Page 49 of Zero Hour

A low rumble.

He glanced up. “What was that?”

Then—an unholy crash.

SMASH.

Amir leapt off her, yanking his pants up. “What the hell?”

Jasmine barely registered the words. She gasped for breath, her whole body shaking violently.

Riad appeared. “What the fuck was that?”

Amir pointed at the window. “An SUV. Someone just plowed through the fucking garden wall!”

Patrick!

It had to be him.

Adrenaline surged through her, pushing her upright. Her legs were weak, her cheek throbbing where he’d hit her.

Amir and Riad headed toward the front door. A moment later, they were running into the garden.

Every instinct in her body screamed,run!

She bolted. Down the hallway, through the kitchen, fumbling at the back door. The bolt slid free. She burst into the night—only to stumble, dizzy and disoriented. The world tilted. She was falling.

Strong arms caught her.

She gasped. “Patrick!”

His grip tightened, his voice a growl in her ear.

“I’ve got you.”

CHAPTER 19

Pat put an arm around her waist and helped her through the back yard. It was overgrown and scattered with debris. They went through a metal gate that he’d kicked open and fled down a dark alleyway.

“Hurry,” he murmured. “We don’t have long until they notice you’re gone.”

They reached the end and stood on the side of a wide road. Pat put his finger on his earpiece. “We’re at the end of the alley.”

Within seconds, the white surveillance van pulled up. Pat wrenched open the back and helped her inside. “Come on, let’s go.”

She clambered in, then froze, looking around. “What is all this?”

“Surveillance equipment.” He leaped in behind her and slammed the back door shut. “Go!”

The van took off up the road.

They whizzed around a few corners and then Blade said, “Where to?”

“My place.”

“Copy that.”

Jasmine seemed frozen in shock. He touched her arm, bringing her back. “Are you okay?”

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