Page 71 of Dangerous Devotion

“What the fuck was that,” Birdie said, her tone of voice as calm as if she had seen some unknown wildlife on the side of the road.

Hawk tried to start the engine again—but it didn’t even stutter. “EMP,” Hawk muttered, his voice tight with tension. “Stay calm, everyone.”

I stared through the window.

Masked figures in all-black tactical gear materialized from the misty shadows of the surrounding trees. They moved with military precision, surrounding our vehicles in seconds.

Birdie turned to us, her face a mask of controlled urgency. “These are bulletproof vehicles. We’re safe in here.”

I nodded while my heart beat fast enough that it felt like it would bruise my rib cage from the inside. I unlocked my seatbelt, then grabbed Mira and Isa’s hands.

We huddled close, muscles tense.

A movement ahead caught my eye. To my horror, I watched as they filled Dante’s and Dom’s SUV up front with some kind of gas.

The doors sprang open and Max and Milli made a run for it—only to be immediately detained.

My stomach dropped as I glanced behind us. The same scene was unfolding at the rear vehicle where my father was. More gas, more masked men—Rey and Phantom made it out of the back vehicle and full-on ran toward our vehicle until they were both hit and dropped to the ground.

My heart pounded as I watched my father take down two attackers with swift, brutal efficiency. But even he wasn’t invincible. A third assailant caught him off guard, and Dad crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

I cried out.

We were trapped in the middle, helpless as everyone around us was being neutralized one by one. We needed to get out. Right now. “Hawk?”

Birdie got up and crawled into the backseat and squeezed in between Mira and me. “Get ready to exit on our signal. Stay low; don’t stay together. The trees are your friends. If someone shoots at you, don’t run in a straight line. Zigzag as if you’re a freaking bunny on steroids.”

The sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air as someone wrenched our SUV door open with force. I flinched, expecting the hiss of gas, but none came. These attackers seemed to have different plans for us.

I tensed, ready to spring into action.

“Make a run for it!” Hawk’s voice cut through the chaos, urgent and commanding.

We didn’t hesitate. Mira was the first out, but her freedom was short-lived. A taser crackled, and she fell to the ground, twitching.

Birdie erupted from the car like a force of nature. In seconds, she had two attackers on the ground, creating a narrow path for Isa and me.

This was our opportunity.

Isa used my shoulder as a lever, catapulted into the air, and kicked one of the men, her foot connecting solidly with the attacker’s chest as if she were some kind of superhero.

When she landed, I grabbed her hand, sprinted past the man as fast as I could, and dragged her along with me.

I focused on the space between two trees ahead. If we could make it there, we might have a chance.

I sucked in air as we ran in a zigzag, just as Birdie had instructed. I didn’t hear anything besides the blood rushing in my ears.

We needed to make it.

I clasped my hand tightly around Isa’s as I pushed myself to my limits. And Isa did the same.

The trees were so close now—just a few more steps…

I stumbled as we reached the tree line, my lungs burning with each ragged breath. Isa yanked me forward, her grip on my hand vice-like.

We dodged between trees as did the men following us. And suddenly, all I could focus on was the sound of footsteps close behind us.

“Keep moving!” Isa hissed, her eyes wild with determination.

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