"It doesn't. The chemical agents they use to melt it down and keep it in liquid form have a distinct smell." She followed his gaze, her ears still ringing. They were almost at the fourth floor. "The front and back entrances will be covered, Bear." Her mind spun, and she tried to think of a way they could get out of the hotel without getting killed.
"I know." He pushed the button for the third floor.
She shook her head and then winced at the sparks of pain slamming into her temples. "The stairwell will still be covered."
"Yeah. I'm thinking a different exit." The door opened and he stepped out, his hand holding her back. He lifted his head and scented the air, his shoulders going down. "We're clear for now." Grabbing her hand, he pulled her out of the elevator and down the hallway. "How do you feel about jumping?"
She stumbled, following him to the very end of the hallway and a wide window looking out onto the street. "Jumping?" she croaked.
He leaned his head against the window and pointed down. "There's an awning over the valet station."
She gulped and looked down. The awning was high-end and tight. But Bear was a bear . . . and he was almost at full physical strength and size. "Not sure it'll hold us both."
"Doesn't have to hold us." Bear turned to the side. "Cover your face so I can break the window."
Panic, hot and desperate, rushed through her and burned her lungs. She turned and crouched down.
Glass shattered.
"Got it all," Bear said, roughly grabbing her arms. "Let's go." Without waiting for an answer, he jumped through the window.
Cold air slammed into Nessa a second before she opened her mouth and screamed. They fell and hit the awning. Her ribs protested, and her head ached. The awning creaked and stretched, finally splitting.
Bear held her close, did an odd somersault in the air, and landed on his feet with Nessa in his arms.
She blinked and looked up at him. Stunned.
Without pausing, he set her down, grabbed her hand, and clasped several key chains from the valet box. "Run. Now." He launched himself into motion, and she had to pump her bare feet furiously just to keep up. They barreled down into a garage, Bear dropping keys as they went.
They passed a brand-new Ferrari.
Bear halted, looked around, and pressed a button on the only key fob left in his hand-the one for his truck. Lights blinked from the back of the garage. "Let's go. We have to get out of here."
She couldn't think.
Men yelling orders from the street caught her attention and she hurried behind Bear, running for the truck.
The air gathered and stilled in warning.
Bear stopped cold, and she collided into his back, bouncing to the ground. Her butt hit first, and agony raced up her spine. The truck exploded with a flash of fire. Bear dropped and turned, flattening her with his body. Metal flew over their heads, and a flaming tire rolled by to fall against a pillar.
"Fuck," Bear muttered, shoving himself up and taking her with him. Men ran down the sloped entrance right at them.
"The Ferrari," Nessa blurted, heading toward it.
Bear grabbed her arm and yanked her in the other direction. "No. Can't hot-wire it. SUV." He hustled toward an older SUV and punched through the driver's-side window to unlock the door. Blood dripped from his hand.
The men ran closer, the one in front firing a dart gun.
Something pierced her shoulder. Bear lifted and threw her across the seat. She bounced and grabbed the dashboard to hold herself in place. He slammed the door and ripped wires from below the dash. The engine ignited.
He yanked the car into reverse and hit the gas pedal, speeding backwards to smash into several men. Bodies went flying.
Nessa swallowed down bile. Her temples hurt. Her brain felt heavy. Where were they? Why did everything ache?
The SUV spun around and Bear punched the gas. They careened out of the garage, the back end thumping over a speed bump.
Wind poured through the broken window.
Nessa tried to focus on Bear. He hunched over the steering wheel and zipped around honking cars and yelling pedestrians. Within minutes, they were on their way out of the city.
Her head lolled. Fire lit her blood, and she gasped in pain as she could almost feel her brain swell against her skull.
He glanced her way, not losing speed. "You okay?"
Her mouth went dry until she couldn't speak. The day fuzzed and turned gray.
"Nessa?" His voice came from very far away, as if it were in a tunnel. Then, "Shit. You got hit." He leaned over and pulled something out of her skin.
She cried out at the pinch.
They'd gotten her, and her veins hurt. Her head, on the other hand, had taken a beating with the last grenade. It wasn't her first concussion-not by a long shot. She'd forgotten how bad it could hurt.