Dusk (Dangerous Web #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,61

when Sparrow stopped us. “Hey.” We both turned as he came closer. “Don’t go off half-cocked.”

Mason grinned. “You know me better than that.”

“That’s why I’m worried. I’m not stupid.”

“No one—” I began.

“Your security system,” Sparrow interrupted. “I know it’s the best because the best minds I know created it. The kidnappers took two women in a planned operation. That points to Laurel as their target. Now, with whatever drug was given to Araneae, this is all pointing toward...” He looked directly at Mason. “Are you going to say it—to me—or are you going to keep trying to hide it, talking all quiet and private and shit?”

“The Order,” Mason said, his jaw clenched. “I don’t want to fucking say it because I don’t want to believe it. You were there, Sparrow. You were there in the room. We made a deal.”

“Don’t even fucking think about going to them alone.”

“He won’t,” I said.

Sparrow’s eyes closed and opened. “Find Lorna. Get her home where she belongs. Then fill me in on everything you know. I’ll support you. Don’t do anything behind my back.”

Mason’s neck straightened. “Lorna is our first priority.”

“Keep me up to date on every damn thing.”

“We will,” I said.

Mason and I were silent as we walked the rest of the way down the long hallway, and Sparrow went the other direction. Once we were inside the office, we both sighed.

“First things first,” I said, sitting in front of the computer I’d deemed as mine. “Give me five minutes and I’ll have the satellite images.”

Lorna

Though my head was on the pillow of the lower bunk, the incessant ringing refused to stop. It went on and on, much like a fire alarm, the one with the flashing lights and horrible sound. I covered my head with the other pillow, yet it wouldn’t still. It wouldn’t even dull.

My eyes barely opened.

The strobing light continued.

It had been going on for what could be days, weeks...My ability to rationally think was lost to the noise and flashing.

It began the morning the woman came to demand my answer.

“Your time is up,” she’d said, entering the then-silent room.

A step behind her, Jet carried a tray. I didn’t know its contents, yet I wanted it. I needed it. The food in the interrogation room had been my last meal.

She sneered. “Come on, Lorna. This is your chance to be someone, to make a difference. Do we save your friend? Do we let her live?”

I am someone.

It was a voice in my head. I didn’t say it aloud, but I clung to its meaning.

I was.

Someone.

“Yes, she lives,” I answered.

“So your choice is Laurel. She’s the one who will suffer.”

I shook my head. “No, I won’t give you an answer to that. Neither one of them should suffer. Both should live.”

She turned and nodded to Jet who left with the tray. “You disappoint me, Lorna Pierce.”

“My name is Lorna Murray.”

“Born a no one and doomed to die the same. I suppose that’s your choice.” She turned on her heels, leaving me alone.

Nearly a minute later, Jet returned. He no longer carried the tray. Instinctively, I took a step back, preparing for his abuse such as before. Perhaps it would be a punishment for my answer.

I stood straighter, finding strength.

Fuck them.

I wouldn’t sell out my friends, no matter what he did.

My concentration was on his face, his expression. I didn’t see what he had in his grasp. The tiny object didn’t register.

Until it did.

A small syringe.

“No, wait,” I pleaded. “What is that?”

More steps backward.

I backed away until there was nowhere to go. Trapped between the concrete blocks and this muscular tall man, I did what I could do. I fought.

A knee to his groin.

The heel of my hand to his nose.

Those were the moves Mason taught me long ago.

In all my thirty-five years, I’d never used one of his self-defense maneuvers. There was never the need.

As soon as I delivered the kick to his groin, I knew it was ineffective. I was too short to make a full impact.

The heel of my hand hit hard, causing blood to spew as Jet took a staggering step backward.

I did what I could do.

I ran.

The open door was right before me.

My forward momentum reversed as my scalp screamed out in pain. With a fist full of my hair, he pulled me backward before shoving me. I had just enough time to catch myself with my hands as I landed face-first upon the concrete floor. Jet’s weight landed on top of me, expelling the air from