Turning back to Ryder, I was startled to see his head had shifted to the side and his eyes were now open.
"Charlie?" His words were hoarse, and I could see him swallowing hard as if trying to find some moisture. "You can't be here … too dangerous."
He started to push himself up, fatigue and pain racking his features. I flapped around for a bit, trying to find a place to put my hands that wouldn't hurt him, before finally managing to slip in under his arms to help him into a sitting position.
I leaned in closer, my heart hurting to see him like this. Of course, he was still a big toughie, trying to stand up in case anyone came for us. I held him down, leaning in to whisper. "Kyle's gone to find you some blood, then we have to get out of here. The Quorum is coming for me, for all of us, and it's not safe here any longer. Once you can walk, we have to cure the little girl, and then get the hell out of Dodge."
His eyes were a big swirl of silver as they examined my face, and I couldn't stop myself from leaning forward and resting my forehead against his. "Shit, I'm so glad to see you alive, even though the vampires need to all die for throwing you into this asshole pit."
Ryder breathed deeply against my cheek. "Been worried about you. Knew the boys would have your back, but the Quorum … tortured me … wanted to know everything about you."
Dammit. They were totally coming after me and targeting all of my loved ones in the process. I tried to keep my anger from bubbling over. There was no time for the major meltdown, hissy-fit I wanted to throw. Ryder and I both reacted at the scraping sound from behind us. I was up and crouched in front of him, another knife from my boot in my hand, when Kyle dashed around the corner.
"Got the blood," he said, lifting two bottles up. "Marty was gone, but there is a little fridge beneath his desk. Lucky he drinks the same as Ryder."
Kyle must have noticed then that his best friend was partially up off the floor. He dived down to kneel beside him. "Fuck, man!"
Somehow everything this dude needed to say was in those two words, his fear, worry, pain, anger, relief-two goddamn words.
Ryder's arm was steady as he took the first bottle and downed it in seconds. He'd be extra thirsty with his body trying to heal those injuries. Blood really was a miracle cure for us.
The change started instantly. Already his tawny color was returning, strength clear in his body. The second bottle disappeared just as fast, and Ryder was able to stand without any assistance from us. Kyle reached over his head and pulled his shirt off. He was wearing a white muscle tee underneath. He handed the button dress shirt to Ryder.
"Throw this on. We have to get out of here. I'm not sure how much longer we have. Quorum bitch was still out when I got the blood, but she could come around at any point."
Ryder nodded, and barely even winced as he slid into the blue shirt. It was a little tight around the chest and arms but it would do for now. Wasting no more time, we took off through the pit. Ryder seemed to be gaining strength in leaps and bounds. Reaching out, he captured my hand, his eyes expressing a plethora of emotions.
"Thank you for rescuing me."
Damn, I wanted to kiss him so bad, even smelling like dirty-ass pit floor. I loved that he didn't carry on about me putting myself in danger to come down here, or go all cave-man. He just thanked me with sincerity and respect.
"You too, bud." He turned to Kyle for a split second before his focus was back on me.
"We aren't rescued yet. Let's get the hell out of here before there's a thousand vamps gunning for our ass," Kyle said.
Shit! Gun … right. Might be time to switch out the knives for a weapon that could actually put a bloodsucker down. I slipped the blade into my boot and yanked out the pistol, even while on the run. That was how badass my clothes and accessories were. If I had time, I would have had that ash make me fifty of these outfits. One in every damn color.
We made it through the pit and back to Marty's desk without anyone stopping us. Quorum bitch was still on the floor; the elevator was still open and waiting for us. I wondered how Marty had gotten out-maybe Kyle had called it back down when he got the blood. Either way, I hoped it was a sign that luck was on our side.
We passed the still unconscious meaties and dashed inside. As soon as the doors closed we were zooming up. Kyle immediately turned to fill Ryder in on the rest of the plan.
