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Another missile hit several blocks away, the noise causing Pax to stumble and clap his hands over his ears. Roman steadied him, then laid his hands on top of Pax’s, giving him a better buffer against the noise.

“That was Darien!” Ivy shouted. “He said they already put the forcefield up, but Roark was able to get it taken down.” The panic in her eyes, the pallid shade of her skin… Roman saw it coming a second before she spoke. “We have less than three hours to evacuate.”

Terror washed through the group.

“Three hours?”Kylar and Dominic repeated. Another missile hit.

“He wants us out now,” Ivy said, looking dazed. “Darien and Roark—they want us out.”

“What do we do about Travis?” Dallas asked. “He’s still at the hospital.”

FuckingTravis—making everything worse by coming back here, by being stupid enough to stay at the hospital. Whatwerethey going to do about him?

What wasRomangoing to do about him?

He ground his teeth.

“Darien said he already called him,” Ivy replied. She looked like she was trying not to puke, and Roman felt like he might hurl his guts up, too. One brother found, another already lost. “I’m setting a timer.” Her hand went to her watch. “You guys should do the same—make sure you don’t lose track of how much time we have left.”

Max was the only one who did as she suggested, the others either not wearing watches or frozen in place as they processed the warning.

Three fucking hours.

Lessthan three. Roman knew this city like the back of his hand, had driven these streets so many times he could do it blindfolded.

Less than three hours, when combined with mass hysteria and bumper to bumper traffic…

The odds weren’t good. Not good at all. They were shit.

Roman still had to get Paxton back home, grab some of his stuff, and get out. He didn’t have time to run around Ignis’s half acre wrangling everyone up.

But he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if something happened to Travis.

He shook back his shirtsleeve and set his own timer. Ivy came over and helped him adjust it so it was as accurate as possible, almost down to the second.

“I’m leaving,” Max announced. “Dal, if you want to go with them, feel free. I’d rather you get out, anyway. But I need to find Maya. How many seats are in that truck?”

“Three,” Shay responded.

“I’ll take it, then.” He underhanded his car keys to Kylar. “You guys need the extra room.” The cars didn’t have much extra room, but they did have back seats.

“Max, wait!” Ivy called. But Max was already moving, Dallas rushing after him with a backward glance.

Paxton tugged on Roman’s sleeve. “Roman,” he whimpered.

“Not now, bud,” Roman gritted out. Fuck, Travis—Roman was so irritated, his blood was boiling. What the hell was he supposed to do now?Leavehim here? Trust that he could get out without his help?

“Roman.”This time, Pax’s voice was a broken sob, his hand tugging on Roman’s wrist. He was staring at something, his eyes wide as saucers.

Two vehicles, both familiar, pulled to a stop down the road.

Roman’s soul left his body.

‘No!’Sayagul cried from his shadow, fear splintering her voice.‘Roman, no! Don’t let him take him! He can’t have Pax! He can’t?—’

“Oh fuck no,” Kylar whispered, pulling Eugene close. The others gathered around, weapons drawn, Max and Dallas retreating back this way.

They were too late.