They took out Kai’s protective detail—at least five guards, judging from the number of men splayed on the ground.
Before I dare to make another move, I’m dialling Reuben’s number quickly. I have to force my heart to a calm—force myself to stay rational and keep my senses.
By the time he answers on the fifth ring, I’ve mastered my panic and honed it into something focused. Something sharp and deadly.
“Reuben, someone’s after Kai.”
For a few moments, I don’t think he’s heard me.
“What?”
“The station was targeted,” I reiterate as quietly as I can and finally, I sense him break out of his surprise.
I hear him curse and bark orders to someone close to him.
‘Baalito, find out what’s going on at the station.’
‘What’s going on?’
‘That’s what I need you to find out.’
There’s more commotion over the line as Reuben tries to get to the bottom of things and I remain hidden behind the pillar, peeking out only barely to see what’s happening.
“Traitor!” Kai yells while struggling in a man’s grip. A man with a piercing on his brow, shaved black hair and a piercing stare.
He backhands Kai across the face so sharply, the boy crumbles to the floor with a yelp and an anger like I’ve ever known rises to the surface of my skin.
Kai is dazed by the slap, I can tell his vision is swimming because he suddenly looks shaky, but when the man grabs him by the collar, Kai only wears a venomous glare on his face, without a hint of fear.
A mighty Taiga indeed.
The man throws Kai over his shoulder, and he and his team turn to move up the steps to the surface.
Kai struggles fiercely, but another man slaps him across the face to shut him up and I know by now a bruise must be forming across his cheek.
I’ll be sure to kill them for that.
I follow behind as closely as I can without getting caught. I came from Lucia’s place so I don’t have any guns. She always had a strict ‘no guns’ policy when I visited her.
Which means if I step out there now, I’ll die.
“Reuben, I’m unarmed… but I can’t let them get away.”
“If you’re unarmed, you’re useless,” he hisses through the phone. “Don’t even try to confront them. The family is sending their men shortly.”
“They’ll be gone before you get here—”
“Christian, this is a direct order. If you step out there now without a weapon, all you’ll do is die a useless death. How many of them are out there?”
My lips are tightened into a firm line.
“Seven in the station.”
“Aster is counting four cars on the outside from the cameras.”
“… How many men is that?”
“Too many for you to handle,” he snarls at me.
