Christian released his hold and the body crashed to the floor. He wiped the back of his hand over his face smearing crimson across his chin.
The wall rose in her mind. This was a show. Nothing more. He was trying to shock her. This couldn’t be real. Maybe lack of food—or that blood vessel pressing on her brain—was making her see things.
Vampires did not exist.
Her mind screamed the words, and she screwed her eyes tight to block out the vision, concentrated on the wall as though it could save her.
Someone grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to her feet. Ash.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Like you care.
The words hovered on her lips, but she bit them down. Why should he care? She bent her head and wiped her cheek against her jacket. She was bleeding, but she was hadn’t been shot. There had been no slam of impact like last time. Her body was a little banged up from the fall but she was okay.
“I’ll live,” she muttered.
She just wasn’t sure for how long. Ash appeared about to say something, probably along the lines of—not for long. But in the end, he shook his head and stepped away.
Christian was examining the door.
“Stand back,” he muttered.
Ash grabbed her arm again and pushed her behind him as a ricochet of bullets exploded into the door.
She peered over Ash’s shoulder to see Christian kick the door in. The metal gave way before him and he disappeared into the room. Ash hurried past her. She followed slowly and stood in the open doorway.
Christian crouched in front of Tara who still huddled in the corner. She stared at him as though she couldn’t believe he was real, then reached out a hand and lightly touched his cheek.
“I knew you would come for me.”
There was so much love in her face and suddenly, the doubts that had been tormenting Faith vanished from her mind, leaving her at peace. Whatever happened, she had done the right thing. She would never regret this.
Christian reached out and stroked his finger over the curve of Tara’s cheek, then across her swollen lower lip.
“I’ll kill them,” he growled.
Faith was pretty sure most of them were already dead.
“Just get me out of here,” Tara said.
He nodded, straightened, and held out a hand to Tara. She clutched it and he pulled her to her feet. As she swayed, he wrapped his arms around her, dragged her tight to him. She was so small, she tucked in beneath his chin, and they stood for long seconds clinging to each other.
Finally, Tara pulled free and stepped back, though Christian kept hold of her hand. She scanned the room, her gaze settling on Ash. Faith had been avoiding looking at him; now she gave a quick glance at his face. He was staring at Tara, a vaguely hopeful expression on his face. Tara held out her free hand, and he stepped closer and took it. She winced and pulled free, cradled the hand across her chest, but her lips curved up in a smile. “Thank you,” she said.
“It was nothing.”
“I bet.”
Tara peered beyond him to where Faith stood in the doorway, her lips started to form a smile, and then she must have noticed the handcuffs. Her brows drew together and she turned back to Christian.
“Where am I?”
“An unwilling guest of the British government,” he replied.
“Really? Will this be a problem?”
“No. There’s a cleanup team on the way. The place is locked down both systems-wise and magically. Nothing is getting in or out until were done. And I’m guessing there’ll be no other record of your being here.”
Carl appeared at her shoulder. “Christian, he’s waking up, what do you want to do with him?”
“Bring him in here.”
Faith stepped aside as he dragged the half-conscious colonel into the room and dropped him to the middle of the floor. Crimson stained his shoulder, and there was a dark patch on his right thigh where he’d taken a second bullet.
Tara gasped.
Beside her, Christian growled. “Did he touch you?”
She nodded. “He did the interrogation on the first day.”
“Kill him,” Christian said, his tone soft and deadly.
Ash stepped up to the prone man. Faith held her breath. He wouldn’t kill an injured man in cold blood. Would he? The others had been different. That had been in a fight and they still had to free Tara. Now Tara was safe. Faith opened her mouth to speak, but Carl rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She glanced at his face, and he gave a small, almost imperceptible, shake of his head. He was warning her not to bring attention to herself or she might suffer the same fate.
It didn’t matter. She couldn’t stand by while they killed him.
But the hesitation was too long. Ash leaned down and took the colonel’s head between his hands. Faith saw his expression of terror, and then Ash twisted and the colonel’s neck snapped.