“Keira, you can’t save her. You can’t save anyone.”
A knot formed in Keira’s gut. It was Viktor.
A searchlight beam cut through the shadows, angling into the woods close to Keira.
“Jade,” Viktor called out. “Come back to Onyx, or Lily dies tonight.”
Jade ground to a halt and looked back.
“Don’t listen to him,” Keira urged. “He’s lying. If you go back, he’ll kill you. Then he’ll kill your sister.” She tugged on Jade’s hand as the searchlight beam swept closer. “We’ll get Lily back. I promise.”
Jade hesitated a moment longer.
“There!” a voice shouted.
Gunfire erupted, bullets hitting the trees and ground close to Keira and Jade.
Another shot sounded from in front of Keira, and the searchlight blinked out.
Keira and Jade ran. Away from their past. Away from the lies.
Bullets zinged by them, chipping into tree trunks, kicking up leaves and rocks.
If Keira and Jade were captured, it would be over. Kaufman Syndicate, Strickland, Viktor and the other men profiting from their machinations would continue to kill people using little girls they’d turned into weapons.
Keira wouldn’t let that happen.
She kept moving, refusing to look back.
Chapter 8
Rogue kept his rifle trained on the clearing as the two women ran in his general direction. He popped off shots, taking out the searchlight and a few of the tactical team who were firing into the woods. He held off the others while the women ran toward them.
They were well into the shadows and moving quickly. As long as they reached him and then made it to his truck before the men in the SUVs charged into the woods after them, they had half a chance of getting away.
When Keira and Jane were within fifteen feet of him, he rose from his position on a little rise and ran toward them.
Jade ground to a halt and raised her handgun.
Keira stepped between Jade and Rogue. “It’s okay,” Keira said. “He’s with me.”
Still, Jade refused to move.
They didn’t have time to stall.
Bullets pelted the ground and trees around them.
Keira pulled Jade behind a tree. “We have to go.”
Rogue stepped out of the line of fire from the tactical team and faced the frightened woman. “Jade,” Rogue spoke softly, though his tone was intense. “Do you want out? Do you want to find and free Lily?” He’d heard everything Keira had and tapped into the woman’s concern for her sister.
She nodded, her eyes wide and frightened. “Who are you?”
Rogue’s eyes narrowed. “I’m the guy who's going to help you and Keira burn this whole operation to the ground. Are you with us?”
Her eyes still wide, Jade nodded.
“Then come on.” Rogue reached out and took Keira’s hand. “The truck isn’t far.”
