Chapter 3 Torment

Sierra POV

“President…we have to go”. A man rushed toward us already armed. 

And that was enough to make me understand how dangerous the Black Vipers really were.

Every man in the hallway had a weapon, every door had a lock.

And somewhere inside this building was the person who had helped kill my father.

Roman stood completely still. “Don't move."

I stared at him.

"You just said we're leaving."

"We are."

"Then why are we standing here?"

"Because someone wants you to panic." He looked down the corridor. “Don't give them what they want."

A door slammed somewhere below us.

Several men shouted.

Roman immediately reached for my arm.

"Stay behind me."

I pulled away. “I can protect myself."

"I know." His eyes met mine. “And that is  why you're still alive."

Before I could answer, a man came running around the corner.

"Roman!"

Roman turned. “What happened?"

"The south entrance is busted”.

"How many?" Roman asked eyes narrowed.

"Three."

"Armed?"

The man nodded, Roman's face hardened. “Get everyone into the lower garage."

"And her?" The man asked.

Roman looked at me. "She's coming with me."

I expected an argument.

Instead, the man simply nodded and disappeared.

Roman grabbed my jacket and pulled me toward the stairwell.

I followed because there was no point pretending I wasn't afraid.

Halfway down the stairs, I heard a crash.

Then a gunshot.

I flinched, Roman moved faster…We reached the lower garage.

Men were already moving motorcycles and locking steel doors.

Roman pushed me behind a concrete pillar.

"Stay here."

"You're seriously going to leave me alone?"

"I'll be back."

"That's reassuring." I said. 

He gave me a look. “You sound exactly like your father."

He walked away.

I watched him disappear through another doorway.

I frowned.

Few minutes after he left, a  metallic sound came from behind me.

I turned.

One of the garage doors was opening as a man stepped inside.

He wasn't wearing a Black Viper vest just simple a gray jacket. The tattoo on his left hand was visible beneath his sleeve.

He looked directly at me then smiled.

My heart pounded hard that I couldn’t breathe…I turned immediately and  ran. 

He shouted.

I sprinted between the motorcycles, hearing his footsteps behind me.

I grabbed the first object I could find. A metal wrench.

He caught up with me. 

His hand closed around my shoulder.

I swung, the  wrench connected with his arm…He cursed.

His hand caught my waist but before I could fight back, another man slammed into him.

Roman.

The man  hit the floor.

Roman dropped beside him, pinned his arm behind his back and ripped away the man's jacket.

"Who sent you?"

The man laughed, Roman tightened his grip. “Wrong answer."

"I don't know what you're talking about." The man said. 

Roman grabbed his wrist. The tattoo on his arm was fully exposed.

A black serpent wrapped around a burning cross.

Roman's expression changed. “Where did you get that?"

“You know exactly what it means." the man said voice deep. 

"Who gave you the order?"

The man said nothing, Roman reached for his phone. “Take him downstairs."

Two Vipers dragged the man away.

I stared at Roman  “What was that tattoo?"

He didn't answer.

"You know who he works for?”. I asked. 

His silence was answer enough.

"Who?"

"Not here."

"That's becoming your favorite sentence." I muttered. 

"You need to stop asking questions." He said. 

“Answer me”. I demanded.

"No."

“Please” 

He raked his hands through his hair “Alright fine, Her name is Mara Voss." He said. 

“She used to work with your father but  she betrayed him."

"Was she the one who killed him?" I asked. 

"No."

"Then what did she do?"

"She told the wrong person where your father was."

"Who?" I asked.

Roman looked at me. “Your father came to me the night before he died, he knew someone was coming for him."

"Why didn't you save him?"

"I tried but it was too late."

I felt a weird chill run down my spines. “The why didn’t you say this before?”. 

"Because your father made me promise."

"Promise what?"

Roman stepped close enough that I could feel the heat of him.

"That if he died, I would keep you away from the people who wanted him dead."

I shook my head. “You failed."

"No." he lowered his voice.

"I haven't failed yet." 

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small blue key.

"What is that?"

Roman closed my fingers around it.

"Your father gave me this."

"Why?"

"He told me never to give it to you unless the people who killed him came looking."

I took the key from his hands. What does it open?"

"It opens the one place your father swore he'd never let anyone find."

Suddenly. the garage door behind us exploded inward….