“I’m going to kill all of you!” Preston’s voice rang out behind them, choked and furious.
As they ran past him, Lila looked up.
Through the small glass window in the door, she could see David’s face. His hand was pounding on the glass, his mouth moving, saying something she couldn’t hear over the chaos.
She was three feet from the door.
Preston’s hand shot out and grabbed her ankle.
Lila crashed to the floor, her chin hitting the hard surface. Pain exploded through her jaw.
Brian yelled, sucking in air reflexively.
He staggered slightly, the gas affecting him.
“Don’t breathe in!” Lila coughed, trying to wrench her ankle free.
Preston’s grip was like iron.
Through the white fog, she could see his face. Furious. Determined.
And still conscious.
His other hand, the one holding the gun, was raised toward her.
Lila’s hand scrabbled at the floor, searching for something, anything.
Brian flew over her. She turned to see Brian’s leg as it swung out and connected with Pretson’s head. The man lurched, and a ball swung from the ceiling, hitting him square in the chest.
Preston roared in pain and fury.
His grip loosened just enough for Lila to yank her ankle free and scramble forward on her hands and knees. Brian reached down, and they were both trying not to breathe or cough as she helped her up. They staggered forward, reaching the door.
Their eyes met, and Brian nodded. Her lungs were burning. She needed to breathe. Needed air.
Her vision was starting to blur at the edges. Her hand shook as she reached toward the keypad.
22
DAVID
The vault door slammed shut with a deafening clang.
Everything happened at once.
Milly moved like a striking snake. One second she was standing beside William, the next she had Calvin on the ground, her knee in his back, twisting his arm at an angle that made him cry out in pain.
Nolan was there in a flash, helping restrain him.
“Lila!” Mia screamed.
She and Eve rushed toward the small glass window in the vault door.
“No...” Mia’s voice was breaking, raw with terror.
David moved forward, his heart in his throat. “Let me through.”
He pressed his face to the glass.
