Page 98 of Betraying Family Vows

"To the loading dock," Theo yells over his shoulder, already moving.

I follow, carrying her close.

The air outside the room is a whirlwind of noise. Shouts, gunfire, and chaos.

As we move back the way I came, bullets rake the wall behind us, throwing debris over us.

The others return fire as I move behind a wall to protect Athena.

We move again, our men fanning out to cover our exit.

I move fast, my boots slipping in blood and debris. Every step sends a jolt through my bruised ribs, but I don't slow.

Athena buries her face in my neck. Her breath is hot against my skin.

"I have to find the phone and my laptop," I yell to Theo.

"Ares has your laptop. Phone's missing," he says.

Okay, that's not so bad. If the software on my computer did its job, it should have copied everything in the phone. If not, we're fucked.

We keep moving and the doors leading to the outside are just up ahead.

As we reach them, Theo throws the doors wide.

Sunlight almost blinds us and we run outside.

More enemy fire comes at us.

Theo and the others are already in position, providing cover as I sprint across the loading dock. Bullets ping off metal and concrete, the sound like angry wasps.

"Stay down," I say to Athena, shifting to shield more of her body with mine.

She tucks her head against my chest, trembling. She feels hot against me.

An SUV screeches around the corner of the building, rear doors already flung open. The tires kick up gravel as it skids to a stop twenty feet away.

I see Ares in the driver's seat.

"Come on. Come on," he says, shooting out the passenger window.

More gunfire. A bullet whines past my ear, so close I feel the air displacement.

I don't slow down. I sprint straight for the SUV, Athena clutched against me.

More of our SUVs pull up and lay down suppressing fire.

I dive into the backseat, twisting midair to take the impact on my shoulder and back rather than crushing Athena.

Theo jumps in after us, slamming the door while our men race for the other vehicles.

"Go! Go!" Theo shouts, jumping into the passenger seat.

Ares floors the accelerator before Theo even finishes the word. The SUV jumps forward, tires spinning before finding grip.

Gravel and dust explode behind us. The back window spiderwebs as a bullet strikes it.

Our car takes a sharp turn around the corner, and I press into Athena. I adjust my grip to keep her secure.