Legend & Lace

19. Superhero Landings Aren't Always My Strong Suit

Chapter 19

Superhero Landings Aren't Always My Strong Suit 

Vince's eyes flamed with rage as I pressed the knife into his throat, nicking the skin and drawing blood. He didn't even flinch as he shifted slowly, reaching over to turn on the lamp by the bed. I shifted with him, keeping him from making a threatening move toward me himself.

"You're good," he said quietly, his gaze sweeping over me, taking in the hair, the scars. "You're really good. Have you come here to kill me?"

"As much as I want to, no," I growled.

"Then there must be another reason," he nodded. Understanding flickered across his face. "There would be only one reason I can think of that's so important you'd risk everything after a year and a half of hiding. Yes, I know exactly what it is..."

I stayed quiet.

Vince started grinning. "Oh, Hattie Devereaux, I give you credit for staying in hiding. I really do. But you see, what you seek has been in hiding for twenty-five years. You really think I'd keep it on me? Really. I thought you were smarter than that."

I made a move to press my knife even closer, but before I could, something slammed into my back, knocking me to the ground and the air from my lungs. One of his men was standing over me with what looked like a metal candle stick holder he'd wielded like a club.

Vince chuckled again as I tried to suck in a breath, pushing myself up on my hands and knees.

"There was another one with her," the guy told him. "That Drake Garner guy. Different hair, though. He left her behind."

"Or did you want to be left behind?" Vince questioned. "Yes, I don't think Drake would have left you alone."

I struggled to breath, trying to push myself up on my hands and knees. Blindly reaching, I grabbed for my knife, the blade slicing into my palm as I grasped it tight. Blood seeped from the wound and onto the carpeted floor.

"What do you want to do with her?" the guy asked.

The next moment, Vince hauled me up by the hair, slamming me back into the wall. "Maybe finish what I started a year and a half ago and make sure the job is finished? Or show you what I've done to your boyfriend Beau? You know, he's my prodigy now and will lead the Order with Flannery by his side. What do you think about that? That I've turned one of your own against you?"

I growled as his hand tightened in my hair, spitting in his face.

Vince merely grinned...but that grin disappeared when I pushed forward, my knife in my hand cutting upward. It sliced through his shirt, his skin until the bright red blood appeared. He cursed, dropping his hold on my hair and stumbling backward. I didn't waste my time, but rather making a run for it just as the other guy lunged for me.

I dropped as his fist swung toward my face, throwing my shoulder into his stomach before I bolted around him. Stumbling, I threw open the door and ran down the hallway where the front door was open like they'd gone to look for Drake. Forget the elevator. I didn't have time to wait for it. I knew I would regret taking the stairs...

Especially when I heard the pounding footsteps above me once I was six flights down.

Getting closer and closer.

But when I was three flights from the bottom, I took my chances and launched myself over the railing.

I really needed to stop jumping from heights just to get away from someone.