Page 66 of Ruthless Creatures

Then I trot across the restaurant toward Sloane and Stavros as the distant wail of sirens grows closer. When I reach them, they’re already on their feet.

“You okay?”

Sloane nods. She’s lost the red heels, but other than that, she doesn’t have a hair out of place. “Where’s Nat?”

“Safe.” I turn to Stavros and command in Russian, “Get her out of here. No one says a fucking word. You never saw me tonight. Understood?”

He nods, once.

“I’ll be in touch to discuss what the fuck happened here and how you’ll make it up to me. Now go.”

He drags Sloane off by the arm, headed toward the entrance.

I run back to the employee lounge and find Natalie pacing, wringing her hands. As soon as I enter the room and she sees me, she blurts, “Oh, thank god!”

She’s relieved I’m not dead.

I’d think that feeling expanding inside my chest was happiness, but I know better. I stopped being able to feel that particular emotion years ago.

“Hurry. We need to go.”

I grab her hand and lead her from the room. She follows mewithout protest, gripping my arm as she hurries beside me. We take the back way out and reach the SUV just as three police cars crest the hill and start to tear down the road toward the restaurant.

If we’re lucky, they won’t see us leave.

If we’re even luckier, the restaurant won’t have any security cameras inside.

And if all the stars align and the gods are smiling on us, none of the witnesses will be able to give an accurate description of any of us to the police.

I have a bad feeling about that one terrified employee in the kitchen clutching her cross necklace, though.

I think the image of my face might be burned onto her soul.

SIXTEEN

NAT

Kage is silent as he drives. His hands are steady on the wheel. His posture is relaxed, his attitude is composed.

It’s obvious that I’m the only one in the car who’s freaking out.

My words come in a breathless rush. “What happened? Why did the shooting start?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll find out.”

“Sloane?”

“She’s fine. Stavros has her. And he’ll protect her with his life.” His chuckle is dark.

“Why is that funny?”

He glances over at me. “Because he knows if he doesn’t and she winds up with so much as a scratch, he and his entire family will pay the price.”

“Which means… you’ll kill them.”

“Yes. In a very unpleasant way.”

I wish my heartbeat would settle down. It’s extremely hard to concentrate when you’re trying not to have a heart attack.