AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My focus slipped to Freddy, but this time he just looked forward and lengthened his stride to surge ahead, leaving us behind. The movement wasn’t lost on Lazarus as he scowled and fixed his gaze on the back of his bodyguard’s head. His lips parted, the words right there, as movement came from our left.
Logan’s hand was up in an instant. I hadn’t even seen him move, but he had the gun trained on one of the Commission’s security guards as he stepped into sight. The guy just lifted his empty hands, his gaze shifting from Logan to Lazarus. “They’re expecting you, Mr. Rossi.”
Lazarus just nodded and slid his arm from around my shoulders, taking my hand once more. He was in charge here. The one the others turned to…the one I turned to.
Our steps echoed in the space as we stepped through the electric doors and headed along the hall.
“Kat?” Anna cried, standing in the middle of the hall.
My heart leaped. “Anna!”
“Kat!”she sobbed, and lunged forward.
I left Lazarus behind, tearing my hand from his as I raced to her.
She was a mess, with wind-swept hair and wide, shell-shocked eyes. But I’d never felt so much relief as we collided. Her arms were around me in an instant, her head buried against my neck as she sobbed and shook.
“Hey, there,” I murmured, holding her tight. “Hey…it’s all okay. You’re safe now…you’re safe.”
“Salvatore,” Lazarus said, drawing my attention to Finley as he stepped out of the shadows.
Anna’s grip tightened around me. For that, I was grateful. I stiffened as I caught sight of the blood. Finley’s face was splattered. His shirt was a mess. The blood looked almost black, stuck hard against his chest in the moonlight. His gaze never moved from Anna in my arms. The cold, possessive stare sent a flare of panic through me, making me pull away.
“What happened?” I asked her, wiping away the shine of tears on her cheeks.
She just stared at me. But there were no words, just fear echoing deep in her eyes.
“We were attacked,” Finley answered for her, his voice stony and strange. “But everything is okay now, isn’t it, Anna?”
She stiffened, her gaze pleading before it crumbled, and she gave a nod.
Something had happened tonight. Something that irrevocably changed both of them in the space of a few hours. I saw it in the way Lazarus was focused on Finley. A flicker of…fearcrossed my Prince’s eyes as Finley met his gaze.
“Max and Pavlov?” Logan murmured.
“Dead,” Finley answered. “Both of them. Taken out as the hangar was stormed.”
“What the hell were you doing in the hangar?” Lazarus asked.
But there was no answer as the heavy thud of footsteps grew louder. The Commander neared, his gaze missing nothing. “I’ve assigned a temporary security detail…until you leave.”
“Leave?” I murmured and jerked my gaze to Anna’s. “You’re leaving?”
Stars shimmered in her eyes before she slowly nodded.
“Anna will be returning home with me,” Finley answered.
“How about you let her speak for herself?” I snarled, and took a step forward, my hand sliding into hers.
Lazarus watched me like a hawk as Finley just glanced at Anna and gave a shrug. “Tell them.”
“I’m going back,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have come in the first place. This place just doesn’t feel right.”
“The hell it doesn’t,” I croaked as a pang of agony plunged deep. “What about me?”
She just gave me a sad smile and took my hands in hers. “There’s nowhere you could go that I won’t find you,” she answered. “You’re stuck with me, Kat. Like a red wine stain on your favorite dress, you’ll never get rid of me.”
Tears blurred her face. “But I don’t want you to go,” I whispered, hating how needy I sounded.
