Selena nodded, moving hesitantly toward the door she just came through and led us down a long hallway before arriving at a row of cells. She quickly unlocked the cell door and an overwhelming crest of fear swallowed me, the consuming dread making my feet feel like fucking anchors.
Cassidy lay in the first one, curled up in a ball, shivering on the floor. A large bruise and dried blood colored her face. That was enough to enrage me. What else had they done to her? Collecting three steps, I fell to my knees, my chest constricting with an intense burning pain as her eyes fluttered open.
“Reid,” she whispered, her voice broken and weak. “Is it really you?”
“Yeah, baby. We’re here. Everything is going to be okay.”
Her eyes darted around the room, landing on her brother. Her face paled, eyes widening in horror. “It can’t be.” A sob ripped from her chest. “Oh God, I’m hallucinating.”
Bodie reached out, touching her cold cheek. “Everything is going to be all right, sis.”
She flinched with a gasp, her eyes snapping back to mine, dazed and confused. “Reid, what’s happening?” she cried, unaware that what she was seeing was reality.
“It’s okay. We’ll explain later. Let’s get you out of here.”
Her dazed eyes remained on Bodie, wide and confused as I retrieved the syringe filled with insulin from my cargo pocket and removed the cap, injecting it into her stomach. Then I handed my AR off to Bodie and retrieved my .9mm from the holster on my thigh, holding it in my right hand as I scooped her up.
She wrapped her arms loosely around my neck, as she murmured, “No. Not yet. Max. We…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get her,” Bodie stated with conviction.
Cassidy’s body went limp in my arms, head rolling against my chest. It was scaring the fuck out of me, and I worried we were too late.
Selena’s voice was soft and timid, yet there was an underlying strength to it. “I know where they are keeping her. Follow me.” Everyone immediately stepped in behind her.
She led us down a long, dimly lit hallway before we came to a stop at the very last door. Selena pressed her ear to the rusted metal door. “They are still in there.”
Bodie quickly shuffled Selena to the side; his hard face was a mix between pure anguish and sheer determination.
“Knock on the door,” he whispered to Selena, holding his gun up. “Say whatever necessary to make them open it.”
Selena nodded, lifting her hand to the door.
A deep voice shouted from the other side. “¿Quién es?”(What?)
“Soy yo. Padre quiere verte ahora.”(It’s me. Father wants to see you now.)
“Sí. Dile que estoy en mi camino.”(Yes. Tell him I will be right there.)
A few seconds later, the door flung open and Bodie delivered a clean shot right to the head. The man fell to the ground with a loud thud. Cassidy flinched in my arms, holding me tighter. Justin quickly moved inside, efficiently taking out the other man, too. It was an easy kill considering the bastard didn’t even have a chance to lift his gun. Max was tied to the bed. Face down. Hands and feet bound to each post.
As Bodie moved to untie Max from the bed, she let out an agonizing groan. “Shh…it’s okay. I got you.”
Max nodded, tears staining her cheeks. Bodie scooped her up in his arms. “I knew you’d come back,” she said on a whisper.
I shifted my gaze to Selena. “What is the safest way out of here?”
There was no way we could go back the way we came with carrying them both.
“Down the hall there is another secret tunnel. The one that comes out at Buena Vista. That is the safest way.”
“I know which one you’re talking about,” Bodie said.
“I will try to distract my father. But you must leave now…hurry!”
“Wait.” Justin grabbed her arm. “What about you?”
Selena shook her head. “Don’t worry about me.”
