That didn’t discount how cheerless I was about how I ended up here, so I revised his plan. Taking matters into my own hands. Only a smidge—nothing major.
The grin vanishing from Finn’s face, eyes drooping. I’d timed it perfectly. Yanking the card from his hand and charging for the door, faster than a cheetah in the Sahara.
Squeezing my way through the closing door. A security guard having walked out carrying a pack of cigarettes.
I don’t look back; it would only slow me down. I had a few seconds lead on all of them.
Breathing out my nose, I sprint across the lobby. Thankful when the elevator doors ding, opening automatically. Same as the other time, I shove the rectangular black card into its slot and wait. The green light flashes and relief rushes in. I was in.
Looking up, a raging Cole surges forward. Arms pumping, legs pushing, pulling ahead of the other two.
I think I’m going to make it. The hellhounds are too far away, and the doors are already starting to close. Adrenaline surges my veins. Scanning between the closing door, the boys, and back.
Come on, come on…
Smack! A hand cuts through at the last possible second. Cole squeezes his oversized frame through the metal doors, barely.
Waving sweetly in the small gap. I stick my tongue out at a panting, narrow-eyed Finn as the doors ping closed.
I probably should have thought this through a little better, but it was too late for that now. I was stuck in an elevator with Cole, the numbers climbing at a too slow rate.
The smug bastard doesn’t even seem out of breath. I knew he worked out—you don’t get those kinds of muscles naturally—but come on, could he not be so cocksure about it?
He draws out a breath, cornering me. Resting a hooded arm above my head. Those light cerulean eyes scanning my face. The metal at my back doing nothing to cool down my overheated skin at his closeness.
“We had a plan.” He exhales, this one uneven, ragged.
“Youhad a plan,” I point out. “Ihad other ideas.”
Cole snorts. “Cleary.”
His eyes skim over my facial features like he’s trying to solve a puzzle, before lowering. Scanning over my lips, stalling there—a second too long.
I inhale, realizing I want him to kiss me. My heart pounds faster. He’s right there.
His nostrils flare.
A deep growl tumbles out of his throat. Spinning, he puts as much distance as physically possible between us in the cramped space. Leaning his back against the opposite wall, eyes up to the ceiling.
The elevator pings. Finally. Cole’s focus shifts from the roof to the doors as they slide open. He wouldn’t look at me.
I had only taken a step when I’m thrown behind Antoinette’s large reception desk. Cole’s arms snaking around my elbows. The other over my mouth when I try to scream.
“Keep quiet,” he says, hissing in my ear.
I bite down.Hard.
Cole curses, letting go. His anger at being bitten radiating off him in waves.
“Stop manhandling me,” I seethe, slapping him across the chest.
“Uh,ow!” Tone sarcastic, waving the hand that now has several small, pink, indents in my face. “Are you insane?” he spits out.
I angle my shoulder, not disagreeing. He shoots me a look, sinking farther behind me. Irritated, he nods his head in the direction of the offices.
“You could have said something,” I whisper-shout, turning back. Cole’s expression vexed. It said, are you serious?
How hadn’t I noticed the person vacuuming Silas’s office? Reminding myself it probably had something to do with my focus being on Cole, and why he’d pretended like I suddenly didn’t exist in the elevator.