Page 174 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

With each sharp turn, my heart lashes against my ribs, and my palms slick with sweat on the steering wheel.

“Brand new IDs when freedom takes wings. These are a few of my favorite things.”

Finally, I spot him, a mischievous grin on my face.

I slammed on the handbrake, my heart pounding hard enough to break my ribs, my hands shaking. Kai fights with one of the twins, a body lying on the ground next to them. The other twin, I presume.

“Intense love stories and crisp apple strudels. Coffee with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.”

As the fight intensifies, the metallic tang of fear and adrenaline coats my tongue, a bitter flavor that makes my throat tighten. My ultrasexygerous will be sore.

Grunts, groans, and occasional curses ring out as Kai and his opponent fight it. It’s a chaotic and brutal dance, limbs flailing and bodies colliding.

“Wild gangsters flying with the moon on their wings. These are a few of my favorite things.”

Kai moves with fluidity and precision, punches and kicks raining down on his opponents like angry thunderbolts. The other man fights with equal ferocity, his face twisted in determined fury.

And it’s beautiful. Incredible, even.

“Kai’s my boyfriend, my partner in crime. Chasing redemption in each stolen rhyme.”

The stench of sweat and blood fills the air as the two men exert themselves in the fight until I honk.

Kai’s eyes meet mine, and I crush the pedal as if my life depended on it.

It does.

I burst out a wheezing laugh when I realized I was having fun.

“Heart pounding fiercely, like wild, untamed springs. These are the verses our escape song sings.”

And when I’m close enough, Kai steps to the side while my forward motion knocks the twin to the ground. I back up to let Kai shoot a bullet in both the twins’ skulls.

Oh, shit.Only one to go, now.

With a mischievous grin, Kai slips into the passenger seat and meets my gaze with a crazed twinkle in his eyes. We exchange a knowing smile before I speed off, my foot pressing firmly on the gas pedal as if we’re on a racetrack. And I start laughing.

Let’s play whack-a-pursuer.

“There!” Kai shouts and points to a figure running away from us.

While my laughter intensifies, I swerve to the left and hit the guy, then crash into another car and slam on the brakes with calculated precision.

Thankfully, the airbags don’t deploy—just the way I planned it. Backing up, I run over the guy again, relishing the thrill of turning the tables on those chasing us like prey.

Kai looks at me with admiration and concern in his bulging eyes.

“What?” I ask in an innocent tone. “I’m fucking tired of being hunted like an animal.”

“I love you so much,” he says with affection dripping from his tone.

“Thank you, baby,” I reply with a smirk.

For the next twenty-four hours, I only want to be left alone to bask in this glorious moment.

I’ve reached an unattainable limit.

“Now, let’s get out of here,” he commands.

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