Page 82 of Fury

“There!” Her hand was on her seatbelt buckle before she knew it.

Benn braked again. Cursed. “Can’t just park in the street. I’ll?—” He gunned the engine just as Archie turned and jogged down an alley between the hospital and an apartment high-rise.

“No!” He wasnotgetting away! Without another thought, Hollyn threw the door open and launched out. A car in the next lane slammed on its brakes, tires screeching on the pavement. A loud horn blared around the driver’s angry slew of Arabic curses as Hollyn palmed the hood, heart lodged in her throat. “Sorry!” Momentum from jumping away spun her, but she quickly rebounded and took off in the direction Archie had disappeared. She heard more car horns and yelling behind her—she was sure the team was mad at her for bailing without warning—but didn’t hesitate.

This is dumb. They’re going to be ticked when they catch up. Forget that—what if you get lost? Or in trouble.

She had her phone. No, wait—trying not to slow down, she patted her pants pockets. Drat! She’d left it on the Jeep seat next to her hat. So much for triangulating her if they lost sight.

Hollyn pumped her arms as she raced. Not much she could do now. But she could handle their anger as long as they caught Archie and stopped whatever was about to happen tonight.

She desperately wished Davis weren’t across town right now.

“Intabehe!” yelled a man she nearly plowed into.

“Sorry!” Hollyn vaulted forward, shoes slapping the concrete. She struggled to keep Archie in view. Saw him duck around a corner. She really wished she’d been a long-distance runner. But no. She’d spent most of her time at a desk in the lab, and trying to haul in a decent breath burned. Her lungs and calves ached, but she wasn’t quitting, because he was not going to get away.

Even this late at night, the air was still very warm. It coiled around her and tightened her chest. Made it even harder to breathe. Beads of perspiration formed on her brow. She gasped a breath as Archie vanished around a four-way junction. “No!” she rasped. Shoved herself onward. Tripped over a curb but caught herself and vaulted forward. Banked hard right around the corner of the high-rise.

And slowed. Where . . . where had he gone? No no no. He couldn’t?—

There! He disappeared through a back door of the apartment building, and Hollyn didn’t have time to wonder why he hadn’t gone into the hospital. She pitched herself after him. Dove through the opening seconds before the door closed. Stumbling to a stop, her eyes roved the interior. The scuffed cream-and-speckled laminate had seen better days. Two old-school fluorescent lights struggled to fight off the shadows. But the hallway was empty. No Archie in sight.

Fear cuffed her throat as the lights tinkled and blinked out. Back on.Yeah, not helping . . .She was alone, armed only with a knife she had no idea how to use except sharp-side-out . . . Right. And here she was charging after someone she should have never trusted. Doubling down, she threw herself around the corner of the empty hallway.

Right into a blur of black. Thudded hard against a chest. Hands grabbed her.

Hollyn screamed as she was thrown to the hard ground. Though her tactical vest buffered her fall, it also impeded flexibility. Pain flared up her arm as she rolled.

“What are you doing?” Archie gritted out.

“Get off!” Fear alive and chugging through her veins, she clawed away from him and shoved off the ground. “Me? How aboutyou?” she demanded. Gulped oxygen amid the heavy doses of adrenaline.

“You shouldn’t be here!” His good hand fisted. “Run,” he hissed at her.

“What?” She must’ve misheard him. Hollyn peered over his shoulder, praying Glace or Benn would catch up any second.

Aaany second . . .

Of course they aren’t coming. When will you get it that you’re alone?

Davis. She needed Davis.

Archie’s eyes widened and he went rigid.

The sudden change in his demeanor concerned her. She frowned. “Wh?—”

“Didn’t expect to seeyouhere.” A voice intruded from behind.

Hollyn pulled in a sharp breath as chills skidded down her spine. She knew that voice well, but nothing could have prepared her to hear it. Not now. Not here. When she gathered the courage to slowly turn, she felt the world tilt on its axis.

“No,” she whispered.

There, in the middle of the dim hallway . . . was Leila.

* * *

EMIRATES MANDARIN ORIENTAL PALACE HOTEL, ABU DHABI, UAE