Iona froze, back pressed against the wall, at Zane’s command. The seconds ticked away, each one feeling like an hour.
Finally, Zane said, “Go.”
Iona covered the last foot of the landing in one stride and reached for the doorknob. A twist told her that Eddie and his people had locked this door, too. Iona grabbed her lock picks and went to work. A few twists and turns of her tool did the trick.
Standing, she twisted the knob. “Still clear?”
“Clear.”
“Which room, Z?”
“I think it’s the room on the far left. I’m just guessing, though. Be ready.”
“Always.”
“Iona.”
Brent’s voice had her freezing in place once again. “Sir?”
“I’ve been monitoring Elias through his watch. It’s bad. Control is the key.”
“Copy that, sir.” Her stomach knotted. If Brent was warning her about Elias’ condition, the enforcer must have gone too far. How badly was he hurt? “Seth?”
“I heard,” he said, voice grim. “We’ll make sure he gets out. You focus on what has to be done for the two of you to survive.”
“Copy.” Iona straightened, opened the door a crack to confirm the coast was clear, and slipped into the dimly lit hallway. She turned to the left and walked silently down the corridor.
Stopping in front of the door, Iona prayed this was the right room because if she wasn’t fast enough with her throw, the enforcer would raise the alarm before she could stop him.
She twisted the knob slowly. Locked. Great. Not. Iona dealt with the lock in seconds and exchanged her lock picks for her favorite knife.
She held the knife blade with her fingertips, ready to toss the weapon at the enforcer working over Elias. After taking a few seconds to blank her expression, she twisted the knob slowly and eased open the door.
Rock music blasted out of a set of small speakers. The enforcer, dressed in black from the neck down to his feet, stood with his back to the door, punching Elias each time he swung back toward the enforcer.
Elias hung suspended from his shackles, which were attached to chains hanging from the ceiling. His head lolled against his shoulder. His face was swollen and bloody. Blood dripped from his wrists down his arms to his bare chest.
The enforcer threw another punch, this one to Elias’ stomach, which was already bruised.
If Iona had to guess, she’d say the enforcer had focused the most on Elias’ torso.
After a punch to Elias’ side, the enforcer spun around. His eyes widened at the sight of Iona approaching him. “Who are you? What are you doing in here? Don’t you know this area is off-limits to Old Ladies?”
She smiled and used a sultry expression and walk. No, Elias wouldn’t like it, but his enemy wouldn’t do anything about the unspoken invitation.
When she was a few feet away, she tossed the knife, her aim true. The blade sank deep into his heart. By the time she reached him, the enforcer was dead on the floor. Too bad. He got off easy after all the pain he’d caused the man she loved.
Iona scanned the walls until she found the control to lower Elias to the floor. In less than a minute, she had unlocked the cuffs around his wrists and lowered him to lie on his back. She hesitated. He looked so bad that she was afraid to touch him. Bruises bloomed all over his body, some so dark that she wondered if he had internal injuries.
They were in the boondocks of Bodine, Alabama. From what she had seen, the only structures in town were a gas station and the post office. No medical facility in sight.
“Suck it up, sister,” she murmured. “Elias. Can you hear me?”
He frowned. “Iona?”
“Yeah, babe. It’s me.”
“Run. Get out.”
