SILAS TRIED TO NOT count the minutes.How long before it would be appropriate for him to follow her to bed?Brett hadn't asked about sleeping arrangements upon arriving at their new crash pad. The others had assumed Silas would sleep with Ekko. They weren't wrong, but were they right?"Stare any harder and you'll strain yourself," Paxton mumbled.Silas glared at his friend. It really was only fair. How much shit had Silas dished out to Paxton the last few months?Yeah, Silas had made himself a target and he didn't even care.Maybe he shouldn't have left things with Ekko as he had?Paxton had assumed things. Things Silas wasn't certain about. And now Ekko was thinking.What if she decided all of this was too much?The only thing that made this job abnormal was the lack of communication in the beginning. The rest of it? Running from people shooting at them, rescuing people, being in danger, that was normal. And it wasn't something every woman could handle.Had Ekko figured all
EKKO CLUNG TIGHT TO Silas' hand as they left the terminal. She'd learned last time that just because they got to their destination didn't mean all was well. It wasn't until Chayan had cleared customs that she relaxed even a little bit.There were still many hurdles.First, it was almost six. The United Nations was no doubt closed for the day, which meant it would be tomorrow before they could even attempt to talk to someone. Ekko had no idea what was going on with the investigative team in Dauria, much less the protests. She hadn't heard from any of her contacts in days, and even before that things had been scarce. God, she wanted to know if they were okay. She needed information, but more than that, they needed to be somewhere safe."Stay close, everyone," Silas said as they headed for the doors.Before they reached the entry, the doors parted and Brett strode in."Ride's here. Let's go," he said.There was an energy ushering them forward. It made Ekko nervous while Silas and th
SILAS LAY ON HIS side. He'd managed to get the bag half off his head so he could see something of their surroundings. Not that he got much of an impression for where they were going from the cityscape he could see. If they were going to get away, he needed to know where they'd be going to.It took real effort to keep his eyes up and not look at the slumped forms of Ekko and Chayan across from him. From what he could tell she was out cold. Not so much as a whimper came out of her and she wasn't the kind of woman to curl up and do nothing. Chayan was very much awake. He half sat, his body huddled around her though his hands were bound. That surprised Silas. Given how the man had all but crumpled the last few days he hadn't expected Chayan to get protective. Then again, Chayan had lost everyone that mattered to him. All that was left was Ekko.Silas pushed thoughts about those two out of his mind. He couldn't do either of them any good right now. The best thing was to watch and listen.
EKKO STARED IN SHOCK, her head spinning as the men left the room again."S-Silas?" she whispered so softly she barely heard herself.He slumped sideways groaning.Had that man-that monster-just stabbed Silas?"Man, Silas, dude, talk to us." Paxton had scooted forward, his arms extended behind him, attention on Silas."I'm fine." Silas' voice was strained. "Brett, Vito, how are you two?""Alive," Brett groaned."Vito? Man?" Silas shook his head and sat up straighter."Fine."This was it.Ekko swallowed.They'd done everything and in the end, they were outplayed.The DSS would kill them. She wasn't sure why they hadn't already, but she didn't doubt that death was the final move. All of these people, they were going to die because she'd been arrogant. She'd thought she knew what she was doing, when in fact she hadn't a clue.A sob tore out of Ekko making her already aching head pound harder."Ekko?" Silas called out. "Ekko, listen to me, this is going to be okay. Pax?"A ch
SILAS GRIT HIS TEETH to keep from telling Paxton to hurry the fuck up. It wasn't like Paxton was slow. The knife on his belt tool was small and no doubt dulled after cutting through several sets of thick, plastic restraints.Sitting like this it felt as though there was a ten pound weight sitting on his guts. He didn't know what the knife had cut, but Silas knew from the woozy feeling and blood making his jeans sticky it wasn't good. He had to get the others out of here before his clock ran out."Which way did they bring you up?" Silas asked Brett instead of chafing at how long getting free was taking.Brett stood by the door, a discarded piece of wood held as a weapon. "We came in some doors, up a stair to our right then a long walk down here. You?""Different way." Silas grimaced. "Do we retrace our path, or avoid it? How many people were with you?"Brett grimaced. They'd been hooded when they arrived. "Hard to say.""Let's assume at least the three that came in here plus one o
THE DARKNESS FELT AS if it were swallowing her.Ekko clung to the back of Paxton's shirt like he'd directed. She couldn't shake the sensation that there were hands out there reaching for her. That Igney or one of the others were biding their time and waiting for the chance to kill her.Where was Silas? What about Chayan and the others?They'd been separated before she realized what was going on.Behind them a burst of gunfire spurred her on, shattering the silence.She knew it was Brett. Was he trading gunfire with someone? Those shots all sounded the same to her. She hoped he was safe. He was only one man and they had no idea how many were behind them."Stay close." Paxton reached back and pressed her hand to his back.Her head pounded with each and every step. It hurt so bad, but she didn't want to say anything. Her pain was minimal compared to what could happen."Will you cut that out?" Paxton yelled behind them.He side stepped and sort of skipped through a narrow gap betw
SILAS PUSHED HIS GROUP hard as they traversed the second floor. The sun had fully set, plunging them into complete darkness where there weren't windows or other lights.This building was a damn maze, and every turn they needed was blocked by too many people to fight their way through.There had to be more than the fifteen or so they'd estimated. More like thirty.This wasn't good.What about Ekko? Where had the others gone to?He'd hoped getting down here meant they would find her and Paxton, but so far all they'd found were a few bodies. At least they knew Paxton and Brett were eliminating the other side. But no one had taken the ammo or guns. Why? When resources were this precious, why not take them?Could they have gotten free? Did he dare hope?Something thumped in the darkness. Like a heavy footfall.Silas cursed himself as he skidded to a stop. He didn't see anything, but his gut screamed at him. He pivoted and threw himself at Chayan, shoving the other man aside. Silas w
EKKO'S ONE OFFENSIVE ATTEMPT was an utter failure. Her head spun and she was going to be sick.This wasn't good.She felt like a ragdoll being drug around, first by Igney then another man she didn't recognize. He spoke Daurian though which could only mean one thing.He was London DSS.Her body chilled. Was that from fear or the blows to the head? She didn't know anymore."Come find me, Pasley, or your little bird dies," Igney cackled into the radio.She tasted bile.Pasley had called her little bird back in the park.Igney cackled like a bad movie villain. The man was enjoying this. He was getting off on torturing them all.What about Silas?Pasley was with him.If Pasley told Silas, if he knew, they would come for her. Silas was determined to bring them all home and to keep her safe. But if he did, if he came to her rescue, Igney would kill them. Igney needed her and Chayan. Which meant he couldn't kill her here and now. It was an empty threat. Wasn't it? Did she dare belie