Then suddenly I hear it. A bang against the front of the container, but not against the doors. As if something is hitting something just in front of the doors. And again. Then another, followed by the sound of scraping metal.
Startled, I take a step back, and then the door suddenly slides open. For a moment, I stand there in a daze, but then I recognize Ash’s face and run outside. Both girls follow me.
“Ash,” I sob. When I’m in front of him, I let go of the girls and throw my arms around his neck. He wraps his arms around me.
“Oh my God, Layne.” His grip tightens before he lets me go. “Brooks, Layne’s here.”
My chest tightens painfully at the sound of his name. With a grimace, I turn around.
Frantic blue eyes focus on me. “Jen. I gotta find Jen,” he says and tries to push his way through the crowd of women.
I run to him and grab his forearm. “She’s not there,” I whisper.
He jerks toward me. “Where is she, Layne?” His voice breaks.
My heart sinks. “I’ll tell you when we’re out of here, but she’s not here.”
Brooks shakes my hand off and keeps going. I immediately run after him and grab him again. “Please, Brooks. She’s not here. We got to get out of here. Now.”
“Goddammit, Layne. I need to find her. Leave me the hell alone.” He tries to shake me off again, but this time I’m ready for him and grab him harder.
“Listen to me!” I shout. “She’s not in here. We gotta get out of here. I’ll tell you everything once we’re out of here. I promise. But it’s dangerous to stay here.”
Meanwhile, Norah has rushed over to me. “Layne, we have to get out of here,” she says with a trembling voice, then looks up at Brooks. “Get us out of here.”
“Are you sure?” he growls at me.
“A hundred percent.” I nod, a heavy feeling in my stomach, and head for Asher.
Brooks grabs Norah’s hand and pulls her with him.
As soon as we’re back with Asher, I grab Bel’s hand and we run. Suddenly, a bullet whizzes past us and I cower. Shit!
“Brooks, go,” Ash shouts.
We duck together as more bullets fly toward us, and Brooks aims his gun at the source and fires. Meanwhile, we run to God knows where. I follow Ash blindly.
Suddenly, I bump into his back, and a chill runs through me when I hear a voice. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I cautiously look over Ash’s shoulder and pull Bel close to me. Jesse is standing in front of him with a gun pointed at Ash’s chest, and I squeeze my eyes shut. My breathing quickens and my ears ring. Please, this can’t be happening.
“Running off with the goods like that.” He clicks his tongue disapprovingly.
“Nasty business you’re in,” Ash responds, tilting his head.
Where the fuck is Brooks? I was sure he was with us.
“That’s none of your business, kid.” The tap against the leather jacket is clearly audible, despite everything going on around us. “A Renegade. Didn’t your boss teach you to keep your hands off other people’s property?”
“I could ask you the same thing, asshole.”
“You bark, but you don’t bite.”
Ash growls deep in his chest. “No need.”
Suddenly, a shot rings out and my whole body jerks. I open my eyes to Brooks’ gun against the guy’s temple, just before he collapses with his eyes wide open.
“Run.”
