There’s a rough grumble.
“Moreno!” I shout, my eyes wide as I glance back at him. Is he still alive? I can’t leave him with Nico.
“Who do you work for?” I shout at Nico and climb into the backseat, the best chance I have is if I can overtake Nico. Moreno needs medical attention.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” He chuckles, and my stomach plummets. “She’ll be so excited that you’re joining us.”
She?
I can’t even fathom who he’s referring to, nor do I care.
“Now, sit in the back like a good little girl, Harper. I’d hate to have to bring you to her bruised and bloodied.”
Glancing at the cell phone, it’s still on, still counting the seconds that have passed by. Luca is on the line, probably listening to us. Good. Maybe he can figure out where Nico is taking us and have Dante intercept us before we get there.
“You’re fucking insane if you think I’ll do anything you tell me,” I seethe at Nico. “Pull the fucking car over and get the hell out before I kill you.”
He laughs, smirking as he glances back at me. “That’s cute, buttercup. Thinking you have a chance. Moreno was your last chance, and he’s dead.”
I reach for his pulse, feeling it erratic, but he’s still alive.
Blood seeps from the wound on his head, he seems to be unconscious, bent forward, the seatbelt restraining him.
Moreno has to have a gun on him. I climb over the console, making my way into the front passenger seat.
“What the hell—Harper?” Nico snarls at me and lifts his gun. “Get in the back!”
My fingers graze over Moreno’s holster and I grab the gun, cocking off the trigger and shooting round after round into Nico.
Except there’s no bullets.
Nico laughs darkly and smiles wickedly as he glances at me. “Did you really think I’d let Moreno carry a loaded gun?”
“What? How?” I climb over Moreno’s body, and Nico is grabbing my hair, yanking me out of the seat.
My fingers itch on the doorhandle, so close, I can almost yank it open.
If I can get out, then Nico will be forced to stop. Forced to abandon the car and chase me. He’ll leave Moreno alone, and maybe Dante and Luca can find me.
It’s my best hope. The darkness of night is the only chance I have at getting away.
I pull the latch, the front door swinging open, and I jump haphazardly onto the ground.
It fucking burns.
Every inch of my body is like fire licking my skin. My black pants are torn, shredded from the jump, and my coat took the brunt over my arms and chest, tearing but not destroying it.
I stumble into the forest, hearing the screech of tires and the engine alive and idling as Nico jumps out and chases after me.
Can I outsmart him? If I run through the forest, I can lose him, and then get back to the vehicle, and I can leave his ass behind.
I run through the woods, hearing him give chase to me, his feet not far behind as he catches up to me with long strides.
Nico is taller, giving himself an advantage, and I do my best not to run in a straight line, trying to avoid him catching me. But it does little use.
He’s gaining on me, and fast.
His footfalls aren’t the least bit silent, and neither are mine. I’m gasping for breath, making my location far too obvious.
