Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

And I didn’t need to be told twice. Running up the stairs, I
glanced at Winter behind me, seeing her hold the railing
tightly and jog up the steps as I held her other hand.
I tried to see up the staircase, but the smoke had filtered up
there, clouding everything, and I had no idea where he went.
He couldn’t leave. We needed to keep this in a public place,
and I didn’t want him to have any time to regroup or dig in.
We reached the top of the stairs, Winter vaulting into my
back, and I reached around, grabbing her thigh.
“Shhh…” I said.
I looked down the long hallway, seeing multiple rooms. He
didn’t own this building. Only hosted here. He wouldn’t have
back-up or anything tucked here, would he?
Will raced up behind us, coming to my side, and Michael,
Alex, Rika, Banks, and Kai quickly followed.
“He’s in one of them,” I told them.
We started down the hallway, but Winter pulled me back.
“Wait,” she blurted out. “He wouldn’t box himself in. Is
there a fire escape?”
Will and I exchanged a look.
“The roof,” he said.
I gritted my teeth and leaned over the railing, calling down
to Lev.
“GGo outside,” I yelled. “GGuard the fire escape!”
“Okay!” His voice carried up.
I put Winter’s hand on my arm and ordered her, “Stay
behind me.”
She nodded, and I bolted, everyone following as I took the
small, dark staircase to the left.
“Steps,” I warned her.
She reached out for the railing, breathing hard, trying to
keep up, but as soon as she found the first one, she made like a
demon and climbed like her legs were on fire.