Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
The Range Rover fell behind a few feet, then roared forward, bumping us again. Maybe I should have been mad that my brother-in-law was ramming the car I was in, but all I could worry about was Juric getting away while I was still trapped inside this car.
My hands fumbled for the seatbelt. I yanked it on and clicked it in, digging my fingers into my thighs, holding on. Thank God I’d already thrown up, because it saved me from having to do it now.
The next impact was more violent, followed by plastic shattering and metal crumbling, and it jolted us into oncoming traffic. He swerved violently back across the center line just in time, and a car horn blared in protest.
I knew this was going to end badly. The engine of the SUV behind us was loud and sounded like it was right beside me.
This time the Range Rover struck us on the side, and it sent us spinning. It was a stomach-turning, disorienting feeling of being wildly out of control. We continued to spin as Juric swore and fought the wheel. Brakes and tires groaned trying to bring us to a stop, until the car hopped a curb with a horrible thud and sent me slamming into the belt.
The car came to rest at an awkward angle, the engine hissing and popping.
Seatbelt buckle. Door handle. Freedom.
I dashed out onto the cobblestones, ignoring the startled people on the sidewalk. Where was the other car? My gaze darted around until I found it slammed into a concrete barrier on the other side of the road, fifty yards down from us.
Jason was already running toward me, his gun drawn.
But Juric was out of the car now too, with his own gun, and in between us.
Go, the voice in my head commanded. I’d seen how fast Jason could move. I had to believe he could catch Juric before that monster caught me.
I stumbled across the cobblestone, my wounded, bare feet making me slower than I wanted. Plus, the drugs lingered in my system, making me sluggish. But I kept churning my legs. Get away. Keep going.
I turned down a narrow street and tore past shops, screaming in English for people to get out of my way. It had to be quite a shock, because most of them simply froze in place, dumbfounded. I didn’t look back to see if he was following. Surely, he was.
And a moment later, I heard Juric yelling my name.
Should I dart into one of the shops that lined the street and try to hide? No. I might get trapped. Just keep running.
Even as my lungs burned and everything ached, I ran. I tried not to think about Shawn or what had happened to him, but a sob bubbled in my chest.
There was an alley up ahead, and I collided with the wall on the far side as I took the corner too fast. It slowed me down, but there was a stack of wooden crates, and I hurled them behind me, tearing down the alley toward what looked like a clearing.
I had been wrong about who would reach me first.
Five feet into the city square I ran right into a hard wall, covered with fabric, and it closed around my body. Arms.
Shawn’s arms.
He must have cut through a side street rather than follow Jason.
“Kara! Are you all right?” His eyes were filled with worry, but it made him no less handsome. And it was worry for me. I stared up at him, overwhelmed, my heart aching for him.
“You’re here,” I replied, echoing the first thing he’d said to me the night the bombs had gone off and I’d set this terrible chain of events in motion. I put a hand on his face and wanted to say more. I wanted to kiss him and tell him how good it felt to be in his arms. To tell him that I—
There was a blur of movement just outside the focus of my vision, filling me with dread. Juric had caught up. The gun he pointed toward us caused chaos, clearing a wide circle of panicked people from the market. Shawn didn’t move; only his pupils dilated with alarm.
“Get over here,” Juric snapped.
“No,” Shawn said, tightening his hold so I couldn’t follow Juric’s order even if I’d wanted to.
Jason materialized from the crowd, Ethan right behind him, along with the man who’d been sitting in the passenger seat in the Range Rover.
“Put your gun down,” Jason commanded, his own steady as he aimed at the man who’d done so much damage.
All Juric did was laugh. Then he sneered, revealing the monster who lurked within him. “Come here now, Kara.”
“Wait.” Shawn’s voice was urgent but controlled. “I have money.”
“So do I.” He flung his free hand out and glared at me, demanding I take it.