Page 171 of Fall into Savagery

I could see that.

She moved off to the side, leaving only a minuscule amount of space for me to pass through.

She jabbed me in the shoulder, and I let out a small grunt. “Walk.”

I walked.

We passed the opening that led out to the front of the shop, and I could see the guard that had escorted me to the bathroom standing there, his back turned to me. His eyes took in his surroundings for anything suspicious.

My eyes landed on my boys, who were talking and laughing about something with Linda.

Who could Alina be working with that could have trained a gun on them right now?

Or hell, that she was able to get a bomb nearby.

I was almost sure that wasn’t the case, but I didn’t want to risk it on the off chance I was wrong.

But I wasn’t going to let her take me anywhere.

I knew that much.

All the crime documentaries always warned about being taken to a different location. My chance of escape would be slim then.

I swallowed down the nausea when we finally reached the back door. I pushed it open with shaky hands, my eyes squinting from the bright sunshine.

A waiting white van was parked by the mouth of the alley.

There was someone in the driver’s seat.

So perhaps she was working with someone, but any more than that didn’t seem likely, did it?

I took three steps before I pretended to stumble.

Alina yelled something I didn’t hear, and I twisted around and grabbed her gun.

I slapped it away from her just as she pulled the trigger, the boom ringing loudly in my ears.

My heart pounded fiercely in my chest as I tried to take stock of my body.

She missed.

I looked at her with wide eyes before turning and running in the opposite direction of the car.

She gave chase, but the drugs slowed her down. Another person was chasing me.

I could hear heavy footsteps coming in close behind.

I pushed myself harder but stopped when I came to a dead end.

Fuck.

I let out a loud scream when I was tackled, which was cut off pretty quickly once I hit the dirty, wet ground.

A man rested his body weight on me before he flipped me around, and I came face-to-face with familiar, rage-filled brown eyes.

I gasped, surprise leaving me immobile for a second too long.

He sneered at me before pulling his hand back.

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