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He snarls. “Don’t you da—”
I punch him square in the nose. He’s out like a light.
Now all that’s left to do is deal with Jake out in the hall, and then I’m free.
Hearing the commotion, my guard and personal nightmare comes barging in, but not before I grab the chair Salkov was sitting in. I pick it up and throw it at Jake as he enters, the collision so drastic and sudden he falls and hits his head on the tile. Unconscious. I’m quick to bend down and pick up his gun.
I immediately point it at my captors.
Levitsky raises a hand in surrender. He’s on his hands and knees, weak and pathetic. Salkov is similarly bumbling like an idiot. It’s almost funny. These heartless monsters never would have shown me any mercy, so why should I offer any in return?
“Don’t do it,” Salkov begs.
“You’re not a killer,” Levitsky points out.
I hook my finger around the trigger. “You killed Dani.” Just saying her name fills me with grief and rage—an intoxicating combination. “Youkilledher.”
“I was lying!” Konstantin shrieks. “She’s alive.”
I shake my head. “I don’t believe you. You’re just trying to save your asses.”
“It’s the truth!” Levitsky screams. “She’s alive and in New York. She got help, found her way to a hospital.”
It would be so nice to believe them. Iwantto believe them. But my brain’s so fucked up right now I don’t know what to do. What would Dani want? What would she say if she were here? She’d probably talk about justice and doing the right thing, but…
Konstantin, Levitsky, and Salkov have caused so much pain for my family. They’re weeds, capable of growing back even in the harshest conditions. My brothers thought they were being merciful when we locked them away in the Pit. But now I see the only way to stop these monsters from haunting us is to kill them where they stand.
I’m about to pull the trigger when I hear shouting in the hall. Guards. Lots of them—probably coming to retrieve their employers. After all, if they don’t ensure The Trinity’s safety, who’s going to guarantee their paycheck? I have to get out of here before they can catch me.
I lower the gun. If I shoot them, the sound will give away my position. The guards will swarm, and I’ll really be shit out of luck. I guess today’s their lucky day. Right now, my survival takes precedence.
Gun still in hand—I run.
My feet carry me forward, the air whipping through my hair. It feelsgoodto finally get to stretch my legs. If only it weren’t a life-or-death situation.
Behind me, the rattling of gunfire rings out. Angry shouting, screaming follows. I don’t stop. I can never stop. I don’t exactly have a plan of action for when I get out of here, but there’s no question in my mind—I’d rather die in the wilderness than rot away in confinement. At this point, death doesn’t scare me. I have nothing left to lose.
There are no signs, no clearly marked exits, so I’m at the mercy of the winding maze of hallways. I find a stairwell and immediately burst through the door, descending the steps two at a time until I reach the bottom floor. The scent of fresh air fills me with hope and promise. There’s got to be an exit nearby, I just have to keep searching.
A guard is standing in front of the door, blocking my way. He’s small. I think I can take him. With all the speed I can muster, I charge with a mighty roar. I bring my closed fist down on him—
Only to be blocked. The guard uses my momentum against me, stepping just to the side to send me careening into the wall.
“Wait!” she shouts. It’s the voice of a woman, her words muffled by her mask.
But I don’t wait. I’ve been spotted. If I don’t deal with her quickly, she’ll no doubt call for backup. I swing at her again, but she ducks out of the way. She’s just too fast. But where she has speed, I have desperation. I manage to pin her against the wall, my forearm against her throat as she presses her hand against my chest. It’s a little strange that she hasn’t tried to attack me yet, but no matter. As long as it works in my favor.
“L-Luka…” she rasps.
Confusion swirls inside me. I know this voice.
“Luka, it’sme.”
I’m finally able to see through the rage clouding my vision, my eyes locking onto hers. I’d know those dark eyes and long lashes anywhere, but… how can this be? “Dani?” I whisper, stepping back.
She wheezes, coughing as she quickly throws off her mask and helmet. I can hardly believe my eyes.
“Dani!”
