Read Zeno: #8 (Luna Lodge) for Free Online Page B

hand landed on her arm and pulled her over to the window. Several men with flashlights stalked the grounds.
    “Fuck,” Zeno muttered.
    That pretty much summed up her thoughts as well.
    He turned back around and paced.
    “We don’t have a choice,” he said finally. “We’ll have to take the risk and go through the house.”
    Her heart slammed into her chest. Did they really need to do that? Couldn’t they just wait?
    She knew it was crazy though. If they didn’t move, Antonio would eventually come into his office, and they would be sitting ducks. He might shoot them both on sight. That might be merciful compared to what else he had planned.
    Zeno moved to the door and carefully turned the knob. It was quiet, and she wondered if they had sent everyone outside to look for her.
    They slipped into the hall with ease. She glanced down the hall where Antonio had moved. Maybe he had joined the men to search for her.
    “What’s down there?” Zeno said.
    She shook her head. “His room and a separate entrance to the back patio.”
    A small shiver passed through her at the thought of Antonio. Zeno nodded in the opposite direction.
    “Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.
    They hurried through the hall. When they reached the door to the dining room, she placed a hand on Zeno’s solid arm to stop him.
    “There are usually guards,” she said.
    He furrowed his brow. “Is this the way to the front?”
    She nodded. There were three doors from the dining room, one to the hall they were currently in, one to the kitchen and one to the front living space that led outside. It wasn’t an area she was all that familiar with, but she was sure she could find her way.
    Zeno pulled a gun from behind him.
    “Stay behind me,” he said, his eyes meeting hers. For the first time, she realized he wasn’t wearing sunglasses like earlier. She blinked. His eyes were a deep amber. The strange color jogged her memory, as if it meant something she’d heard recently.
    She opened her mouth to say something but stopped when he pushed open the door.
    They slipped into the room. She pointed to the door on the right, and Zeno walked across the room to place his ear against the wood.
    He listened for a moment and shook his head.
    Without a word, he pushed her over to the other door and made his way into the kitchen. He slowly closed the door behind them to avoid any rustle or squeak.
    They moved further down the hall that led to the kitchen and further away from the approaching men.
    When they had reached the main kitchen, Ava looked around. The quiet room had just earlier been filled with people. Now it was silent.
    “Outside door,” Zeno said and pointed to the door in the corner.
    They headed that way but stopped when light flashed through the windows.
    Zeno cursed under his breath as they dropped to the floor.
    He looked over to the doorway they had entered from, and she knew the men must be close behind.
    “There are two more doors,” she whispered.
    The two doors were in an alcove of the kitchen close to the sinks.
    They moved quickly to the doors. The first Zeno opened to reveal a pantry. The second door was a little different. There was a large metal bar over it that first had to be removed before he could even check. Inside there were steep stairs leading to the basement.
    “Let’s go,” he said and pulled her arm a little.
    Ava took a shaky breath and stepped behind him. Closing the door as quietly as she could, she followed him into the darkness.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    The damp air clung to them as they sank lower into the bowels of the house.
    Zeno could feel Ava’s hand at his back, gripping his shirt as if it were the only thing keeping her safe.
    The footfalls of men sounded above them, along with the occasional exchange of words. The enemy was close, very close.
    Ava and Zeno had managed to slip out before anyone had noticed. He only hoped that the guards didn’t notice the latch on the door was now left open. Or better