Let Me Out (For Me, #1)

by Nichole Severn

  The wall behind the painting was bare.

  She moved on to the next frame. Nothing.

  She circled the room, searching behind the frames one by one. She’d assumed the largest of the collection would give her what she needed, but disappointment flared hot in her chest. Frustration built, getting the best of her, doubt pulling at her mind. Had Christian figured out her plan to run? Had he set her up?

  She made her way to the farthest painting in the office, the last picture. If the safe wasn’t hidden behind this one, she’d be out of time and out of luck.

  She studied the picture longer than the others, recognizing it as one of her favorites. Van Gogh’s Starry Night. The color was lost in the dark, but she clearly envisioned the blues, greens and yellows above the little town at the bottom of the painting from staring at it so long in her own room. She tilted the frame down as she’d done with the others and smiled.

  She’d found the safe.

  It’s about time. Her monster jumped up and down, clapping in delight. Now open it. Open it.

  She removed the painting from the wall and realized her mistake at once.

  A trip wire, invisible in the dark, pulled out of the painting and set the alarms around the building shrieking.

  Ripping the picture from the wall completely, she reached inside her jacket and removed a small amount of C4. She stuck the square to the safe keypad as the office door swung wide open.

  The guard, heavyset with dark skin, aimed his weapon at her with both hands. Age prevented him from moving quickly, but he’d been trained. “Stay still, little lady, or I will shoot you where you stand!”

  Glancing back toward the safe, Adelaide lunged for the floor, getting as far from the blast as she could.

  The sound made her ears ring as the office filled with smoke. Blind, she ran back toward the safe, felt inside and grabbed everything she could, stuffing the files inside her jacket.

  Sprinting toward the window, she hoped the rope would be close enough to reach. The bolts held the glass pane in place, but she didn’t know if she’d be able to squeeze her body through without slowing down.

  She’d passed the point of no return, and the window was her only option.

  Gunshots rang in her ears as bullets flew overhead and in front of her face. The guard wasn’t a bad shot and suddenly Adelaide didn’t care if she could squeeze through the opening. Sixteen floors up, she contemplated her chances of survival if the rope wasn’t exactly where she needed it, and the chances weren’t good.

  She flung herself around the desk, protected briefly by the desk chair, but kept moving, running toward the window. The smoke cleared out from the open window, and if the guard was a good shot before, he’d be even better when he could see.

  Within feet of the window, her only chance of escape, she realized there wouldn’t be enough room between the glass and the wall to squeeze through quickly.

  She’d have to go through it.

  The rope hung just outside and she braced for impact.

  Bullets punctured the glass on both sides of her head, giving Adelaide the cushion she needed when she crashed through the windowpane.

  Time slowed as she listened to the pieces of shattered glass bounce off one another. A single bullet passed her head as she floated, but her right hand found the rope. She held on to it with all her strength, drawing her 9mm with her left hand. Aiming the weapon back into the office, she started to fire as the rope pulled her upward.

  Glancing up toward the roof, she saw the team waiting for her near the ledge. Each had their eyes on her approaching form with hands extended to help. Within eight seconds, she threw her leg over the edge of the roof.

  She tried to catch her breath, but the building had already been rigged to explode and she had to go on. Moving toward the waiting backpacks near the fire escapes, she strapped hers on.

  “Follow her,” Christian ordered from behind.

  Taigen and Marcus moved to their packs, pulling them over their shoulders as she had. Christian followed after retying the rope and placing it in his pack.

  “Are we ready?” he asked, his gaze roaming over her body.

  She imagined the glass had added a few more cuts that would turn into scars, but Adelaide didn’t care. She’d done the job. She’d get paid then she’d run as fast as she could across the border.

  She nodded in confirmation, the heat of the Mexican sun in her mind.

  “Good,” Taigen chimed in. “Then let’s get the hell out of here before we’re fried.”

  “Let’s go.” Christian jogged away.

  She followed after him, barely feeling the gravel under her feet, her concentration on the ledge of the building. She’d need to put as much distance as she could between it and herself, and when her foot hit the ledge Adelaide pushed with all of her strength. She dropped rapidly into the night air, her hair trailing behind her as she looked back to the roof above.

  Marcus had jumped behind her with Taigen following.

  She waited barely a second before pulling her pack’s chute. A plain black parachute rushed out from the bag, filling her view of the two men above. Grabbing the handles, she steered toward an empty parking lot below where they’d agreed to reconvene and exhaled in relief. Her freedom hadn’t been so hard to come by.

  Her monster enjoyed the fall, but Adelaide didn’t have time to express as much pleasure.

  The ground rushed up to meet her, pushing the peaceful feeling she’d felt on the way down aside. Her feet slammed down onto the asphalt and she went down hard. She regained her feet and ran a few steps before she felt the chute drag behind her. Unhooking her harness and pack from her shoulders, she shoved the material back inside and spared a glance toward Christian.

  He watched her, his eyes peeling into slits, studying her with concern. Not at her face, but at her torso.

  With a downward glance, she saw it. Right below her rib cage the leather was wet on her left side. Adelaide touched the spot, then looked up to where Marcus and Taigen had landed.