"So by now Oliver and Jayden should be at the first safe point. They took one of the vehicles loaded up with the blood and supplies. Jared is in the other car, waiting outside of the grounds for the rest of us. Markus and Sam were going to stage the breakout for the little girl, so all that's left is for Charlie to cure her, then we can get her ferried away to the one of the compounds. Sam has a contact in line to pick her up."
Sam had been working his ass off making sure the plan with the child went off without a hitch. Just like with me, she had struck a real nerve with the silent enforcer.
"How did they get out of the compound without their access cards?" Ryder asked. "And where do we find the girl now?" The lead enforcer's eyes shifted toward the elevator panel. We were almost at the top.
"Sam rigged them to open without setting off the alarm. We timed their departure for guard shift change. Since we were in the pit, we have no idea if they made it out without alerting the vamps. Hopefully they did though. We had to get the cars out, otherwise we'll be screwed trying to escape on foot."
It hurt my heart to think about leaving here without Tessa. I wanted so badly to try and find her one last time, tell her that I loved her, but I couldn't risk the rest of my family because of her stubborn single-mindedness. I just had to hope Blake and Lucas would keep her safe, especially since something told me that when the Quorum found out I'd escaped, they would be all over my friends like a bad rash.
Ryder interrupted my morbid thoughts. "You didn't tell me where we find the girl."
"She should be stashed in that laundry room which opens to the outside. We figured it was the easiest place to escape from with her. Sam left us a trail to follow. There's supposed to be a space in the fence line which will be free from alarms."
Ryder gave a chuckle as the elevator dinged to let us know we were at the top. "What would we do without Sam?"
Kyle also laughed. "Funny thing is, he has really pulled out all of his skills since Charlie arrived. Methinks he has a little soft spot for our unicorn ash."
Ryder nodded, and looked at me. "Who doesn't?"
I batted my eyelashes at him. "If Kyle weren't here and we weren't running for our lives, I would totally-"
The elevator dinged again, cutting me off, and the boys laughed. Comic relief was like my nervous tic. As the doors to the ground level opened, we sobered immediately.
Uh oh. We had a big problem. Four hulking vamps were waiting for us, and a ton of people were running in the background.
"Plan B!" I shouted, simultaneously smashing the close and down buttons.
The four vamps rushed at the closing doors, but they had been just too far away to make it before we were cut off.
"Shit!" Ryder said, and since he didn't swear much I knew we were extra screwed.
As the steel box made its rapid descent, Kyle looked at Ryder. "We haven't been rock climbing in forever."
Ryder shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous."
Kyle leaned around us to pull the stop button. "I don't see any other way. This elevator only goes to two places-ground and pit. They're clearly waiting for us on ground. It's just lucky these shaft systems all connect between the different elevators."
Ryder took this moment to fully check me out, from my hair down to my feet. "Can you climb in those boots, Charlie?"
I put a hand on my hip, giving him my sassiest look.
Kyle grinned. "That's a yes."
Ryder exhaled loudly, lacing his hands together and forming a step. Kyle moved closer and inserted his foot into the handhold and pushed off hard. This pit elevator was larger than most, with ceilings almost fifteen feet high. The enforcer managed to knock out the ceiling access panel. It clattered to the side, leaving a large gaping hole in the ceiling. As Kyle landed, he wasted no time stepping into Ryder's hands again.
This time the lead enforcer crouched low and with an impressive display of strength, launched his best friend up through the hole. With a whoosh of air, Kyle disappeared, his mess of dirty-blond hair appearing seconds later as he stared down at us from the top of the metal box. He crooked a finger at me and I knew that meant it was my turn.
FYI, plan B sucked. This was like stupid shit they did in the movies that ended badly for everyone.
"Charlie … " Ryder motioned for me to jump up. Never one to expose my weakness, I swallowed hard and shoved my left boot in his hands. With far more power than I expected, he tossed me up into the air. My shriek got lodged in my throat as I forced my eyes to remain open, which was a big help as I grasped onto Kyle's outstretched hands. The enforcer's strong arms easily held my weight and he dragged me up. I chanced a quick glance down, knowing my booty-shorts-clad butt was all up in Ryder's face.