Free Chaos and Moonlight (Order of the Nines Book 1) by A.D. Marrow Page A

hear you, right? Even from down here, on the,” Bane paused and looked at the wall, “second floor.”
    The terror Taris felt at the realization that his brother was alive melted away. A flood of memories came back to him, and a blistering rage took over, squelching the fire that was there and replacing it with a cool, centered anger.
    “You are supposed to be dead, you little bastard,” Taris said, never taking his eyes away from the piercing crimson that glared up at him. “I thought you and that hellhound were gone for good.”
    Bane let out a laugh that rattled the metal of the railings. His boots hit the concrete steps with heavy
smacks
that mixed with his maniacal chuckle.
    “Didn’t die, not at all. Got scuffed up a bit, though. You know, you guys should really be more thorough when you light off a powder keg. We managed to slip out the back room, pretty as you please. Been living back home since then, flying under the radar as much as hell on wheels can, of course.” Bane touched his leather-clad shoulder. “Still have a scar or two, though.” His hand slipped underneath his jacket, and he quickly withdrew a Glock, taking aim straight at Taris.
    “And that hellhound sends her regards, fuck you very much.” He squeezed the trigger, sending a shot barreling toward Taris. He barely had time to dodge it as it sent a spark through the stairwell. A scream ripped from somewhere, and he looked down to see a pair of bloodshot brown eyes staring up at him in absolute horror. She was frozen solid, gripping onto his trench lapels.
    “Shit. Just…look, just do me a favor, and don’t scream anymore.” He ran up the remaining stairs, all the while the tinkling of bullets hitting the walls and metal pipes, sending white flares all around him.
    “Where are you off to, big brother? Off to save the world, you pathetic bastard? I’ll make sure to take good care of Kalin after I hand Morrigan your head.” Bane’s voice bounced off the walls and rang in his ears, chilling his veins to ice. “I’m just here for the girl. Throw her down, and I’ll make sure I don’t ruin your pretty face.”
    Taris could hear Bane laughing behind him as his maniacal-looking boots tromped close on their heels. He kicked open the roof access door and slammed it shut behind him, trying to buy them some time. He looked down at the small woman still clutching on to him.
    “I need you to hold on tight and close your eyes, okay? First, reach behind me under my coat and grab the knife that’s at the small of my back.”
    She was petrified. Her pink eyes were wide with shock, shock that prevented her from moving at all.
    “You want to die or not?” Taris bit out, the urgency in his voice shaking her loose from the panic-induced paralysis.
    She shook her head.
    “Then hand me the damned knife!”
    Her hands shook as she slid one from around his neck, down the length of his torso, and around to his back. She reached underneath his trench and found the loop at the base of his spine where his low-slung jeans met his cotton shirt. Her fingers fumbled with the loop at his belt that held the blade in, but she eventually managed to jerk it free, and she held it up to him.
    “Good girl,” he said as he removed one arm from underneath her legs. “Now I need you to wrap your legs around me and grab onto my neck. And for the love of God, no matter what, don’t let go, you understand?”
    She nodded again and buried her head in his neck as she gripped his waist with her legs. To make sure she had a firm hold on him, she locked her ankles around his hips. He moved quickly, taking them to the opposite side of the roof before she heard the door being kicked open. A little scream tried to escape her, but was stifled by his chest. She gripped him tighter as he dragged in deep breaths.
    “It’ll be okay. You’re safe,” he said before he began to run, hard and fast. She squeezed her eyes shut again as they drew closer and closer to the edge of the