“We’ll figure it out after we get the fuck outta here.” Jax strode toward another door, and we climbed another flight of stairs. Entering the ground floor of the estate was like stepping into an alternate reality. The decaying brick and stone, the dusty rooms, the darkness—all of it was gone, replaced by open spaces that allowed the sunlight to stream through the windows. My bare feet glided across the smooth hardwood in the dining room.

I’d been here before, sitting at that very table with Lucas as he wined and dined me. A whole world of horrors had existed at my feet, several layers below the earth, while he’d attempted to work beyond my indifference with his charming smile and conversation.

Jax led us through a French door, but the alarm started its countdown. Cursing under his breath, he punched in a code, silencing the beeping with a sigh of relief. Sunlight hit my face, and I nearly gasped at the warmth, the blinding brightness. I lifted my chin toward the sun and closed my eyes for a few seconds. A slight breeze ruffled my hair. It was almost too much, after being confined in darkness for so long. Rafe tugged on my hand, and we padded over the grass, like silk underfoot.

“My van’s parked over there,” Jax said, pointing to a shaded spot between two trees just off the driveway. We changed direction and Rafe came to an abrupt stop, his attention locked on a gas generator standing a few feet from the house.

“Does that thing supply power to the tunnel?”

“Yeah, why?”

Rafe cranked his head, apparently searching for something, and his gaze landed on a shed. “I have an idea.”

I swallowed hard, remembering what happened the last time he had an idea. He pulled me along after him, and Jax scuttled to catch up.

“What’re you doing, man? I just killed my cousin down there. The old man is gonna be on our asses soon. We need to get the fuck outta here.”

Rafe tried the knob on the shed without success. “Stand back,” he warned, letting go of my hand. I retreated, and he studied the door for a few seconds before sending a swift kick below the knob. After four more strikes, all impacting the same spot, the frame cracked at the latch, and Rafe pushed open the broken door.

“Dude, what the hell are you doing?” Jax followed him inside.

“Looking for something,” he mumbled.

I pulled the jacket tighter around my body and cast a furtive glance toward the driveway that ended at the garage, expecting to find Lucas’ black SUV pulling in. The next minute passed in an eternity, and I heard nothing but my rapid breaths mixing with the subtle chirp of birds and passing of vehicles.

They exited the shed, playing tug-of-war with a gas can.