Page 6 of Caught By Menace

Menace nodded and pointed toward the two women he’d been watching. Little Miss Mouthy and her gorgeous sidekick were sprinting into the tree line now. “The one in the red shirt is mine.”

“And the sexy one in gray?”

“You can have her.”And goodriddance.

***

“We aren’t goingto make it.”

Naya glanced at Jennie. There was no time for a reassuring smile as they sprinted through the woods. “We stick to the plan, Jennie.”

“It’s a long way, Naya.” Jennie wasn’t breathing hard yet. Naya took that as a good sign.

“We have adrenaline working for us today.” She cast another glance over her shoulder. The coast was still clear but soon they would have to evade the grabby hands of those giant, tattooed men in their frightening black uniforms and boots.

A shiver coursed down her spine. She couldn’t believehewas here. He had recognized her the same moment she’d spotted him. The way he had looked at Jennie unsettled her. He wanted Jennie. That much was clear. No doubt he would be running their way soon.

She tried to ignore the frisson of unwanted jealousy that stabbed her belly. The fact that he had skipped over her so easilyhurt her pride, but she would never admit that aloud. It wasn’t easy to swallow that the man who had starred in her dirtiest fantasies found her utterly unattractive.

But this was sonotthe time to even think about that.

“Just keep running, Jennie. Josef is waiting for you. That’s all that matters.” She shot Jennie a quick grin. “We’re going to make it.”

A loud war cry of a whoop shattered the stillness of the woods. Naya’s heart leapt into her throat. The men were loose and they were gaining ground.

“Is this where we split up?” Jennie asked, her voice unnaturally high and anxious.

“Yes. Remember the plan, Jennie. We’ve run this route a dozen times. We’re going to make it.”

Jennie nodded and took off one way while Naya ran the other. Even though she’d just given Jennie that pep talk, her stomach pitched violently. This was nothing like the dry runs. There were men hell-bent on capturing them hot on their tails. One mistake and their plan was toast.Theywere toast.

The crackle of ground covering snapping under heavy boots echoed in the forest. Naya gulped and pushed herself to run even faster. She took a chance glancing back and spotted one of the Harcos men a hundred yards or so behind. He wasn’t as big as the man from the market but he ran fast. Too fast, she realized and turned her attention forward.

Her gaze jumped around the forest. She hooked a quick right and ran straight for a tricky spot in the terrain that only the locals knew well. A dry creek bed, some fallen logs and shifting, loose rocks were a disaster for the uninitiated. The idea of causing an injury to the monstrous man wasn’t one she relished but she wasn’t about to be Grabbed by him. Hopefully he’d be smart enough to sense the danger and stay back.

Sure-footed as a rabbit, Naya hopped from log to rock and crossed the dangerous creek bed with the speed and efficiency of practice. The monstrous hulk in his black uniform didn’t let the new obstacle slow him down. Stupidly he leapt onto a log that quickly began to roll. He fell forward and cracked his knee on a rock. His roar of pain filled the air. Naya winced at the discomfort he must have been feeling but didn’t stop to render aid. She had to keep moving.

Cutting through the woods, Naya checked the forest for signs to help her navigate. This tree, that rock formation, the winding empty creek beds—all of them helped her stay on course. She estimated she was less than ten minutes from the safe zone and the spot they’d chosen to rendezvous with Josef.

“Naya!” Jennie’s bloodcurdling shriek ripped through the forest. Spurred into action, Naya sprinted even faster in the direction of the scream. Her stomach clenched so tightly she was sure she would heave her guts. Legs burning and sides aching, she burst through some thick underbrush into a clearing. The slap of the thorny branches left her bare calves nastily scratched, but she couldn’t think about that now.

Naya’s stomach dropped at the sight of Jennie trying to evade the clutches of the sky warrior with the pale-white hair and green eyes. Refusing to let him Grab her best friend when they were this close to the safe zone, Naya reacted without thinking. She raced across the tall grass separating them and slammed into the man’s side, wrapping both arms around his upper thighs and taking him to the ground.

His shocked grunt ricocheted off the trees. Stunned she’d been able to throw him off balance, Naya scrambled to her feet before he could recover and grabbed Jennie’s hand. She roughly tugged on her friend. “Move.Now!”

They ran as if the flames of hell licked at their heels. Naya ignored the pain accompanying every breath. She was certainshe hadn’t broken anything, but she’d definitely bruised her shoulder and right side tackling that behemoth.

“Come back here!” he growled menacingly and chased after them. “You won’t make it. Not both of you!”

Naya refused to even consider that possibility. They were so close to making their escape. She couldn’t give up hope now.

“Jennie!” Josef appeared at the tree line. He sucked in ragged breaths, his sweatsoaked shirt clinging to his lean frame. “Jennie! Hurry!”

Relieved by the sight of Josef, Naya shoved her friend forward. “Move, Jennie. Move! We have to—aargh!”

“Got you!”

Naya lurched forward and then snapped back as a massive hand gripped the back of her shirt. She heard fabric tearing as her momentum was cruelly arrested. As if in slow motion, she fell backward, her shoes sliding on the dewy grass and her hands snatching at empty air. “No!”

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