Page 16 of Captive Beta
“Wait! There are multiple Hearts’ buildings in that direction…” He shows me a map on his phone. “That can’t be a coincidence.”
“No. I suspect it isn’t.” I slip my knife from my belt and from the corner of my eyes, I notice how serious Jorge is as he grabs his gun.
We’ll be facing the Hearts again.
And we’re not any more prepared than we were last time.
Fuck.
Slower, but more deliberate, we follow Vera’s trail, constantly aware of our surroundings, constantly looking around.
My pheromones are slipping out, spiky, on edge. I’m normally pretty good at staying calm, but knowing that Vera might get in trouble with the Hearts is making me lose any calm I might have had. I have no idea what we’re going to find. If she’s still doing well or if they might have caught her.
Or…
Even worse…
If she might be in trouble…
If she got hurt because of them, they’re going to pay for that dearly.
Vera is mine and if they touch even a hair on her head, they’re dead.
I don’t care who or what, I’ll kill anyone who hurts her.
Anyone.
8
Luca
I flatten myself against the wall as much as possible as I stare at the fight in front of me, taking small sideways steps so I attract as little attention as possible as I make my way back to the room where the kids are. To protect them, which is my only job here. Which is my only fucking job.
Why did I go over to the sink to get a glass of water?
I should have stayed near their door, I should have stayed in the room with them. I shouldn’t have left them alone.
If anything happens to them…
If anything happens to them…
My stomach rolls as images flash through my head. Images of what the Hearts will do to my family, to my siblings, if anything happens to these kids.
No.
No.
Nothing will happen to them.
I’ll protect them. I’ll keep them safe.
Even if it’s the last thing I do.
I have to protect the kids.
The girl in the flower dress, which is drenched in blood and streaks of things I can’t define —and probably don’t want to know about— moves like a cat, her motions fluid, as she keeps slipping away from the guards, slicing them open with shallow cuts. She’s not killing them, she’s dragging this out as long as possible.
From the frantic grin on her blood-splattered face, she seems to enjoy it, she’s taking pleasure in taking them down little by little.
