Page 150 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

Kai grips the steering wheel tightly as he speeds up, trying to lose a black SUV tailing us.

“Life is a dangerous sport,” I sing to myself.

“Marianne, I’m sorry. I didn’t know they had found us. Did they hurt you?” Kai asks, his voice laced with concern.

“They burned my thigh,” I reply, pulling up my nightgown to reveal the injury, tears streaming down my cheek.

Kai’s expression shifts from soft and loving to one of pure rage.

“It’s your fault. You’re supposed to keep me safe,” I mutter through clenched teeth.

I’m alive, but not safe, and a strange sense of calm glows inside my stomach. I know what I must do. It’s time for the sweet, innocent Marianne to transform into a fierce, determined one.

Let’s find my inner badass.

We must kill them. My whole body shakes with rage as I struggle to maintain control of my newfound need for survival. The lyrics of “Brother John” sound sickly sweet in my mind.

“I woke up to find my father’s men patrolling the house,” Kai explains. “I tried to surprise them and thought you would be safe.”

But safety is an illusion when you’re involved with someone like him.

“I couldn’t do anything when I saw you being attacked,” he adds, his voice filled with regret.

A gunshot shatters the rear windshield, but Kai is swift in his reaction, swerving to avoid the bullets.

“Give me your gun,” I demand.

“No way,” he replies, narrowing his eyes. “You might shoot me for getting us into this mess.”

“It’s a risk you shall take.”

I take the gun once he hands it over.

Where are the police when you need them?

“Just focus on the road,” I say, trying to keep us calm.

Kai complies with my instructions, but he’s not fully on board. I inspect the contents, deactivate the security measures, and examine his weapon with satisfaction. A sinister grin creeps across my face, and before I can ask, he opens the sunroof.

I’m surprised and amused by my actions. “Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping…” I climb through the opening of the roof. “Brother John, brother John?”

Remember the little metal ducks, Marianne.

I take a deep breath, steadying my arm with my other hand. I exhale slowly. “Murder bells are ringing; murder bells are ringing…”

Bang! I miss my target. Another deep breath.

“Ding… Ding…” This time, I chuckle as the pursuing SUV swerves out of control with a shattered tire. “Slow down, Kai.”

He wisely obeys.

“Dong!”

Bang! My laughter grows louder as the SUV swerves to the side. I am proud of my actions. I’m the one dealing with this mess, the one saving our asses.

I put the gun on the dashboard and retrieved an emergency kit from under my seat.

The look of surprise on Kai’s face is priceless when I open it. “Cutie pie?”

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