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When the lock disengages and the handle begins to turn, I stand, remembering Tori’s dad reiterating his instruction to me all those years ago.
Stand with your legs shoulder-length apart but have your right foot just a little more forward. Yes, Livie, just like that. Now, relax your arms as you raise them and only lock that right elbow enough to help absorb the impact when you pull the trigger. And don’t forget to keep your wrists secure, or you’ll risk jamming your firearm. You need the recoil to move through you, not to jolt your body.
If only I’d continued with my lessons as I got older, something I intend to do just as soon as this nightmare is over.
Using the memory to find a comfortable position, I keep my index finger hovering right over the trigger as the door opens slowly.
Nobody enters, but a voice I at least recognize sounds. “Olivia? Is it safe to come in?”
Like I would be able to say “no” if it wasn’t. Seems like a rather stupid question. Still, I don’t lower my guard.
“Yep. Where’s Luca?” I ask cautiously, trying to not allow myself to think of all the reasons he wouldn’t be here himself.
The man with the scar on his cheek peeks his head around the door and grins when he sees me standing there. “He got hurt, but he’s okay. Just needs to see a doctor first. The worst of the trouble should be over for now, and he wants you to get out of here. Justine’s waiting for you, too.”
This is the same man who put his hands on my neck in the SUV that first night and also who I bumped into in the hallway only earlier today. So, it’s not as if I don’t know Luca considers him trustworthy enough to stay close, but still. Going with him gives me pause.
“How did Luca get hurt?” I ask, keeping my gun raised.
He proceeds further into the room but maintains a safe distance from me. “Not sure. I was fighting on the other side of the house. I can take you to the hospital instead of the safe house with Justine, but you’ll have to keep that gun to my head, so Luca doesn’t kill me himself for not doing as he demanded.”
This has me smirking a little, because it’s the kind of reaction I should know to expect from Luca by now.
“And Luca will be going to this safe house once he’s been seen?” I ask, and he nods. “What’s your name?” That might be helpful to know if I’m going to leave with him.
“Vin,” he answers, remaining calm even though I’m still pointing a weapon at his head. “I’ve worked for the Monroe family for nearly twenty years now and if it makes you feel better, you can still point that gun at me all the way to the safe house. We just really need to get going.”
I appraise him once more, taking in the blood splatter on his grey shirt and the gun at his hip that he hasn’t once reached for. If he was a complete stranger, I don’t think I would go with him, but given this is our third interaction and he doesn’t mind me keeping the gun, I don’t risk further upsetting Luca and at least lower my pistol.
Though, my eyes narrow on him as I do. “If you’re lying, you should be aware that I’m not afraid to kill you.”
He chuckles, the sound softening the hard lines of his face. “You wouldn’t be Luca’s woman if not. Now, let’s get the fuck out of here.”
He turns away from me, giving me his back, trusting me to follow and further easing my suspicions.
I grab my phone, shove it in my back pocket, then proceed to walk after Vin, still with the weapon in my hand, but resting at my side.
He’s waiting at the wall on the left of the landing, a hidden panel opened and revealing a set of stairs. “We need to take these. The elevators are out from all the chaos.”
Fucking stairs. Not what I want to do right now, but I follow him once more, jogging as quickly as I can without risking a fall. The last thing anyone needs is for me to kiss the concrete steps with my face.
By the time we reach the bottom, my legs are burning, but my lungs handle the exertion better than I expect. I guess I have Justine to thank for that when I see her since she’s the one that got me into the gym that first time.
Vin opens a door, and on the other side is the familiarity of the garage that Luca has parked in both times I’ve been in the vehicle with him.
There’s a waiting SUV just up ahead and more men standing guard, and even though I don’t recognize the others, that doesn’t surprise me. It’s not as if I’ve been paraded around the people who work for Luca over the last few weeks.
Vin is about ten feet ahead of me, and he opens the back passenger’s door, gesturing with his hand for me to get in.
My chest twists with a tightness I don’t like, but I consider the facts. Vin had the code, and he hasn’t disarmed me. Someone trying to kidnap me probably wouldn’t allow me to have a weapon.
With a slight shake of my head, I stop being so paranoid and step forward, but before I can get any further, a gunshot reverberates through the underground garage, hurting my ears and making me wince.
I start to duck, having no clue where it came from, just knowing that it’s close. As I get to my knees, I see Vin’s lifeless eyes staring at me and his body crumpled on the ground.
Mother fuck fuck.
There’s no time to think. I merely push back up to my feet, turning to run in the opposite direction, only there’s an imposing figure blocking my path. A behemoth of a man with a shaved head, dark eyes, and a smile that tells me I’m utterly fucked.
