“Well, I’m not lying, your lapdog here can verify what I’m saying.”
“What good are you to me anymore if you have already sent that information to the authorities.”
“That’s the thing, Finch. I haven’t sent anything yet. And I may never send a thing.”
A lethal gleam sparked in his deep gray eyes as he leaned toward the camera. “You’re bargaining?”
“You’re the fine businessman here, you tell me what it sounds like.”
“I’m not the kind of man you can trifle with, Miss Somersby.”
“Yeah, that’s why I made sure to leave a copy with someone who will make it public in a grand manner.”
He waited a moment and then smiled. “So, if I keep my hands off your little brother, you won’t use it?”
There was a trick, her gut screamed in warming, but the ultimate goal was to gain more time, and so far, it worked.
“That’s the deal. Do you accept it?”
Finch leaned back in his chair. “You have a deal, my dear. Too bad you didn’t include yourself in it though. I’ll leave you in the capable hands of my men, and I can’t wait for them to bring you to me.”
Before she could react, the screen went blank, and Zoe knew at that moment that she had completely forgotten about that loophole. Thick arms grabbed her from behind and hauled her to her feet. She screamed and flailed her arms back trying to get purchase, but her attacker was too tall. Swinging her feet, she hit him hard in the shin. The man bellowed in her ear and threw her to the ground. Her teeth rattled as her hip hit the floor first.
Rolling away, Zoe scrambled to get up as men laughed around her. Zoe observed them and recognized the bikers from two nights before.
“There’s nowhere to hide, little red. Nowhere to run except in my arms.”
Despite the fear making her want to hurl, she rolled her eyes at them, and smiled. “That’s one of the worst pickup lines I’ve ever heard.”
Hitting the back of the bar, Zoe blindly searched for anything to defend herself with as the men loomed like hyenas. She was trapped, at the mercy of criminals, or rather their lack of it. Looking at the back tables, she saw the Hellhound at work with her data key, a phone to his ear, talking with Finch no doubt. She was as terrified of what could happen to her at the hands of the thugs as what the slimy man would find on the key... or wouldn’t find.
Zoe was considering jumping over the bar, like in the movies, as if she would ever be able to do that, but someone stopped her, one meaty hand grabbing a fistful of her hair.
“I would let her go if I were you.”
At the command, the hand opened, and Zoe scurried back as much as she could, looking at Sam who appeared in the entrance, backlit, like an ancient hero or a cowboy at high noon. His tall silhouette appeared larger than life and the gun, unmistakable.
There was no time to tell him off, the gang members whipped out their weapons and started firing. Rushing to the floor, Zoe wanted to cry out to Sam to save his life, that no man alone could take all those brutes down when she realized others were also firing through the door. People were coming in, guns out and blazing, but it was impossible to know what side they were on. Huddled on the floor by the bar, Zoe didn’t dare move, unable to find a way out through the flying bullets.
“Zoe!” As the door closed again, she recognized Gabrielle and Kai. And behind them, Lance and Archer. On the side, she spotted Lazarus coming in low.
He was the one who shouted her name.
“Archer!” But above the noise, nothing could come through. Slowly, Zoe tried to crawl to the other end of the bar when she spotted the Hellhound. He was doing the same thing, inching to the back door. She had to stop him and get the key back.
“Zoe!!” Archer’s voice boomed behind her, but she didn’t see him through the fighting bodies and furniture shrapnel.
The Hellhound looked back and saw her gaining speed. Panic on his face, he pushed himself up at the door and started running. Zoe didn’t wait to reach the door to start running after him, praying the bullets had somewhere else to go.
Outside, she saw him running down the street, constantly looking back. Zoe pushed herself and slowly caught up with him. He skidded around the corner, but Zoe didn’t allow him to get away. Once he stumbled and the laptop crashed on the sidewalk, breaking into many pieces. The man cursed but didn’t stop. There was no way of knowing if he still had the key or not.
At another corner he turned left and when Zoe followed him, she skidded to a stop, lifting her hands. Red-faced, sweating, the Hellhound was aiming a mean looking knife at her.
The area was deserted, the small street still empty at this time of day as it was mostly small shops.
“Leave me alone! Get away!” His hand was shaking. He took a few more steps back and started running again. Zoe, lungs burning, followed him as he made his way between two buildings. A small alley ran between two red-brick buildings. Graffiti darkened the walls and fences partly blocked the way. The Hellhound dashed into an open door, with Zoe on his heels. It was an empty warehouse that had seen better days. All the windows were broken and part of one wall had been bashed through. From her position, she caught a glimpse of the street and even heard a rumbling motorcycle passing by. Quickly, she followed him through the door.
With wild desperation he turned to her again, aiming his knife at her. “I told you to get lost or I will slice you open, bitch.”
Zoe was beyond fear, now numb with all that had happened. “I just want the key. You give me the key, and I’ll leave, promise.”
“Are you fucking insane? Don’t you know the guy? What he would do if I don’t get him what he wants?”
Zoe knew perfectly, she had personally danced with that particular devil. But for Archer and Lucas’ protection she was ready to do much worse. “That’s exactly why I need it.”
It wasn’t difficult to see that he would never willingly give it to her. He might not appear dangerous, but with a knife in his hands, it was a completely different story. Trapped, she could almost hear what he was thinking.
“Give it to me, and you’re free.” One step in his direction, and Zoe knew it was a bad move. Like a cornered wild animal, he charged at her, knife first. He was so close, there was no way to swiftly evade him, not with her drained body. A scream clogged her throat when blood splashed, the man’s head exploding before her eyes.
