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My next step faltered. “No. He didn’t lay a hand on me.”
“Then what’s changed since the last time I saw you?”
Pain lashed in my chest. “I saw what they’re planning, Warner. I couldn’t stand by and watch. They are going to destroy human cities.”
“I tried warning you.” He sighed. “I don’t know why that vampire has such a hold on you. But I knew he’d choose his own kind. A monster like that can’t love. He was using you.”
“Probably.”
I didn’t say anything else. Warner didn’t understand, and I didn’t think he ever would. Did I believe Zan had used me? No. Which was probably why it hurt so damn much to leave him at the beach. But he would never go against his father.
“You hear that?” Warner hissed in a whisper, pulling me from my thoughts.
I went still, scanning the trees. A low hum of an engine had fear rushing through me. It sounded like it was coming from multiple places at once, which meant there was probably more than one vehicle.
“The river is over there. Let’s find a place to cross,” Warner said under his breath. “Come on.”
We bolted to the left, sprinting through the trees. A man’s voice yelling at us to stop came from behind us, which only pushed me to move faster. It was PARA. The Clovers wouldn’t shout demands like that. A louder, shriller engine cut through the air, and panic engulfed me. The vehicles were too large to move through the forest, but they always brought bikes for situations like this. During the times we’d followed PARA outside of Project Hope, we’d seen them do this a few times.
“There’s no way we can outrun them,” I panted. I was a couple of paces behind Warner, and he reached back and grabbed my hand, making sure I kept up.
“We’ll cross the river. It’s too deep for them to cross with bikes.”
My heart sank when the river came into view. The raging water was moving so fast there was no way we could cross here without getting swept away by the current. Warner cursed under his breath, and we ran parallel to the river, trying to spot an area where it slowed down.
“We should split up.” I tried pulling my hand from Warner’s.
“No.” He tightened his hold. “We can’t chance that. We have no way to communicate.”
“Warner—”
“Stop or I’ll shoot.”
I swallowed my cry, seeing two PARA members ahead of us with weapons aimed at us. They were wearing their usual uniform, complete with masks and goggles. Warner put himself in front of me, but one glance over my shoulder proved we were already surrounded. They were on three sides of us, with the river at our back. I raised the gun, but we were severely outnumbered. And most, if not all of them, were wearing bulletproof vests.
“We’ve been looking for you since last night,” one of them said coldly as they closed in on us. “Norman wants to talk to you.”
Terror lined my veins. I hadn’t laid eyes on Norman since he’d murdered Helena and I’d fled Project Hope. If I was forced back there, then I’d be the one being killed in the city center. My gaze dropped to Warner’s hand as he slid the lead box out of his pocket. What the hell was he doing? He unclasped it and took out Zan’s necklace before tossing the box down and putting the charm back in his pocket.
“You remember the way to the vehicles?” Warner asked in a low voice. “It’s only a couple miles from here.”
“Yes, but?—”
“You’ll be okay, Kali.” He spared a quick look, giving me a reassuring smile. “Stay alive.”
The men were only a few feet away, and I placed my finger on the trigger, getting ready to fire. I wasn’t about to get taken without a fight. One of them reached out, grabbing Warner, but then Warner’s other arm lashed out, and he shoved me right in the chest.
“Warner,” I shrieked as I fell backward, right into the rushing water.
I was instantly moving with the current, and it took me a few seconds to kick up and break the surface. Just in that short amount of time, I was already far away from where Warner had pushed me in. I shouted his name again, seeing him on his knees while one man hit him across the face. Tears mixed with the water on my face as I tried to swim against the current.
My moves were useless, and I was swept farther downstream. My hip slammed into a rock, and I groaned in pain before slipping back underwater. I lost my grip on the gun, and it was lost in the foamy water. I sucked in a breath after I righted myself again, and it took all my strength to keep my head above water. I managed to dodge a couple more rocks, and then I spotted a thick tree branch hanging right over the water. I swam to the right and raised my arms, grabbing it. I cried out in relief, just hanging there while catching my breath.
After a couple of minutes, I hauled myself up until I was lying on the branch. I peered down the river, not seeing Warner or PARA anywhere. I must have gone farther than I thought. I sucked in deep breaths and slowly scooted across the branch until I was over the dirt instead of the water. Jumping down, I winced, my hip screaming in pain from hitting the rock.
I limped farther into the trees, trying to find a place to hide. I was positive that PARA would try to find me. They might think I drowned, but they were more careful than that. They’d comb the area before they left.
A lump grew in my throat as I tried to hold back my sob. Warner was in trouble because of me. PARA would either kill or torture him. Probably both. And I had no way to rescue him. I wiped my face, tears spilling out faster. I never should have found him.
