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Augustine’s eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared. “No.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I’m the one keeping you alive right now. If any of the senator’s men slipped past Angel, they’ll be heading this way.”
“I’m not going in there with you.” I was already backing away. Caylen whimpered against my chest. I could feel his tiny fingers gripping my shirt as he fought to get closer.
“We don’t have time for this.” He let the door slam shut with a growl of impatience as he followed me down the stairs.
“If not you, then who?”
“We’d be here all night if I listed the people who’d gain from killing Angel.”
“Which includes you.”
“He doesn’t have anything I want,” he shot back.
I could hear someone in the distance coming this way. Augustine must have heard it too because he stopped dead and turned his head toward the sound.
“You might be telling the truth, and I’m sorry, but that’s a risk I can’t take.”
I didn’t wait for him to react. I just turned and ran in the opposite direction at the same time the unmistakable sound of guns firing interrupted the silence. I chanced a look back to see Augustine diving for cover as he fought for his life.
Running toward the forest, I disappeared into the night and hoped my son, and I made it out of this war alive.Chapter Twenty-OneANGELWE TOOK DOWN all but three of the senator’s men while the senator himself and his son got away. Mian’s friend had taken a fatal bullet meant for Aaron when he used her as a human shield. He and his father wouldn’t make it off the property since my men were already blocking every exit, so I concentrated on chasing the men who had disappeared in the direction Augustine had fled with Mian and Caylen.
Augustine should have made it to the tunnel by now, but it didn’t keep the fear out of my head that something could happen to them. Lucas and Z kept pace with me as we tore through the cemetery for the mausoleum. When the sound of gunshots reached us, I pumped my legs and arms faster. We reached the mausoleum and found Augustine fighting off two of the senator’s men. The third was slumped against the tree with a bullet in his jugular.
Lucas and Z quickly took down the two men while I searched the area for signs of Mian and Caylen.
“Thank fuck,” Augustine griped as he walked toward us. “I was running out of bullets.”
“That’s because you’re a shitty shot,” Lucas joked.
Augustine flipped him off and said, “What took you guys so long? Staten’s dead, right?”
I ignored his question and growled, “Where is Mian?”
He tensed and then expelled a harsh breath. “She took off that way.” He pointed toward the path that led to the north wall surrounding the cemetery. “She freaked out thinking I stole the book and was going to kill her, so she ran off.”
“Fuck!” I didn’t wait around. I took off in the direction Augustine indicated. If the senator realized he couldn’t escape before my men got to him, he could be anywhere on the property by now. If Mian kept running this way, she’d reach the wall eventually, and if the senator found her first, she’d be cornered. It could already be too late.
Desperation grew each minute that passed without finding them. I considered changing directions worried she might be lost or hurt when I heard a gut-wrenching scream followed by an infant’s loud cry.
I ran in that direction, and for the first time, I prayed.
The forest was too silent after what I’d heard, and I was afraid of what it could mean. I quelled the need to roar her name. If the senator had her, I didn’t want him to know I was coming. Taking him down would be safer for Mian and the baby if I caught him by surprise.
My worry that I’d never find them had turned into full-fledged fear when I finally heard them. It was faint—the break of a twig, but it was enough. I kept my own footsteps careful as I closed in on their location. I saw them through the gap between two trees rooted closely together. They faced me, but their attention was on Mian laying at their feet. Caylen sat in the curve of her body whimpering with his fist in his mouth as he stared up nervously at his piece of shit father and grandfather.
“Knight’s got to be hot on our heels by now, Father. We need to get out of here.”
“No. We take care of them now and leave their bodies for him to find.”
“Fine,” Aaron grumbled. He bent down to grab Caylen when I stepped from the shadows with my gun aimed at his head.
“Touch him, and I’ll kill you slowly.” The calculated gleam in his eye was my warning, but I was still too late to react. He jerked Caylen from the ground and used him as a shield. I wanted to lower my gun, but I couldn’t risk a second of reaction time if I got a clear shot. When Caylen saw me, he cried out with arms reaching for me. He might as well have taken my heart in his hands and squeezed until it stopped beating. Since my focus had been stolen by him, I hadn’t noticed the Senator aiming his gun at my head.
