Page 163 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

They glide like poisonous fog behind their hounds-men. I imagine the metaphorical leash tethering them together.Please, don’t spot us.

My breathing quickens.

“Do wehave disguises?”

Kai’s eyes snap open, alert. He reaches beneath his seat, pulling out his old duffel bag. The zipper rasps as he opens it, revealing an assortment of clothes and accessories. He tosses a cap and sunglasses to me.

“Put these on. Quick.”

His urgency propels me into motion. My hands tremble as I slip on the cap, tucking my hair underneath, and slide the sunglasses over my nose. Kai pulls a false skin—like gloves—over his arms, the garment instantly cloaking his tattoos.

The twins draw closer, their predatory strides unwavering. My pulse pounds against my temples; I can feel every beat echoing through.

Kai takes a small piece of plastic out of his bag and begins blowing air into it. Once it’s inflated, he puts it under his T-shirt and adds an extra T-shirt on top.

Three moves, and he looks like a typical American.

My anxiety grows as he puts on gloves, his movements quick and efficient. Kai reaches into his backpack and pulls out an antiseptic towel, meticulously wiping down the dashboard, steering wheel, and handles.

A laugh escapes my lips in a moment of hysteria. This can’t be happening. But just as quickly, I remember our dangerous situation and steel myself for what comes next.

He sprays on some cheap cologne and removes the gloves. We wait.

My fingers tingle, and my chest tightens, feeling useless in this fight for survival.

No traces. The last vestiges of our identities were wiped away.

The twins are almost upon us.

With everything cleaned and disinfected, Kai turns to face me. His eyes, sharp and focused, cut through the fog of fear clouding my mind.

“They won’t recognize us,” he assures me, though his voice holds a tension I wasn’t used to hearing from him.

I swallow hard and try to nod, but my body feels too rigid. The twins are now only a few cars away. My heart plays a chaotic drumbeat in my chest, a rhythm matching the rising panic in my veins.

“Kai,” I whisper, more afraid than ever.

He leans closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Marianne, breathe. Look straight ahead and act normal. We’re just another couple stuck in traffic.”

The twins move methodically, their eyes scanning each car with practiced ease. I put on some meditation music.

They pause at the sedan directly behind us, their faces almost touching the glass as they peer inside. My breath catches. I force myself to look straight ahead, focusing on the expanse of cars before us, willing my heart to slow its frantic pace.

Kai’s demeanor shifts, his body relaxing, but his eyes remain sharp. His hand slips into mine, the strength of his grip grounding me. We can get through this. The twins move past our car without a second glance, their interest already waning.

But when they come back, one of them lets his fingers glide on the passenger side.

And they continue their exploration until they vanish out of view.

A nervous exhale breaks out of my lips, and Kai’s shoulder slumps.

“They put a tracker on the car…” he mouths.

“We have to ditch it, then.”

He shoots me a glare. I point my ear and mouth to ask Kai if they can hear us. He nods.

Shit.

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