Chapter Eighteen

LILY

Kace and I finally head out for food. There's a small store just down the road, so we walk there and grab a bag full of snacks and bottles of water. Just as we are about to cross the street back to the motel, Kace grabs my hand in his, jolting me back. I turn and look at him with my eyebrow raised, but he's frozen, his hand gripping tightly to our bag of food, and his eyes steeled on the motel building across the street.

"We need to get to the car," his voice calm and smooth.

I turn back, squinting my eyes in an attempt to figure out why he's so tense all of a sudden.

Then, I see them.

They're dressed in casual clothing, but the way they move is with stealth and precision.

Kace starts to move up the street, pulling me in beside him and wrapping his arm around my waist. I try to focus on the path in front of me, but my eyes continue to flick back to the building where one figure casually leans against the wall outside our room while the other hoists himself up onto the roof, moving swiftly like a cat.

Our car is parked next to the main office of the building, the back end is in sight of the room, but the front is covered by a small overlay of the building.

Kace prompts me to cross the road, his feet moving a little faster as we head back down the street, using the building as cover. He unlocks the car, pulling the handle softly so that it barely clicks when he pulls it open.

"The rest of them are here… somewhere," he whispers, handing me the bag. "Put on your seat belt."

I slowly climb in, my hands shaking. I cringe as the plastic bag rustles when I place it at my feet.

Kace takes a deep breath as though preparing himself before he propels his body forward, racing around the car and diving inside the driver's side. I slam my door closed as he starts the engine, throwing it into reverse, the tires spinning.

I hear a voice yell, but I'm too busy fighting with my belt, attempting to click it into the buckle to look up. My body jumps off the seat as we bounce over the curb and onto the road, Kace hitting the gas with his foot almost to the floor. The engine screams.

The sound of glass shattering has me grabbing my head and tucking it between my legs. I'm thrown side to side as we weave through early morning traffic, people on their way to work with no idea what's going on.

I risk a look behind me. The back window is shattered, and the screech of car tires follows us down the road.

"They're coming!" I yell.

"How did they fucking find us so fast?" he snaps. "I took every damn precaution."

Guilt hits me hard and fast. "My cell phone," I tell him, my eyes wide. "It's in the motel room."

He bares his teeth. "What?"

"I'm sorry! I didn't know it was in my bag, and I was going to tell you, but we got distracted," I tell him, knowing that no explanation was going to save me from this.

He slams his palm into the steering wheel before he pulls it violently to the right, slamming my body against the door as we skid around a corner. "They traced it. How could you be so damn stupid?"

A series of loud pings hit the metal of the car, and more glass shatters in on the back seat.

"They're shooting at us!" I gasp.

I look up. We're on a long main street, there are cars everywhere, and a series of traffic lights. For a second, I think maybe I'm delusional as all the lights down the street flick to red in the blink of an eye. Cars struggle to pull to a stop, and Kace swerves, barely missing a minivan in front of us.

"Fucking Noah," he screams, pulling hard on the wheel and accelerating through a small gap and down a side street. Cars honk and people yell and scream behind us.

"The only advantage we have is that they're not trying to kill us. They're trying to catch us," he says, seeming to calm slightly.

"This is them not trying to kill us?" I cry.

"Get ready to run," Kace tells me, and I turn to him in shock.

"Run?" I ask in disbelief. "How are we meant to outrun them? They're like fucking ninjas."

Kace bumps over a curb, and suddenly things go dark. I rub at my eyes, realizing we're inside a parking building that's connected to a large shopping mall. He speeds up the ramps, obviously not exactly looking for somewhere to park.

"They won't shoot at us inside an open mall where there are too many people," he races to explain. "If you lose me, go to the women's bathroom on the second floor. I'll find you." His words are more than just a plan, they're a vow. He reaches over and unclicks my seat belt, and I brace my hands on the dashboard as he slams on the breaks just outside two double doors that lead inside the mall. "Go!"

I don't waste a second, throwing myself out of the car and stumble as I pump my legs toward the doorway.

Kace is right behind me.

The bright lights of the mall stun me for a second, and I pause to try and catch my bearings. Kace gives me a shove to the left, and I throw myself forward. He moves up beside me as we duck and dodge through the slow stream of people.

