Page 72 of Throttle

The coldness of the night doesn't stop me from breaking into a sweat.

The gravel is being crunched by boots. I observe them entering the van, one on either side. If I'm going to be a sitting duck, the least they can do is provide some information.

The engine starts. Let's hope they move forward instead of backward. But I couldn’t be that lucky. The headlights light up my entire body like a spotlight and the passenger notices me first, then yells to his buddy who’s driving.

The van halts, and unfortunately, that's some bad luck.

I place my palms on the ground above my head, then spring up, landing on my feet, and take off running. Less than thirty seconds later, shouts and gunfire echo around me. A bullet flies past my head, just missing me.

I'm constantly being shot at.

Fuck.

I trudge through the wet grass toward the nearest road, not seeing if they were tailing me. I leap over a fallen tree trunk and keep going as if my life relied on it, because it did. Tonight, my stamina was on point.

I continue to run until the road comes into view, with my heart racing and my breathing growing heavy.

A familiar car zooms around the corner, halting in front of me, and anger and worry consume me.

What the fuck?

“Get in!” Her voice of silk and seduction sounds from the driver's side.

My adrenaline is at its peak and my vision turns red as I peer into those hazel eyes.

“Hurry!” she repeats.

Swiftly opening the passenger door, I close it just in time as Tequila speeds away.

“Jesus. Are you okay?! I was so worried. Are you hurt? Please tell me you didn’t get shot. If you did, I would kill you for this… I swear—”

“Tequila.” I put a stop to her nervous babble.

“Right. Sorry.”

“What are you doing?” I demand, still almost breathless, but mostly from the fear of her being here.

“Yeah, yeah, you can scold me later. Right now, I’m rescuing you from being splattered all over the place. What the hell were you even thinking? They were shooting at you!”

In silence, I count to ten, hoping to regain composure and reduce my rapid heartbeat. “Tequila. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?!” I slam my palm on the interior.

“I already told you. I’m saving your ass. Regardless of the state of our relationship, seeing you die isn’t on my bucket list.”

I analyze her profile, watching her long lashes flutter as she speaks. Christ, I am so infuriated with this woman but so fucking turned on my dick is trying to free itself, pressing against the zipper of my pants.

I run a hand down my face. “This is so fucked. How did you know where I was?” I shake my head. “Never mind. I’ll take care of Bullet tomorrow. And where the hell is Brass? He’s supposed to be watching you.”

Tequila hooks a thumb over her shoulder. True to form, he rides closely behind us. At least I won’t have to tear his dick off yet. I call him up, telling him he can back off and retreat over to Tank.

I’ll be taking over from here.

Despite my seething fury and violent thoughts, I want her to ride me in this car. Straddling my fucking lap while I bury deep inside her. Because if she hadn’t come to my rescue, I may be lying in a pool of my own blood.

“I must say, I got an adrenaline rush and I like it. Not you getting shot at, but the saving part.” She chuckles. I don’t want her to save me.

“No way. Erase that notion from your lovely head right now, because you will never be involved in something so stupid again. Not if I can help—” I’m interrupted by Tank’s call. “Hold that thought.”

She shrugs.

---