by W.J. Smith
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Morgan's Diamond
Levi wordlessly led the way through several halls and to the elevator. It was a much shorter ride this time, and they were then back into the labyrinth of bleak hallways. They came to a stop at a door without a window. He turned the nob and pushed it open, eyeing her as she passed by and into the decaying room.
The small chamber was empty except for one folding chair in the middle of the room. Skyler was cuffed to it. His head was bowed, and he looked terrible. Madison's heart broke for him, but she couldn't let Levi know. He had to think she was still under Morgan's control.
"You used me," she spat at Skyler.
He looked up at her, his eyes full of pain and surprise. "What are you doing here?" he choked.
She stared at him angrily. It was hard to do. He had been roughed up. He had a black eye, a split cheek, and a bloodied lip. By the way he was sitting she could tell he was in pain. "I trusted you and you used me," she hissed. His startled expression faded, and he lowered his head again. "Morgan told me everything. How could you do this to us? Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
He raised his eyes to her with a look of shame. She wondered for a moment if it was true, if he had used her. He didn't try to counter her or defend himself. "You never should have come here," he mumbled. She then knew he had given up.
"That's it? Don't you think I deserve a little more explanation from you?" She waited. He didn't move. "After all these years?"
That got his attention. He gaped at her with an expression just shy of disgust. He was still with her.
Madison nodded and turned to Levi. "I want to go ahead with our deal."
He glanced at Skyler, then looked back to Madison. "Where is it?"
"Right here," she said as she slipped off the ring. She kept her hand closed over the piece to hide it somewhat as Levi reached to take it. Just before placing it in his palm, she dropped it to the floor.
He glared at her when she shuffled to retrieve it. "I've got it," he growled as he grabbed her by the arm. Levi pushed her away and bent down to pick up the ring.
Madison slipped the syringe from her sleeve, uncapped it, and stuck it in his back. Levi yelped and spun around to hit her. She ducked away from the blow and moved to trip him up. It didn't take much. He was slow to sidestep her and lost his balance. He fell flailing to the floor and muttered curses at her for a few moments before going still.
"You are crazy!" Skyler's relieved voice rang out. She looked at him, unable to tell if his smile was out of fear or happiness. Maybe both.
She found the ring and put it in Levi's hand for when he came around. He would be the one to give it back to Morgan. It seemed fitting.
"We've got to get out of here," Madison hurried to see to Skyler. She pulled a pin from her hair and jimmied the lock. Cuffs were always easier than safes.
He didn't jump up as soon as the bindings clattered to the floor. He wrapped his arms around his midsection and doubled over with a groan. Madison took hold of him and guided him to his feet. He reached up and held her face in his hands. "Don't ever do that to me again," he said in a warning tone. "I thought I'd lost you."
She pulled his hands down and held them in her own. "Morgan will be here any moment. We have to get out of here now."
Skyler nodded with another wince and moved for the door. They stepped over the motionless Levi and paused just inside the open door. He peeked out into the halls for a breath, then tugged Madison's hand to follow after him.
"Where's Chase?" he questioned after the first turn.
"He's safe, but he's expecting a phone call as soon as we're able."
He glanced back at her and shook his head. "That may be awhile."
The way they took made no sense to Madison. She was completely turned around. Skyler never slowed as he marched through the lifeless halls. Even when he came to the elevators, the doors of one opened right after he pressed the button as if they knew of his haste.
She looked at Skyler as they waited within the silence. He watched the buttons light up with their descent. His anxiousness was written on his face and echoed in his tense stance. She wanted to hug him and hold him tight with the relief of seeing him, but something held her back. She shouldn't distract him. Knowing she couldn't get past his full-blown defense mode, she instead wrapped her fingers in the loose fabric at the back of his coat. He didn't act as if he noticed.
The elevator chime told of their arrival on the ground floor. Skyler held his place within the enclosure as he checked the hallway ahead. Without a word, he stepped out and ushered her along behind him. The front door was in view. The only thing between them and their exit was a single long hall.
It seemed to take ages for them to near the double doors that led to the parking garage. They kept to a hurried walk along the way, not quite running. But when Skyler reached to push the doors open, the elevator chime rang out behind them. Madison stopped short beside him, and they both turned to look. The doors slid open to reveal Morgan and four of his men.
Skyler grabbed Madison by the arm and rushed her out the door. She broke into a run for his G-Wagon slowing only when she noticed he wasn't moving as quickly. He was hindered with a limp. She got under his arm and helped him along. Neither spoke. They didn't have to; reach his truck and get away or take too long and get caught.
Once inside his truck, he didn't favor his side anymore as he had all along the way. Skyler seemed to be in complete control. Madison turned to look back as the engine roared to life. Morgan and the others had reached the double doors.
The sound of the tires squealing on smooth concrete echoed throughout the garage. They finally found traction, and the large SUV lurched as it pulled from the parking space. With a slap to the shifter, they were throttling out of the garage and into the fading daylight.
"Are you all right?" Skyler was quickly questioning as he sped down the lane from the business complex. "Did they hurt you?"
"I'm fine. They didn't touch me. You, on the other hand, look awful. Are you all right?" She studied his bruised face and wished she had gotten to him earlier.
"It's nothing. I've had worse." He didn't sugarcoat anything. He was watching the mirror and plotting their escape. They were far from free just yet.
Looking behind them, Madison could see two vehicles following. It looked like the two that had come after her and Chase. Though Skyler had a good start, there wasn't much around to lose them by. They had to get to the highway.
It became a little more tricky when they reached the heavier traffic. The G-Wagon wasn't exactly small enough to slip through the jams. But that is where its large size came into play. Skyler barged into whichever lane he wanted and forced his way through the congestion. The drivers of the smaller cars could honk all they want. It's hard to argue with a full sized SUV that had the power to back up its bark.
The entrance to the highway brought a new hope. Though the shadowing vehicles didn't drop back by much, just knowing of the stretch of the fast-paced, multi-lane roadway meant they had a chance. Madison glanced at the gauges. They had a full tank. The throttle was far from pegged. They were going to make it.