Too much fear lives behind his human eyes.
“They probably already know,” Cory finally answers. He doesn’t sound nervous. “But they didn’t count on you.” The wolf slaps the human on the shoulder. “Bet they’re chasing their tails, trying to find her trail. That is, if they’re even bothering to look.”
A long-fingered hand reaches into the back seat. I slam my eyes shut and use every ounce of strength I have to relax my body as if I were still knocked out. When the touch comes, it’s heavy. Expansive. Possessive. Cory grips my hip, then runs his palm up and down my thigh.
“No one loves Abby like I do. They’ll probably accept that she’s gone without getting too pissy.”
His words bring a thickness to the back of my throat. I beg the universe that he’s wrong.
Just because I turned down the idea of mating Roderick doesn’t mean he’ll let me be kidnapped, right?
I would bet money that Cory is wrong—at least about that. But he had the right of it that Roderick likely doesn’t know about Larson. He doesn’t know anything about my past because I was too scared to tell him. My anxious brain told me silence was thebest way to keep myself safe. But the danger didn’t stay buried, and the people who care about me now won’t know what or who to look for.
Which means I’m on my own.
And I’m dealing with a sociopath.
There’s only one goal I should be aiming for—escape.
The same rules that were supposed to keep me protected in Pine Falls will work against me if Cory can get me back to Bear Valley. I have no idea how my ex crossed into Pine Falls without immediately setting off alarms, but that’s not something that matters right now. If I want the answer, I can discover it later when I’m back home. When I’m safe.
Another realization batters me then.
Pine Fallsisn’tsafe anymore. My home has been invaded. Even if I make it back to my little house, Cory will always know where I am.
Am I going to have to leave Juliet Adair behind, just like I did Abby Green?
The sorrow of that is too much to deal with at the moment, so I focus solely on my anger.
Get away. Somehow, I have to get away.
My mind jumps from plan to plan, but they all seem hopeless. No matter how I might escape from this car, the werewolf will catch me. He’s strong and fast, and he can follow my scent. That’s why I had to use trickery the last time.
As I struggle to come up with some idea to outwit them, there’s the sound of heavy coughing from the front seat. I risk cracking my eyes open now that Cory has removed his grip from my thigh. Sneaking a peek, I watch as my ex hacks into his hand. He sounds like he’s choking on something.
Could I be that lucky?
“Hey, man, you okay over there?” Larson asks, hesitation in each word.
Cory pulls his hand away from his mouth. His fingers are coated in blood.
“Wha—” He can’t even finish the question before he’s wheezing again.
“What the hell?” Panic seeps into the human’s voice. “What’s going on? Cory?”
My wild hopes snag on an idea.
It’s reckless.
It might just get me killed.
But I’d rather go out trying than wait patiently for whatever hellish retribution Cory has planned.
As Cory’s coughing fit distracts the brothers, I carefully shift until I’m sitting upright. My head still pounds, but I ignore the ache, needing my full focus on maneuvering correctly. Sucking in a deep, bracing breath through my nose, I make my move.
Lunging forward, I slip my bound arms over the driver’s headrest and hook them under Larson’s chin.
Then I pull back hard, like he’s a bottle of beer and I’m looking to pop his cap off.