"Kace!" I hear someone yell from behind, but neither of us stops.

We reach an intersection with halls that lead off in different directions, and just as I turn to question Kace, Axel pops out from behind one of the walls.

Kace doesn't hesitate, throwing his fist into Axel's jaw and throwing him off balance. "Run, Lily!" he yells as Axel gains his composure and throws a punch of his own, which Kace blocks with his forearm.

My sneakers grip the slippery floor as I turn in the opposite direction and force my legs to move. I bump into several people, not bothering to apologize. I'm running for my life here. There's no time for pleasantries.

As much as I want to, I don't look behind me to check on Kace. I know he can handle himself. My mind is racing, and my breathing is becoming unbearably heavy. I can't run forever, and these men are clearly well trained and a lot fitter than me. Trying to outrun them is ridiculous.

I spot an escalator up ahead.

The second-floor bathroom.

If I can get there without someone seeing me, I can hide inside until Kace comes to find me.

Taking the moving steps two at a time, my heart feels as though it's going to explode out of my chest.

Someone grabs my arm when I reach the top, and I jump backward. An old lady holds her hands up in surprise. "Honey, are you okay? Do you need help?"

My eyes flick around me, there's no commotion, no one running up the staircase after me.

I shake my head. "No, I'm fine," I tell her. "Do you know where the bathroom is?"

She lifts her hand slowly. "Just down there past the kids' ride-on airplane."

I'm already moving before she's finished explaining. "Thanks!"

My feet move quickly, but my body is aching and protesting. I spot the women's sign and push the door, looking around behind me before slipping inside. Sweat drips from my brow, and I take the moment to stick my head under the tap over the basin and suck as much water into my body as I can possibly consume.

I look up into the mirror, a woman eyes me warily as she steps out of the toilet stall and rushes to wash her hands. I look like a wreck. I don't really blame her for being nervous. She turns her head to me for a second, her mouth falling open like she wants to say something but thinking better of it and shaking her head. She grips her handbag to her side and rushes out of the room.

I take a deep breath, bracing my hand on the basin and allowing my head to hang between my arms.

Should I hide in a toilet stall?

What do I do?

Do I need to go looking for Kace?

I decide that hiding inside one of the small toilet stalls is a good plan. Standing here in the open is making me nervous. I spin to pick a hiding space and jump back.

"It's usually the first-floor bathroom, but I figured he might change it up this time," Luca says, his eyes watching me in amusement. "Is this as much fun for you as it is for me, Lily?"

I sneer at him. "Yeah, I fucking love being shot at."

He smirks, moving his body so it's positioned between me and the exit.

"I meant more along the lines of you getting your kicks out of making Kace fight his own team, his damn friends." His face switches instantly into one of annoyance. "Happy with yourself that you've come between us? You think it feels good to be hunting down my best friend?" The tone of his voice is slowly becoming louder, angrier.

"I'm not the enemy here, Luca," I say, trying to keep my head together.

"That's not what the file says," he counters. "The file says—"

"I know what the file says, Luca," I snap. "But it's not true!"

He steps forward, but I refuse to retreat. "I liked you, Lily. This ain't personal."

"Fuck you," I snap. "I take someone trying to kill me very personal."

He clenches his fist. "It's orders. Orders that Kace should have followed in the first place."

"And yet he didn't, did he? And here we are…" I point my finger at him. I know Luca has the power and skill to kill me within a second, but I feel this need inside me to protect Kace, to defend him. "Kace is your best friend, and yet you're hunting him down like an animal. You ever stop to ask why he chose to keep me alive? Why he's fighting so hard for me? Or are you just some emotionless robot who does whatever bidding is asked of you, no matter who you hurt?"

He slams his fist into the mirror, it shatters upon impact, his face heating and his eyes burning holes in me. "You don't know what you're talking about," he growls before finding his composure again.

"He ever set you wrong yet, Luca? He ever done anything but fight for you and the team? Maybe you should wake up and trust him, just like you've done every single day before now."

