Panic clawed at her throat. She leaned into her run, pushing herself faster, gulping in air through her open mouth. Desperation churned. She wasn’t getting enough oxygen!
But she couldn’t stop. If she did, she’d die.
Sean’s feet pounded behind her, closing the gap.
Blood trickled from various scratches, but Mia kept going, forcing herself to move.
Up ahead, she saw a break in the trees. For a moment, she tasted freedom. Then she realized her error. Through the break, she had a clear view of Blaine’s car.
They were herding her toward it.
Panicked, she veered to the right. Sean was practically breathing down her neck. Lowering her head, she pumped her arms and put on a burst of speed. If she could just get?—
A hand grabbed her hair, and pain stabbed her head. She fell backward, screaming. Sean lifted her in his arms, his grip more punishing than before. Tears filled her eyes, and she tried to breathe through the pain.
“I got her, boss.”
“Good work, Sean,” Blaine wheezed, breathing hard. “Let’s get her in the car quickly, before the police arrive.”
They weren’t planning on killing her. But she still wasn’t relieved.
“You won’t be much of a replacement, Mia.”
Replacement? Replacement for what?
Sean laughed. “One instead of nine? Is it even worth it? Maybe we should just kill her. I’d enjoy that. Payback for biting me.”
Mia’s blood chilled in her veins. She was going to be trafficked. Her energy, which had been sapped by her escape attempt, was refueled by the new spurt of adrenaline coursing through her system.
Sean half carried, half dragged her back toward the car waiting. A helicopter whirred somewhere up above. She kicked and twisted, but she was no match for his strength.
When she was within feet of the car, she began to cry, terror filling her mind. She could no longer think rationally or even pray. If she was forced into the car, she’d never get free.
She cried out again.
Blaine stepped forward and backhanded her. “Shut. Up. For once, you will do what you are told.”
No, she wouldn’t. The metallic taste of blood in her mouth brought her back from the edge of panic. She would not give in without a fight.
“Put her in the car,” he told Sean.
Sean turned and dragged her backward the rest of the way, then started shoving her toward the car. She kicked and scratched, straining away from the door that yawned open like the maw of a dragon waiting to devour her.
Jackson burst from the trees and hurled himself at Sean. With a shout, Blaine’s henchman threw her to the side to grab his gun. Before he could get a shot off, Jackson’s fist connected with his jaw. Sean’s head bounced off the car, and he slid to the ground.
Blaine turned to run, but Mark stood in his way, his gun pointed at Blaine’s chest. “Blaine Turner, you are under arrest. Hands up.”
Blaine shifted. He was gearing up to run. A second gun clicked, and another officer came from behind.
“Geoff,” Mark called out. “Please take Mr. Turner into custody and read him his rights.”
Mia turned away from Blaine. She fell, weeping into Jackson’s arms. “You saved me.”
“I’ll always come when you need me.”
She smiled, and his lips touched hers briefly before he closed her in his embrace.
She was safe.
