Sauter (Ironside Academy, #3)(131)

“Carter!” Fists rained down on the door.

It was Crowe.

Just as she considered darting out through the back door and calling his attention away from the chapel, he fired off a round of shots, breaking apart the lock. She bit back a scream, ducking into one of the vestibules lining the side of the room, pressing up against the thin wall and covering her mouth to muffle her terrified breathing.

She had to do something, or the others were going to get hurt.

But she didn’t know what to do.

“I know you’re in here.” Wood splintered beneath Crowe’s boots as he slowly stepped inside. “I’ll shoot this whole place up if I have to.”

Luis’ dream was coming true, and it was all because of her. She had run straight to the chapel, thinking they might be in danger. Cian was right. Believing in things did half the work of fate.

She waited until Crowe was almost in line with her vestibule before she slipped out, scooting around him to put his back to the dais. He raised his gun immediately. It was long. Bigger than she expected. He even had ammunition clips strapped to his belt.

He was prepared.

“There you are,” he snarled, levelling the gun at her face.

“Get out of here,” she said, keeping her eyes on Crowe and hoping the others were smart enough to leave while she was giving them an opportunity to.

She wasn’t worth an extra three lives.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Crowe spat. “You ruined my life, you little cunt.”

She caught the barest glimpse of movement over his shoulder. It looked like Maya, Sophia, and Luis were moving toward the back door. She needed to keep Crowe talking.

“How did I do that?” she asked.

“First, the Track Team told me to ruin your reputation—even promised that Eve would help with her power, then your stupid boyfriend comes after me.” He took a step closer, staring at her dress like it personally offended him. “But they never really wanted to recruit me. I was just pathetic enough to employ as a tool. They recorded me doing what they told me to do, and then used it to blackmail me. They used me to get to you and then tossed me out like garbage as soon as they had you. But you never really escape the Track Team. You know that, don’t you? You know they own you now? And I’m going to make sure to sink their precious little investment.”

Isobel flinched when the back door opened, a bright shaft of light angling into the room, but Crowe didn’t seem to notice it. He was focussed on the slow steps backward she was taking, carefully matching them with steps forward as he kept the gun pointed up.

One of the shadows paused in the doorway and Isobel chanced a quick look up, catching the way Sophia held her fingers up to her head, gesturing a phone.

Isobel yanked her phone out of her pocket and held it up just as Crowe’s arm twitched, his heavy brows dragging down in fury.

“Throw it,” he ordered. “Or I blast your head off right now.”

She flicked it over her shoulder, close enough to the door to feel where the opening was by the breeze creeping in against her back. She heard it scatter and slide off the chapel steps and Crowe reached around her, wedging the broken doors closed as Sophia finally disappeared from the back door, closing it at the same time.

Hopefully, she would get to Isobel’s phone and call one of the Alphas … because Isobel wasn’t sure she would be able to overpower Crowe on her own.

She had tried that once, and there were no candlesticks within reach this time.

“So what should I do?” Crowe asked, his foul, stale-sweat smell washing over her before he backed off. “Give you a few more scars?” He tilted his head, looking her over. “Shoot out your kneecaps? Send them back a cripple? You want to be a cripple, bitch?”

She winced, leaning back against the door, and keeping her mouth shut. He took another step away, planting the barrel of his gun against her cheek. “Or I could shoot a hole through your face? See how much better than me you think you are when you’re just as ugly.”

He lowered the gun, brushing it across her chest, and pressing it low against her stomach. “Or maybe I’ll have a little taste of what you’re handing out to all the Alphas first? Maybe if you’re a good enough fuck, I’ll let you keep one of your legs. What do you say?”

She averted her eyes from his face as his meaty tongue poked out to lick his lips, her attention zeroing in on the painting hanging above the dais. She had no idea which of the Gifted gods it was, but she was willing to try anything.

So she closed her eyes and begged.

Please. Help me. I’ll do anything you want. If you’re real, help me.

“Are you praying?” Crowe suddenly laughed, backhanding her across the face and forcing her head to whip to the side. Her eyes flew open. “Those gods aren’t real, you dumb slut!”

Her chest began to tingle as tears tracked down her face, blood filling her mouth. He must have split her lip.

“Please let me go,” she rasped, rubbing at the pain in her chest before realising what it was.

She froze, pulling at the neckline of her dress to stare down at the chain. A new gemstone had appeared. Stormy grey and glowing lightly.

She choked on the sudden taste of ash spilling into the back of her throat.

“What’s wrong with you?” Crowe lowered his gun, his eyes fixed to the subtle glow shining through her dress. “What is that?” He jerked the gun back up. “Take it off and show me. Now!” He fired a warning shot through the door over her shoulder, and her vision wavered, flashing dark and then suddenly vividly bright.