Page 58

Leah

I tried to be patient, I really did.

I crouched behind the row of rusty barrels, my heart pounding so violently I was sure Gregor could hear it from a mile away. Maxine had slipped off to check the hangar, and I had seen the strict warning in her eyes before she left—hang back, stay out of sight, and for the love of god, don’t do anything stupid.

Initially, I obeyed—until the minutes dragged on, and I heard nothing but the wind howling across the tarmac.

Worry gnawed at my insides. She was taking too long. What if something happened? The endless horrible possibilities churned my stomach with dread.

And so, I held out until I couldn’t anymore. Eventually, frayed nerves jumping like livewires, I muttered a curse, edged out from behind the barrels and inched across the barren runway, scanning the dark silhouette of the hangar.

At first, I saw nothing. Heard nothing. Then a clatteringcrashechoed from inside, and my pulse ticked up a notch. I pressed myself tight to the battered metal side of a crumblingcrate, peering into the yawning mouth of the hangar. Dim light illuminated the interior, just enough for me to see two figures clashing—Maxine and Gregor.

My breath caught at the sight. They flew at each other in a frenzy, trading blows with savagery that made my blood run cold.

I bit my lip, every single one of my senses screaming for me to rush in and help. But the more I watched, the more I realized… Maxine was holding her own. Every move she made was decisive, every strike nearly toppling Gregor to his knees. If I joined them, untrained, mortal, and already shaky with nerves, I’d only hamper her. I’d become a liability.

But there was something else I could do.

If Maxine was battling Gregor here, then Addison was presumably somewhere else—probably on the private jet itself. If I could get Addison out of there, Gregor would lose all leverage. He couldn’t threaten Maxine or hold Addison’s life against her if Addison was out of his reach.

Steeling nerves that flickered and sparked under my skin, I crept across the hangar entrance, keeping one eye on the two vamps duking it out inside. The runway spread out before me, slick with rain, the overcast sky crowded with angry grey clouds.

Up ahead lay the sleek private jet, stairs lowered—beckoning me on board.

When I was sure the other two hadn’t spotted me, far too busy pummeling each other into the ground, I made a break for it. My nerves jittered as I ran, each footstep sending water splashing up my calves. The roar of the wind swallowed my ragged breath.

Reaching the jet, I hesitated at the bottom of the short stairway. The interior lights were on, and a faint shadow flickered inside—someone was definitely in there. MaybeAddison.Or it might be a trap.I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, conjuring Maxine’s face.

She was risking her life for a shot at a better future. She was back there right now, brutally beating back a literal demon of her past, so that we could be together in peace. I had kissed her, told her I loved her, and she had kissed me right back. Our new life had begun right then and there, and now we had to defend it.

My resolve hardened, and suddenly I was stone. I planted my foot on the staircase.

I crept up the stairs, water streaming down my neck, and inched toward the cabin door. The door stood ajar and I slipped inside, wrinkling my nose at the flashy interior. Plush leather seats, glossy wood panels, and sultry overhead lighting. The epitome of wealth and power. I swallowed hard, padding quietly into the cabin.

The door hissed shut behind me, corralling me in an unsettling hush, and my pulse throbbed in my ears. I scanned the corridor leading to the cockpit, then the small galley. No sign of Addison. Setting my jaw, I moved deeper into the cabin, checking each opulent cluster of seats.

A muffled sound somewhere up ahead made me freeze. A brief rustling, like someone shifting or struggling in place. Heart pounding I advanced, mentally going over what little I remembered about handling a hostage situation.

Call out first or keep silent? In the end, I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Addison unnoticed and alone.

“Addison?” I hissed, balling my fists at my sides. “Are you here?”

No immediate reply. My nerves spiked. I tried again, stepping past another set of seats, eyes flicking around for any sign of movement. “Addison?”

Then, a faint noise—a muffledthump. It came from behind a sliding partition in the back of the cabin. Cautiously, I pressedmyself to the wall and peered around the edge. Through the gloom, I glimpsed a small lounge area, complete with a bolted-down table and a plush sofa—and the hunched figure, bound and gagged, wriggling on the floor.

“Addison, oh my God!” Addison glanced up at my whisper-scream, wide-eyed and frantic as I dropped to my knees beside her.

I fumbled with the ropes biting into her wrists. They were secured with infuriating thoroughness, the gag cutting into the corners of her mouth. She winced when I tugged at her bonds but tried to help by twisting her shoulders.

“Just, hang on a minute…” I muttered, fingers shaking as I fumbled with the cords. “Comeon.”

The bonds at her wrists and ankles refused to budge but I managed to loosen the gag at her mouth. Addison sucked in a breath, hissing through clenched teeth. “You’ve got to find something to cut it with.”

“Okay, right. Something sharp then.” I clambered to my feet, dancing on my toes, glancing around the dim cabin for anything to cut through the ropes.

The jet’s interior lighting flickered faintly, revealing a cramped kitchenette nestled behind a half wall. Nothing more than a slim pantry, but hopefully enough to find something sharper than my teeth.