Red Night ((Book 1) Timewalker Chronicles) by Michele Callahan Page B

desk, the bug. This kid was nuts.
    “Mom signed me out.”
    “That bitch.” Alexa barely heard the whispered curse, but Matthew shifted forward and threw his weight onto his feet. The chair, still strapped to him, rose off the floor until the chair legs stuck out. He stood like a man who bore the weight of the world on his back, and was losing his footing. Spittle sprayed the desktop with every hoarse word Matthew shouted.
    “You’d leave me locked in that fucking hospital forever. Mom never should’ve married you. You’re not my father!”
    The Colonel’s shaking hand wrapped around the raised black handle of the silver case. “Not anymore.”
    Screaming his rage, Matthew bent forward until he lifted the chair legs above desk level. He swung his whole body around to strike his father with the base. A black wheel struck the Colonel’s hand and the silver case flew. It skidded to a stop on the floor against the far wall of the office with a thunk. The wall farthest from Alexa.
    The Colonel raged around the corner of the desk to stop his son. His shoulder slammed into her head. She staggered back in a daze. It hurt like hell.
    “What the…”
    Alexa darted out from beneath his arms just as Matthew swung around in another manic circle, striking out at his father with the chair. He missed. The Colonel was almost on him. Matthew rammed head first, straight into the Colonel’s chest and toppled him to the ground.
    Dropping her dagger, she wrapped her hand around the small case handle like a drowning woman holding onto a lifejacket. Time to leave this wonderful family love fest behind.
    She ran for the door and pulled it open. Patrick blocked her exit. The noise must’ve alerted him. Without a word Patrick shoved her out of his way and barreled into the room. He yanked Matthew, chair and all, off his father. The Colonel thanked him as she ran for the elevators. Then, “Where’s the case?”
    “The woman took it, sir.” Oh, God. He’d seen her. She must have dropped her guard in her panic. Fear pushed her legs to move faster. Her mind was in utter chaos. She couldn’t focus her thoughts enough to bend the light again. They could see her!
    “What woman?” The Colonel’s voice filled the hallway. “Shit. Move! Move!”
    Alexa glanced back over her shoulder in time to see the Colonel’s gun pointed at her. Cradling the deadly case of M-6 to her stomach, she wrapped her left forearm over it like armour. She could die, but the case had to survive. Intact.
    Two bullets whizzed by her head. The Colonel yelled at her. “Stop! Don’t make me shoot you.”
    Not a chance in hell she was letting this case out of her hands. She dashed around the corner toward the elevators with the men hot on her heels. Her birthmark blazed on her chest, a reminder of her destiny. She kept running.
    “Damn it.” The Colonel’s words reached her a second before his third shot seared her left shoulder. Pain sent her staggering against the wall but she held onto the case. Only death would pry it from her fingers now. She reached over blindly and pushed the call button with the butt of her gun, then wrapped her right arm protectively around her cargo. Blood dripped down from her left shoulder, smeared the outside of the silver case, tarnished its perfection.
    How fitting. Little killer bugs. Blood for blood.
    Patrick stalked toward her. Turning, she leaned her right shoulder against the wall between the two elevators for support. She needed Patrick in her sights. Gun raised, the solid wall was all that kept her aim steady, pointed right at him. He stopped. For now. His gaze darted farther down the hallway, then settled on her face. “Come on, bitch. That’s not playing nice.”
    The devil gave her no warning, just shoved the barrel of a gun against the base of her skull. “Drop it.” Patrick’s partner sounded like he could be could yawn as easily as blow her head off.
    Spots swam before her eyes and her ears were ringing. She held