Page 88 of Elite Metal: Warriors

Was he dead after all?

She couldn’t bear it. She couldn’t.

“I just want the girl.” The warrior’s voice echoed through the empty space.

Ralley pressed the pistol harder against her, forcing her head to tip. “I’m not giving her up.”

“I have the file.” The warrior reached behind him and pulled the envelope from the back of his pants.

Shit.

Her grocery list.

She could only hope it would fool Ralley…at least long enough to escape.

And then she realized…whoever this man was, he knew about the file. There was only one way he could have known about it.

If Ben told him.

Ben couldn’t have told him if those bullets had killed him.

Hope rose once more. Excitement and anticipation trickled through her. She forced herself to ignore it. There was no place for it now, in this moment.

“Don’t,” she croaked. “Don’t give him the file. He’ll kill us both.” It was a ploy, a ploy to convince Ralley the file was authentic, but there was some veracity in her words. Given half a chance, Ralley would end them both.

Ralley jabbed her with the barrel. “Shut up.” And then, to the warrior, “Put the file down on the ground and back away. Keep your hands in the air.”

Because he was still outlined by the bright light, she could only see his shadow, but he did as Ralley asked. Likely, the warrior didn’t hear the chuckle, but Michelle did. Before she could warn him, Ralley lifted his gun and pulled the trigger. The warrior took a round to the chest and fell.

She could not stop her warbled and anguished cry. It was punctuated by another sound, one behind her, one she had trouble processing. A whizz and a pop. Then a grunt and a thud. And silence.

She didn’t realize she’d squeezed her eyes shut. When she pried them open, it was to see the warrior sit up and brush himself off. He might have laughed.

Laughed.

“That went well.”

Oh. Holy God.

Ben’s voice from behind her made her heart sing, fly. She lurched around, taking the chair with her. “Ben!” she cried.

He was so beautiful. So precious and dear. So handsome. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, and then he murmured. “Are you okay?”

“You’re here. Of course, I’m okay.”

He glanced at her bare chest and growled. “Fuckers. He pointed his gun at Ralley’s body, which was on the floor, lying on top of Jonas’…and shot him again.

“I think he’s dead,” a deep voice said from her side.

She whipped her head around and stared at the warrior. Her breath caught in her throat. Holy shit, he was big. And ominous. And handsome.

“Not dead enough,” Ben growled. He narrowed his eyes on his buddy and added. “I’ll fucking shoot you too if you don’t stop staring at her chest, Sterling.”

Sterling shrugged. Grinned. “It’s…a nice chest.”

Ben might have snarled. He looked his friend up and down. “You okay?” he asked, but there was little warmth in the question.

Sterling nodded and he slipped off his heavy jacket. Michelle realized it was a flak jacket, just like the one Ben had been wearing when he’d been shot. Still, Sterling grimaced as he moved his arm. “I’m fine. I told you it would work.”