I was lying.
The back building wasn't even in use yet. It was full of broken wheelchairs and cleaning supplies.
The man stared at me for a solid five seconds. I kept my face meek and obedient, trying to project helpless honesty. My body type helped—people always assumed chubby girls were clumsy and simple.
That bias usually pissed me off. Right now, it might save my life.
"Move." He finally bought it, but kept the gun pressed to my back. "Try anything, and I'll put a hole in that big ass of yours."
"Oh God, please don't. You're scaring me." I pretended to gasp, then turned toward the hallway.
It was Valentine's Day. Most of the staff were slacking off in the break room or whispering sweet nothings on their phones. This floor was practically empty. Unless a security guard happened by on patrol, no one was coming to save me.
Stay calm,Harper. Think.
Halfway down the hall, the man's radio crackled to life with a burst of static.
"How's it going? You find the target?"
The voice had a thick Italian accent and sounded impatient as hell.
"Got the old lady's caregiver." The man pressed his earpiece, lowering his voice. "Heading to confirm the target now. What's your situation?"
"Hurry the fuck up! The kid just left his office. If he shows up here, we're all dead!"
The kid?
My brain kicked into overdrive. Who were they talking about? Who scared armed thugs this badly? But one thing was clear—whoever it was, he was no ordinary person.
This was getting worse.
"Copy!" The man's voice cracked with panic. He jabbed the gun into my lower back. "You hear that? Move faster! If we don't find the old bitch, you're dying first."
Pain shot through me.
But weirdly, it cleared my head. They were in a hurry. They were afraid of someone. Which meant if I could stall long enough, maybe there'd be a way out.
First, I had to deal with the immediate problem.
Twenty feet ahead, there was a rug that didn't match the rest of the decor. Underneath it was a hole—I'd accidentally smashed through the floorboard moving medical equipment two days ago. Big enough to trap an adult's leg. I'd meant to report it this morning but forgot because I was swamped with work.
Now, it was going to help me.
"Faster!" The man barked again, clearly done with patience after that radio call.
Perfect. Too distracted to notice how weird it was that the rug sat there.
I sped up, casually drifting left so my toes just grazed the edge of the rug as I stepped over it.
The man, glued to my back and staring at my ass the whole time, never looked down.
"Ah—!"
He let out a short yelp as his right foot plunged through the floor. He pitched forward.
Now!
The second he fell, I exploded into the fastest sprint of my life.
