The Immortal Compromise (The Mortal One Series Book 3) by Shannon Bell Page A

and squinted to see if there was anyone I recognized. Before I had a chance to focus again, a man stepped into my field of vision, commanding the space in front of me.
    “So you are Dylan?” It was a tall man standing there and a shorter man right behind him.
    I looked over at Gregorio who had come to stand at my side. He shrugged, but kept one eye on the men at all times.
    “Do I know you?” I asked, taking an instinctive step closer to Gregorio.
    The train arrived and people pushed past us and inside. I wanted to get onto the train as well, but the men had positioned themselves so that I would have to walk past them in order to get on. From their broad shoulders and wide stances, I wasn’t going to have the opportunity.
    “No, but you do not need to. You are coming with us,” the taller man stepped forward, grabbing my arm.
    His fingers pressed deep into my flesh and I let out a yelp without meaning to. He was being very forceful for someone I didn’t know and who obviously knew me. No one in the station paid any attention to us.
    “Let go of her,” Gregorio yelled, stepping closer.
    The shorter man stepped in front of me. He pulled out a knife and held it out to Gregorio. “This does not concern you.”
    “She is in my protection,” Gregorio said, taking a step away from the sharp blade that was pointed at him. He moved closer to me, but was out of my reach.
    The two men pulled me in the direction of the stairs that led up to the street level of Berlin.
    “It will be easier if you do not cause a scene,” the taller man said, turning his attention to Gregorio for a brief moment. He then continued to pull me further away from where we had been standing. The pressure of his fingers moved from my lower arm to my upper arm and I knew there would be bruises.
    All I could think about was Nico. Nico wanted to make sure I would be safe. Gregorio had promised him my safety and it was not the case any longer. I didn’t know the men taking me and they were not giving any reason for taking me. They had the advantage, too, because they obviously knew who I was, or at least a little bit about who I was.
    “Can you at least tell me where you are taking her?” Gregorio asked, running after us as I was dragged up the stairs.
    “We cannot tell you that,” the shorter man said.
    “Gregorio,” I called.
    “I’m right behind you,” I heard him yell as we all were forced to run up the stairs at the speed that the two men were going.
    I squinted in the sun to get my bearings. The taller man opened the door to a black van that was parked on the side of the busy road. He gave me a good push, forcing me inside. I fell hard on the floor of the van, skinning my knees. I reached a hand on the side to steady myself and avoid vomiting. The interior reeked of old food and there were no seats in the back for me to sit in. The short man got into the driver seat and started the engine. I placed my hand on my messenger bag, remembering my phone was inside of it. The tall man pulled it out of my grasp and tossed it out of the van.
    Before the taller man closed the van door, I looked at Gregorio, who bent down to pick up my bag.
    “I’ll call Nico,” he said and the door closed, leaving me to hope he called soon.
    I felt like I was in the back of the van forever. The two men in the front seat didn’t speak to me or to each other. One drove and the other looked down at his phone, texting like a mad man.
    They hadn’t blindfolded me or anything, so I was able to look out the window. It was dark, but I saw that we were on a main road and heading south. There were other cars on the road, but it didn’t matter because they wouldn’t be able to see me. The only thing I could do was stare out the window and watch the German countryside pass.
    “Can you tell me where we’re going?” I asked.
    The taller man in the passenger seat turned to look at me, but said nothing.
    I sighed and leaned against the sliding door of the van. The lack