Page 107 of His to Burn

But I still gripped my gun as I watched, unwilling to take chances.

The shadow, a man I determined judging by the fingers, quietly tapped on the door.

Then he waited, and the moment stretched, the silence in those tense seconds so thick, I was breathing it.

“There’s no one in here,” the man whispered.

So he wasn’t alone.

I glanced at Jack, trying to decide what to do.

He nodded, then gestured toward the door,moving his fingers up and down—telling me without words to talk.

I swallowed, my throat dry, then said in as firm a voice as I could muster,

“Leave now, or I will kill you where you stand.”

All sounds, faint as they were, ceased instantly.

“We just need to get off the street.” This was a new voice, a woman, and a desperate one from the sounds of it.

Something I understood completely.

I glanced at Jack, who glared at me—practically daring me to let my soft heart get in the way.

I wouldn’t.

I couldn’t.

“Not my problem. Walk away or die.”

I was pretty freaking impressed with myself. I wouldn’t want to mess with the voice that issued that threat.

“Seriously—”

The man. I cut him off.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. Get the hell away from this door and don’t come back.”

I yelled this time, hoping I wouldn’t alert any of those things—or other people—lurking.

“Asia?”

A different woman’s voice this time.

I blinked, shocked.

Who the fuck was calling me?

I whipped around to face Jack and saw his thoughts as clearly as I would if he’d spoken.

He thought it was a ruse.

He was probably right.

But I needed to know.

He huffed, undoubtedly pissed, but he didn’t stop me as I unlocked the closest door and was greeted with the muzzle of a handgun.