Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
My racing heart swells with pride.
My angel. My queen.
Here we go. No turning back now.
Christian, if you can hear me while burning in hell, you’d better not have fucked me here.
I squint at the keypad, my fingers sliding over the buttons before I press decisively, entering the numbers he gave up: 1-0-6-7-9.
For one excruciating moment, nothing happens. Scarlet lets out a strangled gasp while my brother’s voice rings out in my head.
You fucked it up, just like I knew you would. I should’ve done it myself.
Instead of a screeching siren signaling a breach, a soft buzz sounds before the gate begins to slide open. We both scramble to our feet before I shove Scarlet toward the growing opening, close on her heels. The guard will be out of his chair by now, going to the window before heading for the door. It’s what I would do.
And it’s what he does, the door to the guardhouse clicking open not even a heartbeat after Scarlet and I round the corner. He wastes no time pounding down the wooden stairs, jogging toward the gate.
Since he leaves the door open, a rectangle of light pours from inside, giving me a clear view of the butt of a gun protruding from his waistband.
He begins reaching for it…
Here goes nothing.
I dart forward, reaching him before he wraps his fingers around the butt. I take hold, instead, while wrapping my left arm around his neck from behind, jerking sharply, cutting off his air so there won’t be any screaming.
He fights or tries to—one thing about the guards around here that I remember from the past is their lack of physical size and strength. There were never any brawny guys in the ranks. They didn’t need physical strength when they had rifles and handguns on their side.
In other words, it doesn’t take long before my prey slumps, his legs turning to rubber. I jerk hard again, as hard as I can, satisfied by the feeling of something giving way under my arm. His windpipe. Satisfaction rings proudly through me.
Quickly, I drag him into the deep shadows behind the guardhouse, leaving him wedged between the foundation and a dumpster after checking him for more weapons. He only had the single gun. Not even a knife.
I wonder if that means Rebecca’s feeling lax, secure. I can only hope so.
Scarlet exhales when I reach her, still crouched in the shadows. She leans against me for a beat before straightening up again. There’s no time for emotions now. The gate opening was quiet enough, but if anyone happens to be up and notices it sitting wide open the way it is, we’re fucked.
Yet I can’t take the chance of closing it to cover our asses—that means having to open it again. We might not have time to get into the guardhouse.
All we can do is keep going, staying low as we cut diagonally from the guardhouse to the shed Christian assured me houses the group’s growing collection of weapons and ammunition.
It never ceases to amaze me that no one thinks the presence of a cache of rifles in what’s supposed to be a peaceful religious community is odd.
Another keypad is mounted beside the door, and it’s with more confidence that I punch in the code. A buzz, a click, and the door unlocks.
There are no windows in here, so I feel safe taking a few seconds to catch my breath and listen for any sounds of running or shouting.
If we had to, we could shoot our way out—a theory confirmed once I find the short chain hanging down from a single bulb in the middle of the ceiling and give it a tug, illuminating the space.
“Holy fuck.” Scarlet covers her mouth with one hand at the sight of three walls covered in mounted rifles. A shelf runs along the walls, too, stacked with handguns and grenades. This is definitely more than a few rifles.
After checking to be sure the Glock I took from the guard is loaded, I hand it to her before choosing a pair of Rugers for myself. I’m not taking any chances.
And considering they’re already loaded, Rebecca’s not taking chances, either. They want to be ready for whatever nameless, faceless threat they’re guarding against. Law enforcement, most likely.
All they did was make it easier for me to quickly arm myself.
“Okay.” I kill the light before joining her at the door. “Rebecca and William stay in the largest building at the far end of the compound.” Much larger, according to the satellite images. But then they would. I’m sure it was the first structure built once New Haven sprang to life. To think, they’ve been out here all these years, rebuilding everything they lost. How sickening.
“I’ll watch out behind you,” she promises.
Her voice is tight with excitement and anticipation.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’s enjoying this.