"My wha-Who?" Her gaze went to the calendar Fernando had sent. Was that what he was talking about?
Okay, that he could have. Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't worth her life.
"You mean that?" She pointed toward it. "Take the stupid thing. It's all yours."
He glanced toward it, then did a double take. He released her so fast, she stumbled backward.
She ran for the door, but when she tried to open it, it wouldn't budge. Where was a grenade when you needed one?
Better yet, a key.
His features reverent, Cabeza ran his hand over the ancient carvings. He caressed the calendar like a lover he thought was lost to him. "How did you get this?"
"UPS."
He curled his lip and raked her with a sneer. "Where was this found? Tell me!"
Not the appropriate tone, buster. She'd never been one to be ordered around by anyone, anytime. Anywhere. Ignoring his command, she tried the knob again. C'mon door ... open, open, open!
Why wasn't the damn thing opening?
'Cause this day just didn't suck enough already.
That thought had barely finished, before the whole door blew apart in her hands. Shielding her face with her arm, she fell away in an effort to protect herself. Cabeza launched himself at her. Dodging his grasp, she ran for the opening, only to collide with a solid wall.
No, not a wall- A giant mass of a man who had to be seven feet tall stood in the center of the doorframe. One who snarled something at Cabeza in a language she'd never heard spoken before.
Kateri barely got out of the line of fire before the two of them went after each other with everything they had. They let fly blows that should have killed any normal human being. But neither of them did more than growl and attack as they continued to block her exit.
It was like being trapped by Godzilla and Mothra.
With no thought other than survival, she ran toward the closet in back. If nothing else, she could try to hide there.
As she broke even with the last table, where she'd left her purse, she grabbed her phone out of it. Intending to call security, she cursed as it started ringing in her hands.
Dammit! It better not be a telemarketer.
She flipped it open, and started to tell whoever it was that she was a little busy when she heard her cousin's voice.
"Teri? Is everything okay?"
"Sunny! I need help in my lab. Now! Call campus security for me. I'm being attacked." She'd barely finished the last word before her phone went dead.
"We can't be having that, can we?" Cabeza asked as he kicked the mountain away from him.
He started toward her.
Her eyes widened as the other man ran at him and slammed him against the wall. That had to hurt, but since he was doing her a favor, she was actually rooting for the mountain to win.
I have to get out of here. Especially before they turn that hatred on me. One hit like that, and she'd never recover. Kateri ran toward the front again. Please have heard me, Sunny. Please call help. She loved her cousin dearly, but the woman could be extremely absentminded and oblivious at times.
She glanced at Enrique, who was still frozen mid-gesture. He needed help, too.
What do I do?
Kateri was almost to the closet door when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to a rude stop.
Furious, she turned on the newcomer, intending to attack. But as she raised her arm for the blow and focused on her latest annoyance, she sucked her breath in sharply. Recognition hit her like a sucker punch.