“Rune!” I spun and launched myself into his arms.
“Lora,” Rune whispered as he clutched me. “Fuck. I was frantic when Brax called.”
“Where is he?” I pulled back to look around us as a siren came in the distance, steadily getting louder.
“Taking care of the bomber.”
“He's not going to hurt Kaleo, is he?”
“Kaleo?” Rune snarled. “You know the man?”
“Rune, he warned us. Tried to get us out. He said they forced him to do this.”
He grunted. “Braxen will get the truth out of him.”
“Rune!”
“Look around, Lomasi!” Rune growled. “This is Michael's doing. His Host.”
“Host?”
“That's what his people call themselves. The Host. They're behind this. They've targeted you because they know you're our weakness.”
“Weakness?”
“I don't mean it like that.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “As we told you, you'll make us stronger, give us something tolive for. But because of that, hurting you would destroy us. We have to protect you, Lora. Please, let us protect you.”
“But you don't have to hurt innocent people to do that.”
“I told you, Braxen will get the truth out of this Kaleo. He will determine if the guy is innocent or not.”
“Rune.”
But then sirens came and police cars pulled up along with a firetruck. Well, they stopped down the street, but then they came running over. Most of the firefighters drew a hose over to the burning cars, but many firefighters were also paramedics, so some of them split off and headed for the injured. Then an ambulance arrived and a bunch of EMTs came running around the cars to help. So much activity, happening so quickly, all while I just stood there with Rune.
“I need to get you out of here,” Rune said.
“I can't leave. The police will want to speak to me. Plus, I have to make sure my employees are all right, and then I'll have to secure the gallery.”
Rune grimaced, his stare sweeping the area. “More of them could be lurking around. I'd be surprised if they're not.”
“Then stay close, but I have to do this, Rune. It could look bad if I fled the scene. Besides, I doubt they're going to pull anything with these many police officers here.”
“All right. Let's wait with your employees.”
Simon and Elaine gave Rune wide-eyed looks as he came up with me, but they were too shell-shocked to question why he was there and was Braxen gone. Shit. Braxen.
“Please, don't mention that Braxen was here,” I said to them.
“Why not?” Elaine demanded.
“He's my bodyguard, and he ran off after Mr. Chang.”
“Right. Your bodyguard.” Elaine looked from me to Rune and back.
“Then tell that to the cops,” Simon said, oblivious.
“I don't know what Braxen will do to Mr. Chang when he finds him.” I gave them a dark look.
