“I don’t know you a-a-a-and . . .”
“Lucy, do you trust me?”
I swallow my sob and nod.
“I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I don’t want to die,” I squeak, my entire body trembling.
“You’re not going to die. I won’t let that happen.”
He puts an arm around my waist again, and he’s so big, so strong, he just seems to hold me against him with absolutely no effort on his part. He feels comforting. He feels safe. “One foot after another, Lucy honey,” he murmurs.
One foot after another.
Just one foot after another.
CHAPTER 3
Hunter holds me up. He just hangs onto me as we move through the dark halls beneath the stadium. The sounds behind us eventually fade out, and we find ourselves at another entrance. It’s a simple door, just the same as the one we entered in. I don’t know what this space back here is, or where we’ve ended up. Lights aren’t exactly an option. I can only pray this door takes us out of this nightmare.
Hunter looks behind him, then he uses his gun to shoot the door open. It flings wide and cool, fresh air comes rushing in, tickling my face. I gasp and we step out into a small fenced area. Equipment sheds line one side of the fence and the back of the stadium can be seen towering over us. The fence is tall, barbed, and locked. Lights can be seen flashing to our left. Police.
We’re out.
“Come on,” Hunter murmurs, his eyes frantically scanning the perimeter. “Let’s get out of here.”
He pulls me towards the gate, which is padlocked closed. He rattles it, then twists and looks up at the back of the stadium. “I don’t want to risk firing this gun out here. It’ll cause chaos, and I promised I’d get you out. I swore I would and I’m going to. I’m going to make a call; come over here.”
He pulls me next to one of the equipment sheds and tucks us both in beside it where we can’t be seen from the stadium. The cool metal presses against my back, and I focus on trying to keep my knees from giving out. My body is so full of pain, aches, and fear that I feel as though I’m constantly fighting against it to stay upright.
“I’m out. Got a girl here; she needs a doctor. To your left, in the equipment yard.”
He hangs up and turns to me, surprising me by reaching down and cupping my jaw, tilting my head back, and studying me. “I promised I’d get you out and I never break a promise. You’re going to be okay, Lucy girl.”
Lucy girl.
Tears run down my cheeks, and he swipes them away with his thumb. This stranger. This man. This person who swooped into my life and risked everything to take care of me. I don’t know a single thing about him except for the fact that he stood by me in my moment of need, holding me up, both hands keeping me afloat. I owe him more than my life. I owe him everything.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my body going weak.
Relief has a funny way of doing that to you. It has its very own way of stripping you down, taking away everything you’ve been holding onto and just tossing it aside, leaving you with a nothingness that spreads deep, so deep your body just slumps, everything disappearing and leaving you empty.
Blissfully empty.
The gate rattles, and Hunter steps out and looks over, then he gently wraps an arm around me and pulls me out. There are seven men standing near the gate, two in suits, three police officers, and two EMT officers. Hunter leads me over and the gate is quickly opened with a pair of cutters. The two men in suits make eye contact with Hunter, and he nods.
“Ma’am, my name is Byron and this is my partner, Joel. We’re going to have a look at you now, is that okay?” a handsome, young EMT officer says, taking me from Hunter’s arms.
I don’t want to be taken from his arms, and my tiny hand clutches his big one, squeezing. Beautiful silver eyes find mine, and he smiles. “You’re okay now, Lucy girl. Let them help you.”
“But—”
He steps forward, cupping my jaw. “Let them help. Go home. Be safe.”
I open my mouth to answer, but he turns and looks at the two men in suits. “I’m going back in.”
What?
What did he say?
“The situation is spiraling out of control,” a man with dark hair and equally as dark eyes says, his voice low. “The plan still remains. Get what we need. Get out.”
Hunter nods.
“What?” I cry, struggling as Byron tries to get me to go with him. “You’re going back in?”
Hunter studies me. “It’s okay. Let Byron help you.”
“No,” I shriek. “Please. You can’t go back in there. You can’t. You’ll die and . . . no,” I whimper, my legs turning to jelly again.
Hunter makes eye contact with someone in the crowd around us. I keep struggling.