Forbidden (Blood Ties #7)

The strands of my hair strained, blurring my vision. But it wasn’t the gun in his hand I cared about…it was the key, the fucking key Riven had slammed down a second before he turned and walked out on me.

Fire lashed my scalp as the guard released my hair and lunged at Thomas with a roar. Fists flew. They slammed together with savage roars and sickening howls of pain…ones that came from the only man who could help me.

Bang!

I jumped at the terrifying sound, frantically jerking my gaze from the gun in The Priest’s hand to his body.Who shot who? WHO SHOT WHO?

The guard stumbled backward, then looked down. His fingers came away bloody as he touched his side. Everything happened in slow motion. The Priest turned as the guard lifted his gun and lunged, slamming into the same dresser with the gun…and the key.

Bang!

Wood splintered under his hand. He swiped the surface and spun with a roar. Metal glinted as the key flipped end over end toward me. My heart lunged, slamming against my chest as I shoved my feet out, sliding as far as I could. The key hit my body, coming to rest against my stomach.

Screams came from The Priest.

Guttural and desperate.

Like a man fighting for his life.

One he was about to lose.

I fixed my gaze on that key, my breaths punching it higher. I tried to slow them, my entire body straining as I gripped the steel cuffs and pulled my weight backwards.Come on…COME ON!

My knees shook as I slid my feet underneath me.

The Priest and the guard still fought.

But it wouldn’t last long.

Please…

PLEASE…

I pushed upwards and twisted my hand in the cuffs. But there was no way I was going to reach it. I grabbed my t-shirt instead, gripping it until the fabric pulled taut, lifting the key. It slid, tumbling toward me at speed. I did the only thing I could. I opened my mouth, snapped my head forward, and bit.

My teeth gnashed against the cold metal. I jerked my gaze toward them as The Priest stumbled and went down. The gun in the guard’s hand was all I saw as I wrenched my head to the side, forcing my focus back on getting free.

I prayed, maybe harder than I’d ever prayed before, and twisted around, pushing the key in my mouth to the lock. It pushed in, letting me bite down and twist my head to the side.

Click.

The cuff snapped open.

I’d never been so frantic in my life as the guard lifted his gun and took aim. I yanked the key free, my movements automatic as I shoved the key into the lock and twisted.

I was moving before I knew it, driving myself forward until I slammed into the guard’s legs, knocking him sideways.

BANG!

The gun went off.

I tried to shove myself upward, but my knees buckled. The guard swung around as I shoved up, screaming,“Get the fuck off him!”

He roared and swung his fist, driving his gun against the side of my head with acrack!

Blinding white lights detonated behind my eyelids.

Then there was only darkness as I fell.