Page 56

The plane seemed like a long way off. We kept walking. I kept looking over my shoulder until Kage gripped my arm with enough force I issued a slight moan.

“Natural. Remember?”

“I’m trying.” I was already winded, the toll of being held captive hitting me harder than it had before.

We kept walking.

They kept looking even though they were doing a damn good job at acting nonchalant.

Suddenly, I felt whistle bells going off. Tank’s low growl was a clear indication something was wrong.

“Don’t look now, buddy, but I think we’re being followed,” Stone said calmly, but I sensed his tension increasing.

Kage shifted his shirt and I knew what he was doing. He was preparing to reach for his weapon.

“If I were you two, I’d run,” Stone instructed.

And so we did.

We took off jogging at first, but with a single glance over my shoulder, I knew we were being boxed in.

“Fuck,” Kage snarled and pushed me with his hand. All I could think about was how much life I had to live and what I’d planned on doing before this horrible experience had been dropped into my life.

“Run. Run. Run!” Kage’s voice was entirely different than before.

Now he was nervous.

So was I.

We took off running, Tank taking the lead. Every few seconds, I glanced over my shoulder only to be pushed by Kage.

“Think those motherfuckers might fire,” Stone huffed, yanking his concealed weapon into his hand. “Keep going, kids.”

Every brutal jar of my cheap tennis shoes hitting the hard pavement roared into my system like an electric cattle prod. The plane was right there, only yards in front of us. I could make it.

We would make it.

Pop! Pop!

“Goddamn it,” Kage roared. “Go. Go. Go! I’ve got your backs.”

His command echoed in my ears just as my knee gave way as it had done before. I was down on the heated surface, the pounding anguish sweeping through me worse than before.

There was no hesitation. Kage lifted me from my position on all fours, tossing me over his shoulder.

Tank was barking. The soldiers behind us yelling.

Another round of gunfire.

Suddenly, Kage was racing up metal stairs, Stone remaining on the ground until the last second.

We were all inside.

Tank still barking.

My heart thumping.

Kage cursing.