The Belial Stone (The Belial Series) by R.D. Brady

bang open.  “I think he’s coming.”
    The man nodded and picked up his pace, barreling through the gym class.  Teenagers scattered, although a few threw basketballs at them as they passed.  And Laney heard more than one “asshole” tossed in their direction.
    They barged through the doors on the opposite side of the gym.  The man grabbed a grey sweatshirt lying on top of a book bag and shoved it at her.  “Throw that on.”
    She tugged it over her shirt, trying to keep pace with him.  “Isn’t he just going to see us when we leave?  We can’t put these kids in danger.”
    He looked down at her and smiled.  She was struck by how handsome he was.  Dark brown hair framed a strong face.  Wrinkles at the corners of his brown eyes showed he spent lots of time outdoors, and his nose was slightly crooked, as if it had been broken a few times.  Her heart began to beat a little faster.  Damn.  He was masculine with a capital M. 
    Without breaking stride, he reached out and pulled down the fire alarm as they passed.  “He’ll have to find us first.”
    The fire alarm wailed through the halls, small strobe lights flashed on the walls.  Students poured into the hallway.  The teenagers jostled each other, grinning, obviously enjoying the break in the routine. 
    Teachers tried to keep order, reminding the students to stay with their class.  But it was organized chaos.  Laney and her new friend were swept along with the human tide towards the exit. 
    The man clamped onto her hand, keeping her close.  “Put up your hood,” he ordered as he pulled a ball cap out of his back pocket and put it on.
    Laney yanked the hood into place, peering around, expecting Paul the Terminator to arrive at any moment.
    She gaped at the number of students already in the parking lot.  It was a mob.  “Holy cow.  How many students are in this place?”
    “Nine hundred and seventy-eight.”
    Laney’s eyes darted towards him.  “Is that a guess?”
    He shook his head as he weaved them through the crowd.  “I like knowing all variables when I go on a mission.  This was one of three possible escape routes.”
    “Mission?  I’m a mission?”
    He stopped and looked down at her.  She noticed a dimple in his right cheek.  “Yeah, Laney, you are.” 
    She caught herself staring at him and took a step back.  He reached out to grab her before she backed into another student and pulled her back into him.  Her skin seemed to tingle where he’d touched her.  “Who are you?”
    “My name’s Jake Rogan. I’m with the Chandler Group.” 
    She knew the Chandler Group.  Hell, everybody knew of the Chandler Group. Laney pulled her gaze from the crowd and stared at Jake.  “The Chandler Group?  What do you do for them?  And why on earth are you here?” 
    Established by Henry Chandler about fifteen years ago, the Chandler Group dabbled in everything: technological development, political affairs, archaeological expeditions. And then there was the Chandler Group Foundation, which helped fund everything from kids’ school trips to backyard start-ups to third-world loan programs.
    “My official title is Projects Security Director. I handle all the off-site security measures for all Chandler projects.  But it’s not technically Chandler who’s involved in this.  It’s me.”
    “You?  How can I help you?”
    Jake was about to answer when his body went tense.  He pulled Laney closer towards him.
    A shudder ran through her.  “He’s here, isn’t he?”
    Jake threw his arm around her shoulder and started leading her slowly towards the parking lot.  Pausing occasionally, he kept their movements unhurried.  He stopped when they were hidden from the building by what looked like the basketball team.  “Behind us.  Three o’clock.  He just walked out the doors.”
    She knew she shouldn’t look.  She should keep her back to him and not draw any attention to herself.  But she simply couldn’t help herself.