Page 58 of His Dark Pull

“Get away from him!”I scream, my voice hoarse, my body straining against the hands that hold me. But Alexander, his attention focused on the approaching threat, doesn’t seem to hear me. Dexter and Kovacs close in on him, their fists raining down upon him like a hailstorm of fury.

He is outnumbered, outmatched, his body battered and bruised, yet he refuses to yield. “Stop!”I scream, my voice cracking. “Please, just let us go!”

Dexter laughs, a mocking sound. “I’m afraid that’s not an option, my dear,”he says. “You see, we have plans for you both. Plans that don’t include you running off into the night.”

Alexander staggers backward, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling. He looks at me. “Ava, run,”he gasps.

I shake my head, tears blurring my vision. “I won’t leave you.”

Not that I can.

Dexter chuckles again, a cold, heartless sound. “Oh, how touching,”he sneers. “But I’m afraid your loyalty to each other is going to be the death of you both.”

With that, he and Kovacs lunge forward, and I watch in horror as they beat Alexander, his body a canvas of pain. I have to do something, anything, to help him, to save him from these monsters. Then, a sound shrills far away. Can it be? I tilt my head and listen carefully. Sirens?

With a surge of adrenaline, I tear myself free from the guard’s grip as he is occupied with the fight.I know how I can help.

I take off running, my bare feet pounding against the earth, the wind whipping through my hair as I flee into the darkness. Just as I think I might escape, a hand shoots out, grabbing my arm and yanking me back with a force that sends me sprawling to the ground. I scream as I find myself face-to-face with Kovacs, his eyes gleaming. “Where do you think you’re going?”he growls, his grip tightening on my arm. I struggle against him, but he is too strong. I turn my head, my gaze searching for Alexander, and my heart sinks as I see him pinned against a tree, Dexter standing over him, a twisted grin on his face, his eyes filled with sadistic glee.

“Alexander!”I scream, my voice raw. The name tears from my lips, a desperate plea for him to rise, to fight back, to defy the odds that seem stacked against him.

“Ava!”His voice is strained and hoarse.

I cry, warm tears mixed with blood, hot against my cold skin. The sickening crunch of bone against bone, the wet thud of fists connecting with flesh, fills the air, andeach sound makes bile rise in my throat.

“You’ll pay for this!”I scream, the words raw, ragged.

Kovacs just laughs a cold, harsh sound. “I think you’re the one who’ll be paying, sweetheart.”

Dexter lands a brutal punch on Alexander’s ribs, and the sound makes me flinch. “And you’re next,”he hisses, turning towards me.

I stumble backward, my body recoiling from his presence. We’re not going to make it. Just as all hope seems lost, the distant wail of sirens that I heard before pierces through the night, a lifeline.

“The cavalry has arrived,”Kovacs sneers, glancing over his shoulder at the approaching lights. “But it’s too late for you two.”

With a roar that seems to defy the pain that racks his body, Alexander rises to his feet one last time. He shoves Dexter to the ground and lunges towards Kovacs, his attack a distraction that creates a momentary opening, a chance for escape.

“Go!”he bellows. I hesitate for a split second, my gaze locked with his. Then, with a surge of adrenaline, I turn and sprint into the darkness, my bare feet pounding against the rough terrain, the wind whipping through my hair as I flee towards the approaching sirens. The sound of their pursuit echoes behind me, but I don’t dare look back. I focus on the flashing lights ahead, the sound of the sirens growing louder with each stride.

“Help!”I scream as I stumble towards the first officer I see, his gun drawn, his eyes narrowed. “Help us!”

“Lower your weapon!”Harvey’s gruff but familiar voice cuts through the chaos. “She’s friendly.”

I collapse into the officer’s arms, my body trembling, sobs wracking my body as the adrenaline fades. I have never been so grateful to see the police, to feel the safety of their presence.

“Alexander!”I say and look behind me. A commotion erupts behind me, the sound of running footsteps and angry shouts. I turn to see a group of officers, led by Harvey, converging on Alexander, their weapons drawn, their voices barking orders.

“Harvey, not Alexander! H-he saved me,”I cry. He winks at me, a reassuring gesture that calms the storm within me.

“I know,”he says, his voice gruff but kind, before turning and leading his men towards the remaining members of the Veles Network.

“Get down! Hands up!”Harvey shouts, his gun aimed at the group of men who stand frozen down on the plantation. As the officers close in, their grip on Alexander loosens. He stands tall, his body battered and bruised.

I run towards him, throwing my arms around him and burying my face in his chest. “Are you okay?”I ask, my voice muffled against his shirt, taking in the metallic scent of blood.

“I’m okay,”he murmurs, his voice hoarse. “It’s all my fault, Ava. You should never have gotten involved with me. I’m so sorry. I bring nothing but pain and trouble to you.”

“But you’re my trouble,”I reply, pulling back to look into his eyes, my hands cupping his face, my thumbs wiping away the blood that trickles from one of the cuts on his cheek. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

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