Page 48 of Finn
Gabriel stopped too, his head tilting slightly as he stilled.
Then he whispered, “Someone’s close.”
My heart pounded. “Do you think they followed you?”
“Maybe,” he muttered. “I took the long way, hit a few places before I came here, but Gael’s relentless when he’s set on something.”
We exchanged a look, and that was all it took. Gabriel’s face shifted into something determined and sharp.
He gestured for me to stay close, every movement fluid and cautious as he slipped out into the alley behind the building.
The city felt like it was holding its breath. The alley’s shadows seemed deeper, darker.
I could sense him, the familiar oppressive energy that could only belong to Gael.
He was out there, somewhere nearby, prowling like a wolf on the scent. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
We crept along, and as we rounded the corner, Gabriel tensed.
I followed his line of sight to the street corner about twenty yards ahead where someone, a vampire stood, his back partially turned, scanning the area.
The streetlamp above him cast an eerie glow over his figure, highlighting his relaxed stance. This was probably Gael.
Gabriel’s jaw clenched, “We need to make a break for it, but not until he moves,” Gabriel said.
“How long do you think we have?” I asked, trying to keep the shake out of my voice.
“Depends on how fast we can stay out of his line of sight,” Gabriel muttered. “Stay close. The truck’s three blocks down.”
We moved slowly, ducking behind dumpsters and crates whenever Gael shifted.
At one point, he turned around so quickly I barely had time to press myself against the wall, holding my breath as he scanned the alley just feet from us.
His cold, calculating gaze swept over our hiding spot, and I could feel Gabriel tense beside me, ready to pounce if he had to.
A few agonizing moments passed before Gael finally turned away and continued down the street.
Gabriel shot me a look, his fingers tapping a silent countdown on his thigh.Three…two…one.We bolted.
Silent as shadows, we sprinted across the street and ducked into another alley, putting a solid row of buildings between us and Gael.
My heart pounded in my ears, and my lungs burned, but I didn’t dare stop.
We kept moving, Gabriel leading us through the maze of backstreets like he knew them by heart.
I stole glances over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Gael’s silhouette closing in on us, but the street remained eerily empty.
Finally, we reached the street where Gabriel had parked the truck.
The beat-up vehicle sat waiting at the curb, its paint chipped and rusting, a perfect nondescript getaway car. Gabriel tossed me the keys.
"Get in. Drive,” Gabriel said.
I slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel as he hopped into the passenger side.
The engine roared to life, loud in the quiet of the night.
I risked a glance at Gabriel as we peeled out of the alley and onto the main road, heading toward the freeway.
