Crown Of Hearts

Chapter 33

Ian pushed me behind him and moved so I was pressed up against the wall of the hallway. We looked so suspicious and I could feel Theo's gaze on me. I didn't want to look at him.

Darius eyed Ian, " I don't know who you are, what's your name?"

Ian lowered his gaze, " Just a new recruit, sir."

Everything happened so fast, Darius pushed Soto behind him and pulled out his own gun and pointed it at Ian, Ian did the exact same.

Rachael gasps and pulled on Theo to move further away, Theo refused.

" I don't know who you are, or what you plan to do with Clara. But you won't make it out of here alive if you keep this up." Darius's voice was even and calculated.

He thinks Ian is part of the ploy to kill Soto. And judging by Ian's expression, he had the same thought as me.

Darius's eyes flicked between me and Ian, his eyes narrowing slightly.

" You're not scared, you know who this is don't you?"

" I don't see how she knowing or not knowing me affects anything." Ian's voice was as even and calculating.

" You can't possibly think you're faster than me do you?"

" We'll see."

There were sounds of clicking coming from both directions, Zak and Peter were both standing on either ends of the hallway.

" Drop it," Zak said. Darius's jaw set and he did what he was told.

If he didn't have Soto and Theo in the same area, I knew he would not have given up so easily.

" You two," Peter said to Rachael and Theo,
" Stand next to them." He used his gun to motion to where Darius and Soto were standing.

Peter reached down and grabbed the gun, slipping it into his pocket.

" Clara?"

My heart stopped when Theo called for me softly. I didn't want to glance in his direction. There were so many things I needed to say, but I wasn't going to say them.

" I'm so sorry," I said, purposely avoiding Theo's glance and looked at Darius,

" Captain, Oria is in the third room in the second hallway. She's the one who shot Theo."

We backed up slowly, their guns trained on Darius until we reached the end of the hallway. Ian had my arm in a tight grasp and we went running. Despite the pain in my lungs and ribs. I ran, I ran when Ian somehow miraculously opened the force field. I ran when Peter shot a guard, and I kept running until we reached the jet.

As soon as we went into the air, Peter pointed out my tears.

" You're crying."

I shook my head harshly and grabbed the bottle from my apron. I was struggling to open the cap when Peter set his hands on mine.

" I'll do it."

I removed the flash drive and the earrings and dropped them into Peter's open palm. Then composing myself, I looked up at him.

I can't imagine what he expected to hear but he definitely wasn't expecting this.

" I want out of the Nine."