Page 70 of Sacred Vow

The Navigator pulls to the side, and I throw open my door, jumping out. I run in a sprint back to the bus stop.

“Izzy, stop!” Andrei’s voice booms behind me. He’s probably gonna redden my ass after this, but it will be worth it. I can’t let the guy get away.

The man in the aviator glasses sees me coming at him, and he bolts.

“Wait! Wait!” I scream, waving my arm in the air to him.

Andrei roars in rage.

As I approach the bus stop, a car screeches to a stop at the curb. The passenger and backseat doors fly open. Two men dressed in black jump out.

“Don’t touch her!” Andrei’s voice feels distant. I turn, looking for him. He’s on the ground, climbing back to his feet. Blood seeps through his shirt. The driver from our car runs toward me, gun drawn.

I’m grabbed. A cloth smashed over my mouth.

I struggle.

I fight, digging my nails into my captor’s hands.

Another roar.

Did it come from Andrei again?

Is he all right?

I try screaming.

My limbs drop, too heavy to hold them up.

A gunshot sounds.

I’m dragged into the backseat of a car.

“Go! Fucking go!” the man in the front yells.

I try to get up, to get out of the man’s grasp.

“How the fuck can he still be getting up!” the driver yells.

Another shot, the side back window cracks.

Tires screech.

Men curse at each other.

My eyelids grow impossibly heavy.

I just need a second to sleep.

“I’m going to fucking kill him!” I rage. “Hurry the fuck up!”

My physician looks up from where he’s putting the last stitch in my shoulder wound.

“Done. I would tell you not to move your arm, but it’s a waste of time.” He drops the needle and surgical scissors onto his tray.

“Has he been found?” I yell.

She’s been gone for two hours. I jumped in the car and Daniel took off after them, but they had just enough time ahead of us, they got away.

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