Page 143 of Ruthless Savage

“I know. They said it might hold off until tonight, but I guess Mother Nature had other thoughts. So, what brings you all the way up here?”

“Oh, well, I kind of have some news.” I grin, extending my ring finger to show her the round diamond and matching band.

Her eyes grow as she glances at it before staring back at the road. “Wait, you’re married? Please tell me it’s not to that awful man.”

“No.” I shake my head and grin. “The one I’ve always liked. Loved, actually.”

I breathe in and smile, unable to wait until I surprise him with dinner tonight.

“That’s great.” Her eyes shine as they look at me. “You deserve it.”

She groans when we happen upon some traffic cones in the middle of the street, blocking our access to the next block.

A construction worker points left, indicating where we can go. Of course they’re doing this in the middle of the day, in a crowded street in the city. Makes sense.

“We can head up this way,” she says. “Then I can take you around to your new apartment.”

“Do you live around here?”

“Oh, yeah. Only a few blocks away. It’s a lovely area to live.”

I nod. “I like the city, especially Central Park.”

She rounds the corner to a one-way street, the rain pummeling against the hood of the car.

A vehicle behind us honks, getting closer.

“What the hell?” she snaps. “Doesn’t he realize there’s nowhere to go?”

She honks back, but instead of slowing down, the driver goes faster.

My skin prickles.

Professor Montgomery shakes her head, and when she reaches the corner of the street, she turns onto a two-way road. Instead of driving straight past us, the car follows right behind.

“Oh my God!” she screams as another vehicle speeds the wrong way and right toward us. “He’s gonna hit us! Get out!”

But it’s too late.

One moment, she’s telling me to go, and the next second, there’s a loud boom before my body jolts, the car flipping to its side.

Groaning, I blink past the blurriness.

“Professor?” I mutter. “Professor?”

My eyes fill with terror as I find her on the bottom, her eyes closed, a gash on her forehead, blood running down her face.

“Professor Montgomery!” I scream. “Wake up!”

Someone pries my door open, and I’m relieved that we have help. She has to be okay!

I should’ve listened to Devlin. I should’ve stayed home.

“P-please help—” But the words seize in my chest as I stare at a man whose eyes I immediately recognize, even through the ski mask. “No!”

I try to get the seat belt off. To run. To do anything I can to escape. But there’s nowhere to go.

He reaches for me, something in his hand. A cloth of some kind. And as soon as he places it around my mouth and nose, my screams die.

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