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Bang!
The sound of a loud, thunderous explosion somewhere outside ripped through the air. It was so violent that the walls rattled and the ground beneath our feet shook. A few people screamed, and a couple of others made a hasty sprint for the exit, though it didn’t appear like we were in any immediate danger.
“What the hell was that?” Kris snapped over our earpieces.
Adam was the one to report in. “Something went off outside in the parking lot. A car bomb.”
“Casualties?” Charlie asked.
“Can’t tell ?hey, don’t push!”
“Sam, get the duchess out of there,” Liam ordered over the comms.
“Right,” I said, reaching for Arianna. “We have to go.”
“What’s happening?” she asked shakily. “Is anybody hurt?”
“We don’t know, but we have to get to someplace secure—”
A second explosion. This time it was twice as big and twice as close. The northern wall just behind the stage shattered, bits of stone, metal and dust flying out toward us and the crowd. The impact was so sudden, so forceful that it knocked the air out of my lungs and sent me falling to the ground.
My ears were ringing. My heart raced so hard I couldn’t distinguish one beat from the next. People were screaming, crowds were shoving each other this way and that. I fought through the pain in my joints, and crawled my way over to Arianna, taking her hand and holding on for dear life.
“Move!” I screamed at her, dragging her to her feet.
Another explosion rocked the room.
It was absolute chaos. This time, the easternmost wall came tumbling down. It was impossible to see anything clearly past the smoke and dust, but I thought I could make out the dark silhouettes of a group of armed men.
Could it be Terrance?
I didn’t feel like sticking around and finding out.
“Sam!” Kris’ voice cracked over my earpiece. I could barely make out what he was saying. “Where are you?”
The armed men approached with alarming speed. I had to act quick or else they’d hurt Arianna. I dragged her over to the nearest table and shoved her underneath, using the tablecloth to conceal her as best I could. I ripped my earpiece out and gave it to her.
“Stay here,” I shouted, voice hoarse and tight. “Donotcome out. Radio Kris to come find you.”
“Wait!” she shrieked. “Where are you going? Sam—”
I slipped out of my high heels and gripped each of them in my hands, throwing them at one of the shadow figures. It nailed the bastard right in the head, but my triumph was short-lived.
“There she is!” I heard one of them exclaim.
They swarmed, moving in with alarming speed and precision. The first one tried to grab me by the wrist, but Liam’s training kicked in. Moving on muscle memory alone, I managed to slip out of his hold and drive my palm up. I heard the satisfying crack of his nose followed by his muffled cry.
There were too many to fend off. While I tried swinging at one, something hard hit me against the side of my skull. The room spun. The edges of my vision blurred. I felt like I was going to be sick all over the ballroom floor. The biggest assailant of the group, dressed in all black and tactical gear, picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I was so dizzy and numb that I couldn’t fight back, no amount of kicking and hitting and screaming could help me now.
“We have what we need,” came a low, dangerous voice. The man sounded a lot like Liam, but without the familiar warmth I associated him with.
I dipped in and out of consciousness, taking in the world through bits and pieces.
We were in the ballroom, there was dust and debris and screaming.
We were in the back of a van; the floor was cold and hard and unforgiving.
We were in a dark room, the air smelled of mold and water and rust.
