Page 15 of Critical Strike

She had to keep going, just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Khan was so damn heavy in her arms, but she didn’t dare let him down. If he decided to go after some critter, she might not have time to find him again. That was an unacceptable option.

She tucked the squirmy cat up against her and she stepped around a big tree, almost sobbing in relief at the sight of a bridge visible through the woods. If she could get to that, it would take her over the interstate.

She heard sounds behind her. Men talking. They’d figured out she’d come this way. She gulped in a couple of deep breaths, then forced herself to run again.

She’d only gone a few steps before she was stopped mid-stride. Terror engulfed her as an arm wrapped around her waist from behind, lifting her up. A hand pressed hard against her mouth, muffling her scream.

It was just like in her dream earlier, except this nightmare was a reality.

There would be no waking up from this.

Chapter Five

“Kitten, it’s me,” Luke whispered into Claire’s hair, ignoring the sting from that giant cat’s scratch. He hadn’t wanted to scare her, but he was afraid she’d scream if he just stepped out in front of her.

Her squirming subsided and he loosened his hold so she could turn around.

“Luke?”

“Shh.” He put a finger to his lips.

She nodded at his forearm. “Khan scratched you.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I almost let Khan loose on you.” Claire’s voice shook.

It sounded like a joke, but the vicious feline could no doubt do some real damage.

“There are men at the motel,” she continued. “They said they’re the police, but I don’t think they are.”

“I know.” Luke stole a glance around the tree. They were in a good hiding spot for the moment, but they couldn’t stay long. Someone had tailed him from the office, and it had taken him a while to lose them without seeming like he was losing them. He’d parked around the corner and walked over. “Cops don’t have MAC-10 semiautomatic machine pistols. Those are what bad guys use.”

They were close enough that he could feel the shiver come off her.

She had every right to be afraid. Whoever it was breaking into her room had meant business.

“How did you get out of your room?” He took her hand and they walked quickly toward the bridge. He didn’t run; right now, stealth was more important than speed.

“I traded rooms so Khan could use a sliding glass door to get in and out.”

He picked up speed when they heard shouting not far behind them. They must have figured out what had happened.

“There’s something a lot more serious going on than mugging and falling in with the wrong crowd, isn’t there?”

She deflated and buried her nose in Khan’s fur. “Yes. I’m sorry.”

He squeezed her hand. “There’ll be time for explanations later. Right now, we need to get out of here. Stay close to me and keep as low as possible.”

He moved them forward at a rapid pace, keeping her in front so he was between her and the MAC-10s.

They broke from the trees to the roar of traffic. Cars whizzed by, nothing more than blurs of color. Luke glanced over his shoulder but didn’t see anyone.

“When I say run, get to the divide.” Luke studied Claire to make sure she’d heard him.

“O-okay.”

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