Replica(71)

Ivan’s mouth pursed, but he nodded and we ran toward the garage. Shots rang out, ricocheting off the concrete walls. I ducked behind a tool bench and tried to assess the situation. A group of men were on the other side of the garage—a concrete tomb that could fit half a football field—hidden behind several pieces of machinery, but as soon as they realized we weren’t shooting back, they began to advance, sending a wave of bullets toward us.

Antonio cursed next to me. “They took our weapons.” He shot a glance toward Ivan, who was hiding behind a transport truck.

Ivan held up his empty hands.

Shit.

Blade still in my hand, I was prepared to take out the first man who rounded the tool bench. I press my back to the cool metal, waiting to make my move.

Only the first threat came from the opening behind us. Two men stood in the doorway, smiles curling their lips as they lifted their weapons to fire.

Instinct took over and I threw my knife at the one on the right. The blade lodged in his throat and surprise filled his eyes as he reached for it, dropping to his knees.

His friend turned to him in shock, giving Antonio the opportunity to follow my lead. He leapt at the guard, slitting his throat and sliding his gun across the smooth concrete floor. I caught it and peered around the side of the bench to take stock. I had no idea how many bullets were in the clip, but knew I had to make each one count. I saw three men across from me. I ducked back around the bench as bullets sprayed toward me. I took a deep breath, then peeked around the side again, aiming for the man on the end.

He fell as I ducked back to safety.

Several shots went off beside me, and I swiveled to see Antonio shooting a semi-automatic rifle while Ivan wielded a handgun.

I swung around to shoot again, taking out a man less than six feet away.

The gunfire cut off abruptly, and I glanced at Antonio. His jaw was set and his eyes glittered with anger, but they softened when he glanced down at me. “Let’s go.”

The temperature in the garage had risen and smoke now filled the room behind us, burning my lungs.

I nodded and got up to make a break for the exit, but an anchor bolted my feet to the floor, my body insisting I run back into the fire.

“Rachel!” Antonio shouted. “Come on!”

I tried to take a step forward and fell to my knees, fighting the urge to turn around and run toward Lea. “I can’t,” I said in a panic. “I have to go back for Lea.”

“Mierde,” Antonio spat out in dismay. “The bind is calling her.”

“Shit,” Ivan said, looking torn himself. “It means she’s still alive.”

“She’s not alive!” Antonio shouted. “She’s already dead, and for you to go after her would mean certain death for you too!” He looked furious. “I know you want to save her, but the bind works both ways and you know it. If Lea’s actually alive, what will she do when she finds out you let Rachel die trying to get to her?”

Flames flicked at the space behind us and the lights flickered.

“We have to go!” Antonio shouted. “The door is electrical, and we won’t be able to get the garage door open once the power is out.” The large garage door was at the end of a twenty-foot-wide and thirty-foot-long tunnel, and appeared to be our only way out.

“Fuck,” Ivan growled, then grabbed me and tossed me over his shoulder.

But the urge to fight him was overwhelming. I kneed him in the stomach as I beat on his back, trying to evade his hold.

His arm pinned my legs tight against him as a new terror rose inside me, eclipsing the fear of being crushed underneath the walls and ceilings of the collapsing building.

The large garage door groaned in protest as it opened in a jerky movement.

My pulse pounded in my head, exacerbated from hanging upside down. “We’re not going to make it!” And part of me—a part that freaked the shit out of me—didn’t want to make it. Not without Lea.

“We’ll make it.” Ivan’s voice was a low rumble.

I fought him with every step he took, even as he ducked to make it under the partially opened door.

Then it crashed to the ground with a thunderous noise that sent panic through me.

Ivan continued to run, not stopping until we were several hundred feet from the building. As soon as he let me slide to the ground, I bolted toward the building. He grabbed me around the waist and hauled me back.

“This is for your own good, mi amor,” Antonio said as something smashed against the back of my head.

Bright streaks flashed in my eyes, followed by darkness. As my consciousness faded, I heard Ivan’s voice, drenched with relief. “If she’s fighting this strong, we know Lea’s still alive.”