The Life and Death of Lauren Conway: A Companion to Without Mercy by Lisa Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

move.
    And so unlike her.
    Heart thudding, he squinted into the darkness. Something about the way she ran… her gait, just wasn’t quite right.
    Or was it all a trick of the shifting moonlight? The thin veil of clouds clouding his vision?
    Unsure he retraced what he’d just seen as he headed for the stairs. He knew he’d just watched her attempt to escape.
    Still… an icy niggle of fear scraped down his spine.
    Fuck!
    This is wrong!
    Something’s off!
    All wasn’t lost.
    Yet.
    His team was in position, five of his most trusted soldiers, circling her as she sped toward stable. He eased away from the window, then ran to the back stairs of the chapel.
    Really? The front entrance?
    Not far from a large security light pole where a shimmering blue haze illuminated the surrounding grounds?
    Why not try the back door?
    Or climb the fence?
    Or jimmy open a window… away from security cameras?
    In a second, he felt as if he’d been sucker-punched.
    Lauren was far too smart for this.
    “Son of a bitch,” he whispered aloud as he sped down three flights of steps. He clicked on the walkie and ordered, “Stand down.”
    “Too late.” The answering voice sounded metallic over the static. “She’s spotted us.”
    “Shit!”
    He was outside of the chapel in an instant, running, his long strides cutting across the grounds as he headed straight for the stables. The night was cold. Brittle. Burning through his airway and lungs.
    “What do you want us to do?” the tinny voice asked from the walkie as the leader passed by a solitary madrona tree.
    “Stay with the plan. Detain her. I’m on my way.”
    “Roger that.”
    He dashed around a garage and down the gravel road to the stables where, in front of the closed doors, his followers had confronted her. He reached the stables just as he heard one of his team members order harshly, “Don’t move!” Visible in the lamplight, weapon drawn, a ski mask covering his face, the team member hissed, “Stop right there!”
    “What’re you going to do? Shoot me? Jesus, you’re not serious,” she mocked.
    It wasn’t the voice the leader expected.
    What the hell is going on?
    “You’re not Lauren,” the leader stated flatly as the five stepped back allowing him to see her face clearly for the first time.
    The girl looked at him. “No shit, Sherlock. What’s this about? I didn’t do anything!”
    The leader contained his fury with an effort and signaled his team to leave.
    There was another way to track Lauren, he thought grimly. No more fooling around. No more game playing.
    She was his.

Chapter Five

     
    Lauren ran as if Lucifer himself were chasing her.
    Faster! Faster! Faster!
    Breathing hard, she wished to high heaven she’d brought a weapon. A knife or pistol or anything–even a damned slingshot, none of which she had.
    Quit dreaming!
    Hurry!
    She raced through the dense forest, along a deer trail, using a tiny beam of her flashlight when she dared, her feet sometimes slipping on the ice and snow crusted over the hard terrain.
    She was deep in the woods now, her breath coming in short bursts that fogged the night air, the darkness interrupted by the white expanse of snow.
    Run, run, run!
    Somewhere far off a coyote let out a lonely wail and goose bumps rose on her skin.
    Keep going! Don’t slow down! The coyote’s probably miles away.
    She hurried up a familiar hill. She’d done enough exploring in these rocky rises to know exactly which route to take, though she’d had second thoughts and had nearly backed out when she’d reached the end of the hall near the fire escape.
    But she’d kept going.
    Down the interior stairs she’d flown and restrained herself from pushing open the exterior door, her quickest path to freedom. Had she shouldered open the door, she would have woken the entire compound with the clanging of bells. Instead, feeling as if her every move was being observed by hidden eyes, she’d hurried past the first floor and into the basement, where