Page 73

Elliott

My eyes can’t keep up with what I’m seeing as we drive through the city.

I remember the city my foster homes were in, but nothing compares to this place.

The streets are littered with people walking in all directions, cars honking and people riding their bikes on the roads, weaving in and out of traffic.

My eyes stop on a man on the other side of the street as the car brakes again due to the city congestion.

Dread hits me when I feel like I recognize him from somewhere.

I can’t fully make out the features but my stomach blares its warning signals.

I don’t even notice we’ve stopped until Hunter taps on my shoulders.

“We’re here.” He says, taking my hand.

I take another glance out my window but the figure is gone.

Stop, It’s nothing.

We exit the car and my head cranes back to take in the skyscraper in front of me, “This is your ‘ office’?”

“Yeah, it's just up there.” He points to the very top of the building. “Best view in the city.” As he nudges my side.

“It better be with how high up it is.”

The comment he made before makes more sense now. They did have a lot of money if they had a building this big for their company.

“We have to meet with the board right away, Mr. Sinclair.” Kelly says, walking towards the building as we follow, “Mr. Flores, IT is waiting for you in the main conference room on their floor. I know you already sent out the updates but they demanded to speak with you in person.”

“Great.” Marcus grumbles.

We walk through the lobby, multiple people give their hello’s in welcome. Most of them eye me in a curious way, likely wondering who this random woman is in the arms of Mr. Sinclair.

We reach the elevator and Kelly scans a card, the doors open up and we all rustle in.

Kelly scans again, pushing two separate floor buttons. Hunter’s phone rings right as the doors close and he answers immediately.

“He–” he cuts off, “We just got to the office. Come back? What?” Hunter turns to Marcus, “What the fuck do you mean, right now ? No. No. That changes everything. ”

“What’s going on?” Marcus moves closer to Hunter.

“Let me put you on speaker,” he pulls the phone away from his ear, “We’re all here, including Kelly. ”

“They're waiting for me outside the house. I don’t have time to go over this shit again.” Kameron’s voice flows from the speaker.

“What the fuck is going on?!” Marcus snaps.

“They are here to take me to meet my Chosen!” Kam growls. “A day fucking early. I need to talk to your men, Flores. The plan needs to happen now !”

“Shit!” Marcus hisses under his breath, “I’m on it.” He pulls his phone out, thumbs flying over the screen at top speed. “This shit doesn’t sit right with me.”

“I feel the same fucking way.” Kameron’s voice echoes in the elevator. A sound goes off on the line and Kameron’s voice breaks up as he tries to say something to us. Other voices bellow through the speaker.

“Stephen!” Hunter shouts through the line, and for a moment I’m confused. Then it hits me. Stephen was his cover name. To keep him safe, Kameron couldn’t exist.

The noises stop on the other end of the line. We all stare at the phone, collectively holding our breath until the call ends.

“Fuck!” Hunter slams his fist against the elevator wall.

The doors open up and a lady at a desk greets us, but we all just stare.

Kelly gives her a small smile as she hits the close door button repeatedly, which takes forever.

“We’re leaving.” Hunter finally says, breaking the silence.

“Mr. Sinclair, you need to meet with the board. Our clients– ”

“Fucking hell!” He mutters, “Marcus, take Elliott to the house. Don’t let her out of your sight.

This shit happened all at once. The company, getting into their security, Kameron.

” Marcus still paces the small space. “You fucking felt suspicious. I felt it. Kameron most definitely felt it. We didn’t listen. ”

“We checked all of it, we triple checked all of it. What the fuck did I miss?” Marcus says in a low tone.

“They baited us.” Hunter replies to Marcus, “Call your men and get this shit sorted. You and Elliott go back to the house and wait for me there. I have to talk to these fucking people and get them off my back. I won’t be long.

” He kisses my lips, pushing the button to open the door of the elevator again, “Don’t you dare leave his side. ”

He steps out of the elevator with Kelly in tow, “Keep her safe.” Hunter eyes Marcus, walking back into the elevator, slamming his mouth onto Marcus’s.

“Keep both of you safe.” He adds, pulling away and walking out of sight with Kelly right on his tail.

The doors shut and Marcus pushes a button marked with a large L.

Everything happens so fast.

One minute we’re going to a meeting, the next Marcus is rushing me to the SUV and hightailing it through the city. I don’t take in the sights this time as we merge from lane to lane. Not even noticing the change from city to the woods.

We pull up to a house, parking the car, and then make our way inside .

“Marcus–” my voice cracks, “What the fuck just happened?”

“I…” he runs his hands through his hair, “They knew we’d be here.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. But we need to try and calm down and think this over.”

My blood boils as he tells me to calm down. My vision tunnels as my heart picks up. My fists ball up and I scream at the top of my lungs.