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Kiera cried when I embraced her, kissing her head. “I’ve got you. We’re going home.”

“What’s going on?” Olivia slurred and fell against Levi.

“We’re getting out of here,” Kiera told her.

A gunshot rang out by the exit door below the platform and another boom followed, and the lights went out.

“Stay behind me.”Using the light from my Rolex, I walkedtoward the exit door. Noises erupted around us, but I pushed them aside, focusing on getting Kiera and Olivia to safety.

The body of a dead guard lay on the ground. Who had shot him? It didn’t matter. Itook his gun, shoved the door open, and we rushed down a dark hallway.Olivia’s legs gave way and Levi carried her in his arms.

“Forrest!” A familiar voice drew me to a shiny door.

“This way!” Arrow spotlighted his face with a flashlight and gestured for me to follow him.

“How did you get—”

“Later.” He was armed and dressed in black, wearing a bulletproof tac vest.

We turned down another hallway and into a room with an immense hole in the wall. Arrow probably had something to do with that. As a former Navy SEAL, my friend was used to these high-octane situations. We exited the building to an alley with dumpsters that weren’t part of the lot where my rental was parked. That rental was a loss, and I’d pay for it. Sirens blasted on the other side of the building.

I helped Kiera into the back seat of the black SUV while Levi secured Olivia on the other side. I untucked my shirt and used it to wipe my fingerprints off the gun, tossing it into the dumpster. I slid in next to Kiera and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into me. Levi hopped into the passenger seat, and Arrow drove off.

As Arrow drove away from the scene,I saw Red Venom and the senator enter a silver car on a side street.

I’ll find you.

CHAPTERFORTY-SEVEN

KIERA

Two men reach for me as I back away, my back hitting a light pole. The street is dark, and no one is around. I don’t know why I’m alone with them.

Where’s Forrest? He was just with me.

I shout for him, but no sounds come from my mouth. I try again.

Then I feel something wet on my face. I glance up, and blood is dripping from the streetlamp. My body jerks at the blood, but then it stops when the droplets glow like little lights on the ground.

The man with the sleazy smile and a birthmark on his neck steps closer to me. He can easily overpower me, but I know he likes the fear coming from me. Psychopath. I recognize him from the audience at the auction. He’s wearing ugly red shoes. He should go to hell just for that.

Why am I thinking about stupid thoughts like that at a moment like this? Where am I? Wasn’t I just at the auction?

Sleazy catches my arm, pulling me close. His touch sends a chill through me. He reeks of alcohol. I hold my breath, trying not to gag.

“You’re going to keep me company tonight, bitch.” Sleazy slides his eyes down my body.

I kick him in the shin, and it bleeds. How is that possible? My kick can’t be that strong, could it? Why am I not freaking out about the blood leaking from his leg?

Could the fear of what he’s about to do to me overwhelm my hemophobia? Or is my desire to hurt him overpowering my blood phobia? The stream of blood glows bright red.

He doesn’t seem bothered that he’s bleeding and presses his face toward my neck.

I scream,“Help!”But a gurgling sound escapes me.

Sleazy grins. “No one is going to save you. You belong to us. We’re going to sell you. But first, you’re going to pleasure us. Got that?”

The bald man standing beside him laughs. I see another shadow behind him. Who is the third man?