Love And Betrayal | ✔️

28. Leave me, leave me not

K I A R A

"KIARA, DUCK!"

"GET THE BOOK, ADEN!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

The next second everything erupts into absolute chaos. The guards start firing while we duck under the table, dodging as many bullets as we can. They whizz past our head, missing us by inches.

When few of them cease for a moment to reload, I take my chances. I grab Aden's hand and run.

Run. Run. Run.

My head can barely understand what my body is doing. It's as if I was working on reflex right now. I'm pushing people, shoving them out of my way. Tackling the door, I snatch the gun out of his grasp and run.

Run. Run. Run.

That's all I'm focused on right now.

We're just a blur as we hurtle down the staircase, crossing corridors after corridors that are filled with guards. But before any of those surprised guards can even raise their guns, we're already gone. I don't dare look back.

Maybe it's supernatural werewolf speed. Maybe my teleportation talent's back. Don't know, don't care. Whatever it is, when this is over, I'm going to get down on my knees and thank the Moon Goddess for it.

Eventually, we come to halt in an empty corridor. There are no guards here to kill us. Drawing in a deep breath, I try to calm my racing heart.

"Did we lose them?" I pant, drawing in lungfuls of breath.

"I think so." Aden rasps.

He leans against the wall for a few moments to regain his breath.

Finding an empty room, we enter and shut the door before slumping onto the ground. Aden's fists are clenched. A storm stirs behind those deep grey eyes. I don't need to ask him what's bothering him, I'd be a fool not to know.

His sister.

Stella Carter.

I want to slap myself. How the fuck was anyone supposed to know Aden's own sister would turn out to be the biggest traitor? Beneath those big doe eyes and dimpled smiles, hid the soul of a betrayer. All the time we spent looking for criminals, she'd been right under our noses.

Aden slams his fist into the wall in anger. Cracks appear in the stone.

Alarmed, I'm beside him at once. "Aden!"

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not." I take his hand in mine. Run my hand over his bloody knuckles. "Here, let me-"

"I'm fucking fantastic, Kiara. You don't have to act like you care! "

I do care! I want to shout, but nothing comes out of my mouth.

Instead, I drop his hand. Drop the matter all together.

I watch as lean against the wall—tired and spent, spirits drained. Only a shell of his former self.

It's depressing. So, I mindlink Ashton instead in an attempt to locate their whereabouts.

"Ki?" Ashton's relieved voice comes through. "Where the hell are you? You were supposed to be here an hour ago!"

"Long story. GreyHound caught us, we got away. Anyway, we're fine now." I say dismissively, not wishing to worry him more than he already is. "Tell me where you are. The guards have been alerted Ariana's missing. They're combing every inch of land to find her."