The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 1

Chapter 14 

Jayce pulls out his gun and cocks it, ready to fire at any threat. 

him. 

‘They‘ve obviously seen the car, they know we‘re here, I‘ll find somewhere safe for you whilsi I go say hello,’ he says, a malicious grin on his face but no trace of humor in his voice. 

I open my mouth to tell him to stay here with me, but the doors open and any words I‘m about to say fall silent on my tongue. I watch with wide eyes as he checks both sides of the corridor and then steps out onto the floor. He gestures for me to step out as well, despite him having already checked, I look down both ways of the corridor. He opens a door nearby, a janitor‘s closet, and checks that it‘s safe. I step inside and he pauses by the door. 

Tll be back soon, don‘t make a sound,‘ he says, he gives me one final look before closing the door, leav ing me alone. I exhale a shaky breath and slide down to the ground, wrapping my arms around my legs. 

You‘re going to be fine. 

I repeat the mantra in my head and close my eyes, I attempt to convince myself that everything will be 

in rate as my breath comes out in ragged bursts. 

What seems like an hour later, but must only be a few minutes, the door opens, I panic for a second but then my eyes land on Jayce‘s beautiful face and I feel an indescribable sense of comfort. 

My relief does not last long as my gaze drops to the maroon blood gushing from a wound in his arm. His hand is over the wound, but the blood is seeping between his fingers and down his wrist. 

‘Oh my God! Are you okay?‘ | ask, reaching out to touch him. He pulls away sharply, and I struggle to hide my hurt. 

I‘m fine, just a scrape, let‘s get out of here, he replies, his voice snappy and gruff. 

I remain silent as I notice the blood–stained handprint on the door handle. We walk down the hall and I watch him in my peripherals. The wound is still bleeding heavily but Jayce looks okay, only slightly pale. Before I can even take another step, a gunshot resonates down the hall. I duck instinctively, as does Jayce, but he places himself in front of me. I‘m startled by his protective instinct, but very grateful for it. 

He fires a couple of rounds at a man dressed in dark clothing at the end of the corridor. I‘m so focused on the rogue in front that a frenzied scream escapes me as someone grabs my hair and drags me back ward. My hands instinctively reach up to try and pull the person‘s hands out of my hair. They continue to drag me backward down the hall along the cold, tiled floors. I scream again, digging my nails into their hands, drawing blood. 

My scream distracts Jayce, he turns to face me, a panicked look on his face. The rogue takes the op portunity to launch himself onto Jayce‘s back, knocking the both of them to the floor. 

‘Get off of me!‘ I shout, twisting my body around so I‘m facing my attacker. The rogue must be about my age, her eyes are hard and empty. She glares at me, a vicious sneer on her sallow face. I notice that blood is trickling down her leg, from a gunshot wound on her thigh.