The Running Dark

The ballroom door behind us exploded open with a loud, wooden crash. The heavy shouts of the police officers echoed over the screams of the rich guests. Red and blue lights flashed wildly across the ceiling, turning the air into a chaotic trap. I didn't look back. I let the heavy velvet curtain fall shut behind us, plunging the three of us into the narrow, dim service hallway of the hotel kitchen.

The air here smelled completely different. It was cold, smelling of old concrete, metallic grease, and heavy bleach. The bright luxury of the ballroom vanished, replaced by long rows of stainless steel tables and industrial sinks.

Julian’s massive frame was right behind me. His breathing was heavy, rough, and uneven from the pain of his arm. His large, calloused hand stayed locked onto my waist, his fingers pressing hard into my hip bone to guide my steps. The hot, thick blood from his cut was still flowing, wetting my black silk shirt and gluing the fabric directly to my bare ribs. The wet warmth of his sacrifice felt like a brand against my skin. Even while bleeding out, his possessive grip did not loosen for a single second. He was using his huge body to shield my back from any officers who might run through the curtain.

"Move faster, Noah," Julian growled against the back of my neck. His voice was a low, dark rumble that vibrated straight through my spine. "The basement exit is at the end of this corridor. Don't look down. Just run."

On my left side, Leo was leading the way. The superstar actor had his fingers locked tight between mine, pulling me forward with an intense, frantic strength. His shoulder kept brushing against mine in the narrow space, his body throwing off pure heat. His signature playful smirk was completely gone. His jaw was clenched so tightly that the skin over his cheekbones looked sharp. His blue eyes were dark, rolling with a rabid devotion as he scanned every closed metal door we passed.

"I have the master key for the freight elevator," Leo panted, his breath hot in the cold air. He didn't look back at Julian; he only had eyes for me. "The police don't know the layout of the kitchen staff rooms yet. We are going to make it out before they block the perimeter, beautiful. Just hold onto me."

We turned a sharp corner, our leather shoes sliding slightly on the slick tile floor. The physical tension between the three of us was thick enough to taste. I was sandwiched tightly between a bleeding billionaire and an obsessive celebrity, both of them crowding my space, their large bodies completely focused on keeping me alive and keeping me for themselves. They were breathing hard, their muscles straining under their expensive suits as they hurried me through the dark.

Suddenly, a loud jingle of keys echoed from the far end of the kitchen corridor. A bright flashlight beam cut through the dimness, blinding my eyes.

"Hey! Stop right there! Put your hands up!" a loud voice shouted. It was a private security guard hired by the hotel, and he was walking straight toward our path.

Julian didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. With a dark, primal roar, he let go of my waist and lunged forward. Despite his deep, bleeding wound, his good right arm hooked around the guard’s neck, slamming the man’s back hard against a stainless steel refrigerator. The impact made the metal rattle loudly. The flashlight dropped to the floor, rolling wildly and casting shaky shadows across our faces.

"Go!" Julian barked, his face twisting with pain as his knuckles turned white around the guard's collar. "Take him, Sterling! Get him out of this building right now!"

Leo didn't waste a breath. He wrapped his heavy arm around my waist, replacing Julian's grip, and violently yanked me past the struggling men. He shoved open a heavy iron fire door, dragging me down a steep, dark set of concrete steps that led deep into the belly of the hotel basement.

The stairs were completely dark, lit only by a tiny green exit sign. Every time my boots hit the concrete, the sound echoed loudly like a heartbeat. Leo was moving fast, his hand sliding down to grip my fingers again, his palm sweaty and hot.

"It's just us now, Noah," Leo whispered into the dark as we reached the bottom landing. He pulled me flush against his chest, crowding me against the cold concrete wall. His breathing was shallow and fast, his lips hovering just an inch from mine in the shadows. His body was trembling from the raw adrenaline. "Look at me. I'm the one taking you out of the fire. Let me have you tonight."

I looked up into his wild blue eyes, letting a slow, ice-cold smirk spread across my lips. I could hear Julian’s heavy boots finally slamming down the concrete steps behind us, his loud pants showing he had finished off the guard. The police sirens were screaming louder from the street level outside the walls.

I reached up and patted Leo’s flushed cheek, my fingers sliding down to his throat just to feel his pulse hammering like crazy.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Leo," I murmured smoothly, my voice flat and full of absolute control. "The car is still outside, and Julian is still right behind us. Open the final door."