I can practically see his mind working through my words, sifting through them, taking them in one by one. The door to the bathroom slams open, Luca spins around, but he's too slow. Kace's already bloody fist connects with its target sending Luca sprawling into the basin.

I move backward, pressing myself back against the wall.

Luca picks himself up and throws his body at Kace, his head low, plowing into him with his shoulder and pushing him until his back hits the wall with a thump. Kace's eyes meet mine for a second before he raises his knee. Luca blocks the blow and throws his fist in return. Kace smacks it away, leaning back and throwing his head forward, connecting with Luca's. I gasp as they both stumble, stunned from the blow.

Luca clenches his fist for another round, but Kace simply raises the handgun in his hand and presses it against his friend's forehead. I see Luca pull his jacket back to reveal an empty holster at his side.

Kace moves toward me, his hand never wavering.

"I know you're not gonna shoot me, asshole," Luca says, rubbing his forehead where a bright red mark is blooming.

"Lily," Kace orders, and I immediately rush to his side. He looks me over and grasps my hand in his before turning back to Luca.

"I didn't touch her," Luca tells him through narrowed eyes. "And will you put the fucking gun down already?"

"I'm telling you right now…" Kace says, his voice firm and dark, "… I will fucking shoot you if it means protecting her."

Luca's eyes flash to me, his lip curling in disgust. "So that's it? You're choosing her?"

"I'm choosing the fucking truth!" Kace snaps before taking a deep breath. "You dig deeper, you'll figure it out. But I don't have time to hold your damn hand on this one. We're leaving. This time, you won't find us."

Luca's face seems to sink, his anger dissipating. "Thought we were brothers," he says, almost sounding broken. These guys aren't just best friends. Luca looks up to Kace—admires him—that much is becoming obvious.

"She's mine," Kace states, clearly feeling the change in the room. "You come after her. You come after me."

I turn and look up at him with wide eyes. He catches the movement, muttering, "Not now, Lily."

Luca steps back, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Kace, don't do this, man. Come back, we'll figure this shit out. What if she isn't who you think she is?"

Kace doesn't hesitate. "I know exactly who she is, just like you know exactly who I am." His muscles clench tightly all over his body. "Axel is probably going to need the hospital now because of fucking me. You think this doesn't fucking kill me? Fighting my own men? My brothers? But I'm doing it because there's something going on here that's bigger than this, bigger than us."

His fingers lace through mine, and he glances down at me. "I won't see her hurt because she got caught in the middle. She's innocent, and we protect people who are innocent."

The room's quiet for a moment, the two men sharing silent words as they stare each other down.

Kace slowly begins to move us to the door, his gun still on Luca. He pulls the door open and holds it as we back out. "Dig deeper, brother. There's gotta be something there."

Luca frowns but doesn't answer.

"And for God's sake… protect your weapon next time, douchebag."

Thumping footsteps of people running has Kace pushing me out into the mall again. And then the chase begins afresh. I run with him, my body screaming in protest.

"Stand down," I hear Luca shout. And Kace and I both slow, pulling to a stop and looking over our shoulders.

Elijah, Noah, and Luca stand outside the bathroom door, watching us.

Kace nods his head and tucks the gun away. "Let's go," he says, pulling me from view.

We jog in the opposite direction of where we left the car, breaking out into the daylight. Kace's pace slows, but I still scurry to keep up with him.

"Why are we running?" I ask breathlessly. "Aren't they letting us go?"

"They're giving us a head start," Kace tells me gruffly. "They still have their orders. There's only so much time they can give us before they have to come after us again. Just hoping Luca can stall enough to actually figure this out."

"And what are we going to do?" I ask, my body shattering. Lack of sleep, physical exhaustion—I'm on the brink of having a meltdown.

Kace pulls to a stop, turning to me and gripping my face in his hands. He stares down into my watering eyes, the gentle promise in his eyes just enough to stop me breaking down in the middle of the street. "We're going to do some digging of our own. We're going to figure this out."

I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat. He dips his head, pressing his lips to mine, ever so softly. My hands go to his waist as he pulls me against his body.

I inhale him, drawing strength from him into my own body. Allowing it to fill me, empower me, remind me that he's here, and there's nothing that will stop him from fighting for me. For us.