  “Adie,” Christian said, running to meet her.

  She heard the faint sound of the alarm she’d set off but forced her mind to focus as he gripped her side. She looked back up to him with a questioning expression of her own. She couldn’t remember getting injured. What was on her jacket?

  “You’re hurt,” he explained.

  Taigen and Marcus jogged the few feet over to her, voicing their concerns.

  “We got to go! That building is going to go up any second,” Taigen said.

  Marcus’s eyes found hers. “What’s wrong?” He panted to regain composure as he leaned over his knees.

  She pulled her hand away, her fingertips coated with blood.

  Adelaide wasn’t in pain, but the wound would slow her escape. Tonight would be the night she’d grant herself freedom. Eager to finish the job, eager to leave the city and Christian Wren forever, she pushed them away and took a step toward her motorcycle.

  Her vision blurred for a moment and she froze, trying to regain her balance. She tried another step. She just had to make it back to the mansion. The money would be waiting and her belongings had already been packed. She stopped for a second time. Falling to her knees, she bent over to place a hand on the cool asphalt.

  “Adie,” someone said in her ear.

  The voice sounded like Christian, but she couldn’t be sure.

  “Come on,” the voice said. “Get up. We have to go.”

  They’d only planned one exit strategy and the motorcycles were it. She pushed herself up, regaining her balance, and waved the men away again.

  She’d be fine.

  She would make it.

  She could drive back to the house on her own. Adelaide reached the bike and swung a leg over. She felt a poke from one of the file’s corners against her ribs. The injury brought an odd sensation to her nerves and all too soon she felt pain.

  You’re not going to make it if you think that is pain, her delusion said and reached for
the handlebars, its legs embracing the front tire as it stared Adelaide down. Maybe it’s not time to leave after all.

  “We don’t have time for this. We’ll deal with it later.”

  She watched Christian pull a remote from his jacket and switch a tiny knob into place. With a push of a button, they expected the entire federal building to be engulfed in flame, their plans complete, the evidence of their visit destroyed.

  But nothing happened.

  He pushed it again, twisting the remote in his hand to check the battery compartment.

  Adelaide’s gaze slid to Marcus from instinct, noting his reaction.

  Pride. Amusement.

  He obviously didn’t know his fingerprints had been planted all over the building and would be the only evidence left behind, but she didn’t have time for this. They had a crime scene to flee.

  She started the bike, leaving the men to fend for themselves. She watched the buildings fly past her in amazement as she worked the bike. Somehow they seemed more alive, bigger, shinier. She’d never realized how beautiful the city was until this moment and she’d leave it all behind tonight. Finally.

  The crystal-clear sky overhead gave her a perfect view of the stars, but she had to focus on the road. The wind blew her hair back out of her face and Adelaide found herself smiling.

  She’d done her job.

  Free. She imagined ways in which she’d celebrate by herself, perfectly alone on a beach in Mexico.

  I know what I’d like to do, her monster said, invisible, but very much at the front of her mind when Marcus’s naked body crossed her vision.

  Adelaide didn’t push the thought away, but knew her own private fantasy would never be real. She’d never taste his blood again.

  A sharp pain pushed the breath from her lungs and all too soon her vision blurred again. She closed her eyes for half a second, but didn’t have the strength to reopen them.

  * * *

  Marcus slammed on his breaks, unable to believe what had just happened.

  Adelaide remained motionless on the hood of a parked car, her bike destroyed from the impact.

  He had to move fast. He dismounted, running as fast as he could toward her.

  “Adie!” Taigen yelled from behind, but she didn’t respond.

  Studying the scene before him, Marcus realized Adelaide’s leg had been pinned between the car and her bike. Summoning all his remaining strength, he pushed the bike to the ground, flinching as metal screamed in protest when it hit the pavement.

  Taigen slowed next to him, his breathing shallow. “Is she alive?”

  He gently rolled her over, wincing as his eyes registered the amount of blood seeping from her head. He placed his first two fingers over her throat and sighed. “She’s alive.” He pulled away, looking her over. “Come on. We have to get her on one of the bikes.”

  “You take her,” Taigen offered, moving in closer to the car. “I’ll lead the cops down to the docks.” He glanced back over his shoulder.

  The sirens grew louder.

  “Help me.”

  Each took a side, lifting Adelaide off of the hood.

  Marcus let her brother take her full weight as he mounted the motorcycle again, gripping the handlebars. The accident put Adelaide in bad shape and he needed to get her back to the mansion as fast as possible.

  Taigen draped her body across the bike and Marcus started the engine. Glancing back toward the red and blue lights getting closer, they nodded their good-byes.

  This would be the last time they’d speak.

  “Give me your word again,” Taigen demanded.

  “I’ll do what I can for her,” Marcus promised and pushed off, revving the accelerator as he called back over his shoulder, “See you in another life.” The wind dried his lips as he pushed the bike harder. Gazing down at Adelaide frequently, he insured she wouldn’t slip from his grasp.

  But she’d already woken up.

  Her eyes fluttered, covered in blood and blocking her vision.

