Page 53 of Hunted By Wraith

I start to lead her away, but she tenses. Her eyes are locked—not on Selene, thank god—but on Lily.

“You’ll have to excuse me.” She steps away.

I let her go. This is part of the plan—lure Barbra into following Lily for answers or revenge.

I move off the floor and head back to Kaz and Keir.

“Where’s our girl?” I ask, scanning the room.

“Ladies’ room,” Keir replies.

I nod and turn to Barbra. She’s rejoined the men and gestures toward Lily.

One guy pulls out a phone. No doubt texting someone.

Men without silver pins start closing in on Lily, while Barbra and the rest drift toward the glass doors. Lily notices and follows, the plan intact.

“We have to go out there,” Keir mutters.

Kaz and I nod, moving fast.

Selene’s men are already on the move. We slip outside and follow the voices.

In an open area, Lily’s on her knees, a gun to her head. Barbra stands beside the guy holding it, venom in her voice.

“You stupid bitch. You’re just like that useless girl.”

Lily spits back. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

Barbra hisses. “You didn’t sign papers saying you get it all?”

Lily laughs. “Of course I did. But what the fuck did you do with Selene?”

Crack. Barbra slaps her.

“She’s missing, you ditz.”

I catch movement—a guard crumples in the dark. Then another. And another. Till they are all motionless on the ground.

Selene.

A shot goes off. I whip my eyes to Lily—she’s fine, smiling like a maniac. The gunman’s dead at her feet.

The others panic. Barbra’s eyes dart wildly.

“You’re in trouble now,” Lily taunts.

One of them knocks her out.

“Open fire!” Barbra screams.

The remaining six form a circle, aiming blindly into the trees. One of them is aiming straight at us.

“Fuck, get down,” Keir hisses, pulling Kaz and me down.

We drop just in time. Gunfire erupts. Then silence—reloading time.

I peek through the brush. A figure emerges from behind a tree.