I pull out my phone and quickly type out a text to Len.
Call me ASAP
As SOON as fucking possible
Jesus, fuck. Is this what Guerilla is connected to?
That could explain how he was able to remain off the grid if he is working with this group and they're as well-connected and resourced as Keifer said. It might also explain why Guerillawanted Leeva so badly; does he want or need access to her wealth? To pay this group back for helping him? Or maybe buying into some sort of sick membership for the death ring?
The office door opens, cutting off my questions. Bane fills the doorway, then he enters the office with Ash behind him.
“Keifer and Ursula, you can go.” Ash steps to the side and motions for them to leave.
“What’s going on?” she demands, her tone commanding and icy.
“The examination is over. Take Leeva back to her place.”
“Leeva isn’t leaving.” I half-growl, half-shout.
Bane quickly ushers Ursula and Keifer out of the office and shuts the door, leaving me with him and Ash.
“Leeva needs to go while we vote, brother,” he says. His unspoken words are clear: It’s better if she’s not present, both not to cloud the votes cast or to watch if I’m to meet my end.
Panic erupts in me at the thought of Leeva being at risk if Guerilla is somehow connected to the death ring Keifer had mentioned, and at the thought of not being able to say goodbye to her if the vote comes back guilty.
I surge forward, desperate to get out of this room and to get to Leeva, but I’m met with the brick wall that’s Bane and Ash.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” I shout, fighting their iron grips on me. “You don't understand! Leeva—”
The wind is knocked out of me as Bane punches my gut.
“I'm sorry, brother. It has to be this way. You can't stop her from leaving; it's for the best that she's not here.”
“Leeva…” I wheeze, fighting their hold on me but they're just as determined to subdue me as I am fighting them. "Can't…leave…"
I can't breathe or speak, but I still have my fists. I punch Ash's jaw, snapping his head to the side.
His face is dark as he punches me right back, in the gut again, making me wheeze some more, his chunky rings digging into my flesh.
He, like Bane, isn't holding back, thinking they're doing right by me, and that I just want to get to Leeva because of the vote. They think they're saving me from myself and that I'm fighting for my life, but I'm fighting for hers. I feel it in my soul.
They're lethal and strong. So am I. There's two of them, but I'm a trained war machine.
Powerful arms band around me from behind, squeezing me so tight it feels like Bane is crushing me with his python arms, and black spots dot my vision.
Slamming my head back, I connect with his face—his jaw based on the pain that erupts in the back of my head and I break free of his punishing hold. I whip my leg up in a powerful front kick andjustmiss Ash’s chin. Too bad, because if that kick had connected, it would’ve TKO’d him, then I’d only have the mountain that’s Bane to deal with.
Whenever I'm able to suck in enough air to actually try and get coherent words out, they won't listen as they're determined to subdue me. They keep their attack so aggressive, all I can do is fight them. Panic and primal instinct to get to Leeva override my logic, which is trying to tell me to just calm the fuck down and try to explain this calmly to my closest friends, but those higher executive functions aren't in control right now.
By the time we’re finished, the office is damn near destroyed, and all three of us are bloody and bruised.
I stumble to the door, barely on my feet, but determined. When I yank open the door, Pix is there, looking concerned but just as ready to stop me from leaving.
“She’s gone,” Pix says, holding one of her knives. “Don’t make me use this on you, Army.”
“You don’t fucking understand!” I roar in frustration. “Leeva!”
“She’s gone,” Pix repeats, wisely keeping out of arm’s reach from me.