  He felt Adelaide’s body tense underneath him and he feared she’d jerk the bike off course. “Hey, it’s okay,” he yelled over the sound of the bike. “It’s me.”

  Relaxing by degrees, she reached for her head, staining her fingertips with more blood.

  “We’re almost there,” he reassured her and sped up. The buildings passed by quickly, but he barely registered the fact they’d almost reached the house. “Are you all right? Can you see?”

  She nodded, repositioning herself. Now seated directly in front of him, she pressed her back against his chest.

  Marcus inhaled slowly and exhaled even slower. She was so close to him he could smell her skin. Intoxicating, a mix between citrus and sweat tainted with the coppery scent of blood. He kept his eyes on the road as he breathed her in, but found it hard to concentrate.

  With a wound in her torso, scrapes across her face and arms and a concussion, Adelaide only relaxed against him, staring up into the sky.

  Indestructible.

  His leg grew cold as they sped toward the mansion and he looked down. Blood covered almost every inch of the top of his left pant leg, soaking into his jeans. Chancing a quick glance to Adelaide’s face, he noted her closed eyes and slack face as she slid back into unconsciousness.

  He pulled the motorcycle up the stone driveway and ignored Christian where he was waiting on the front steps.

  “Where have you been?” Wren asked bitterly, his eyes focusing on Adelaide. “What happened?”

  “She crashed.” Marcus lowered the kickstand with his foot.

  Christian ran to help. “I got her,” he said, pulling her from Marcus’s hold. “We need to get her inside.”

  He dismounted his bike to follow, not about to let Adelaide out of his sight. He had a promise to keep to a good man, one who’d helped him into this position. He’d do anything he could to make sure she survived.

  “Does she have the file?” Wren asked over his shoulder.

  “There’s something in her jacket,” he said with confidence. He’d felt the corners of it on the drive back.

  “Good,” the boss replied, carrying Adelaide with ease. “Then at least something went right tonight.”

  He faltered on the front steps, watching the duo’s forms disappear behind the double wood doors of the mansion. Wren obviously had his priorities in a different order than Marcus did.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Adelaide felt the pressure of Marcus’s stare from across the room. His gaze bored into her back as she pulled clothes from the closet, her body aching and protesting with every movement. The wounds in her side and her head hadn’t been as severe as the blood had led them to believe, and Marcus had treated them as best he could. The small cuts on her face would heal and scar, and she found it very comforting to know Marcus couldn’t take his eyes off her. Somehow his opinion was important. Turning slowly, she looked directly to his form on the bed and smiled to herself.

  He’d been caught in the act.

  She wanted Marcus to watch her and the longing pulled a strong reaction from her body.

  Her monster purred, materializing before Adelaide’s eyes at it sauntered toward him casually. She pushed the pain in her leg from the accident aside as the monster stroked his face lightly, whispering. So pretty. It turned back to look at her. Such a shame to let it go to waste.

  Adelaide wanted to feel Marcus’s skin against hers, had even fantasized about him on more than one occasion, but for now she’d keep her hands to herself. This would be her last night in the house. By morning, she’d be gone, out of Christian’s control and on her own, away from temptation.

  Such a waste, her delusion said again. It circled around the bed, crawling on top of it before placing pale arms around his shoulders. Don’t you think we deserve some fun?

  Marcus kept his gaze on her, almost waiting for Adelaide to make up her mind.

  She took one step forward, her eyes lingering on the monster for a moment. This would be her last chance to tak
e what she wanted, and why shouldn’t she? Adelaide had followed others’ commands for too long, had been a slave to men all her life. Now she could take her first step as a free woman.

  She followed her delusion, copying every movement. Less than a foot away from him, she waited, eager to see what he had in mind with those experienced hands.

  He cleared his throat, darting his tongue across his lips before he spoke. “Your skin looks soft,” he whispered, but averted his gaze to the floor. His head leveled with her chest from where he sat on the edge of the bed. Her longing to feel his warmth against her body nearly consumed her.

  She reached for him, wrapping her fingers through his as she pulled him against her. His calluses scraped against her skin, leaving white lines as his hands moved across her stomach with ease. He’d been careful not to touch the wound she’d received during her escape, but it would have only made things more exciting. Pleasure and pain wrapped in one. The idea lifted one corner of her mouth into a smile.

  Adelaide wanted more.

  She pressed herself deeper into his arms, pushing Marcus to the bed. The denim of his jeans warmed her thighs where they brushed against her and the thunder of his heart under her touch sent a chill down her spine. All thought left her mind as his lips found her neck.

  Her pulse quickened, her breathing growing shallow as she thought of the possibility of being caught. Christian had been just down the hall an hour ago, but she didn’t care as long as Marcus’s lips wandered across her collarbones. To start a new life, she had to put her possessive employer out of her mind.

  She never wanted this to end.

  His hands wandered over her, his breath warm against her neck. Goose bumps rose across her arms and she shivered in pleasure, excited to see what else he could get from her body. He traced her scars lightly, tickling her in places she’d never paid attention to before.

  Rolling her head back onto her shoulders, Adelaide sighed as she stared at the ceiling.