Page 20 of Make Her Bleed
Luckily, the car has a built-in GPS my dad already set for some unknown destination; I don't have to guess where I'm going.
Oddly though, Kai doesn't seem to be following me.
He must be confident I won't get far if he's not chasing me down.
I keep speeding, feeling blessed, and once I exit Royal City, I feel my body relax.
I did it.
I escaped Malakai Harris. I pray my dad is okay and that Kai hasn't hurt him. I'm tempted to call and check on him but I know better. If Kai has as far of a reach as my dad says he does, he might be able to trace the call.
I can't risk it or all of this will have been for nothing.
I exit the highway when I see a sign for my dad's bank, remembering how he said I need to withdraw all the money for my travels and survival.
The sudden realization hits me. Even when I get to wherever I'm going, how am I going to survive? I can get a job then pay my way through a GED program and college but Malakai Harris knows my name and my date of birth. He probably even has access to personal information like my social security number. He can still track me even if I manage to find a job.
But, there is an alternative. What if I report him? Whenever I get where I'm going, I can file a report with the police station and tell them how he raped me. I’ll explain all about C-4. They'll send the report to Royal City P.D. and then …
My thoughts trail off because I know what will happen in reality.
He would get away with it. Kai is too powerful, and he'll still find me.
This is just delaying the inevitable. My dad is willing to put his life on the line for me to have this head start, and I won't let that be in vain.
I sure as hell hope Malakai Harris finds me because, when he does, I'll be ready for him. I'll fucking destroy him the way he tried to destroy me.
I turn into the bank parking lot when suddenly something fast, hard, and strong slams into the car, flipping it in mid-air.
For a fraction of a second, I pray when I die, I finally get to meet my mom. I get to run into her arms and tell her, even though she abandoned me and I don't know her, I still love her. I imagine her looking like me: red hair, freckles across her cheeks, bright blue eyes, and full lips.
God knows I look nothing like my dad.
When the car impacts with the ground, everything goes dark, and I'm certain I've died.
I sure hope I have. If not, Kai will surely kill me for running.
CHAPTERNINE
KAI
My phone rings as I race down the highway in the direction I know Aria went.
I'm so fucking pissed. I'm ready to put a bullet between Tom's eyes.
I saw his head injury. I could believe he surprised Aria but I have the sneaking suspicion he has something to do with her running. The timing is too perfect to be coincidental. If it wasn't for the fact that I have no evidence to support my theory, he'd be dead for defying me.
"Yeah?" I answer the phone, speeding down the highway.
"I found her, Kai. She's really bad off. Looks like some jackass ran her off the road," Nico answers quickly, sounding incredibly alarmed.
"How bad is she?" I press aggressively.
"She banged her head pretty bad, and she might have a broken rib. Take Exit sixty-four and you'll find us."
I hang up quickly and gun it to the proper exit, adrenaline rushing through my veins.
Why the hell am I freaking out? So what if she's injured? It doesn't change a goddamn thing.
