”
Carter continues glaring at him for another moment before turning the glare on Nathan and saying, “Don’t forget your promise.”
