Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
When we reach the corner, Megan turns to hug me fiercely. We both cry for a second, relieved at what we’ve managed to accomplish. Then she breaks away and runs across the street. I stand there, arms tight against me and shivering as I watch her get lost in the crowd of others walking.
Once I’m satisfied she’s safely gone, I turn to walk away, wondering which way is best to get to the front of the building. A voice calls out to me.
“Romy!”
A man runs from the door we’d also come from. He’s wearing a tuxedo and far enough away I can’t make out his features. But as he gets closer, I recognize him all too clearly.
Bastian.
Oh my God.
She got away just in time.
“Where’s Megan?” he demands, huffing out white puffs of air from the cold. “She went with you to the bathroom.”
I step away from the street corner and start walking along the sidewalk beside the building, hurrying to get out of this frigid weather. His footsteps race after me. Before I can get too far, he grabs hold of my chilled shoulder, whirling me around so he can see me.
“Romy,” Bastian growls. “Are you deaf?”
I lift a shivering arm and point to my earbud that’s gone silent, but he doesn’t know that. “Sorry, you’re going to have to speak louder. I can’t hear a thing.”
The worried, panicked expression on his face morphs into one of overwhelming fury.
That’s right, big brother. I know what’s going on with the music and I just saved your girlfriend from you.
I’m awake to everything…including you.
Caius
She went outside.
I know Romy. She’ll have used my instructions to help Megan. And because I am familiar with all of CUP’s ins and outs, it will work. Once the girl realizes she’s been duped, she’ll lose her shit. Romy will want to save her, which means helping her escape.
I’d seen Bastian not far ahead of me heading down a hallway. Since we’re both looking for the same people, I follow after him. A Secret Serviceman pushes the door to the outside open for him and he slips out. I pick up my pace, stalking after him.
When I reach the door, the man says in an exhausted voice, “If you leave, you have to go around front. No reentry here.”
“No problem,” I grunt, pushing past him to exit the building.
The awful wintry air assaults me, but I’m on a mission to find Romy. On one corner, I see two people who could be them, though it’s hard to tell. The woman disappears out of sight and the man soon follows.
Only one woman, not two.
I take off in a sprint, my dress shoes pinching at my toes with every step. They’re not exactly runner’s gear. When I make it to the corner, I nearly slide across the pavement in them but manage to stop myself before landing on my ass.
Several feet ahead, two people are speaking.
Romy and Bastian.
It’s not friendly either. Bastian is too close to Romy, his shoulders squared and threatening. Her chin is lifted and she’s staring up at him in defiance.
“She’s gone,” Romy spits out at him. “Now leave her the hell alone.”
Bastian explodes with rage. “What have you done, you bitch?!”
He grabs hold of her jaw and slams her against the side of the building, the back of her head bouncing so forcefully against the brick I’m surprised the move doesn’t kill her.
Everything goes black as I launch myself at him. I grab him by the collar of his jacket, yanking him away from her. He stumbles and lands on the ground with a grunt. I’m on him within a second.
The rage is all-consuming.
I’m overwhelmed by it. I want nothing more than to make him pay for hurting her. It’s reminiscent of my youth when I’d get into angry brawls with other kids and even people who were supposed to help me after my parents’ deaths.
Nothing can stop the storm of emotions blasting from me.
My fist slams into Bastian’s face over and over and over again. I feel my knuckles splitting and bruising, but it’s not enough to stop me. I’m aware of the occasional punch back—to the ribs, the jaw, and even to the nuts—but nothing deters me from my need to crush him.
I taste blood and my tooth hurts because the fucker got another blow on me, but I just do a better job of blocking him next time. His nose breaks with a satisfying pop, causing more blood in our battle. I knock him in his ear, hoping I jam his ear plug all the way into his brain.
I’m about to flip him over so his teeth can meet the pavement when I’m jerked away. Someone incredibly strong easily subdues me. I kick out and roar, still trying to beat the fuck out of that man.