Page 2 of Pursued

“You know what I am, right?”

I jerked my chin in assent.

“Then you know I can outrun you without breaking a sweat.”

“Youcan’tsweat,” I muttered.

“Exactly.”

The vampire caught my wrist in a tight grip and with his other hand, opened the limo door to usher me inside. Polite and slick as hell.

A frazzled mom, juggling two toddlers and a bag of groceries, sent me an envious look.

It’s not what you think, I wanted to scream as she took in the sexy blond vampire in the ten-thousand-dollar suit ushering me into the limo like I was his pampered thrall, not his prisoner.

Fuck that.

With a sudden, vicious movement, I released the switchblade and jabbed the silver point into the vampire’s rib cage. He swore and loosened his grip enough for me to wrench free. I sprinted across the access road right into the path of a huge double-cab truck. Just in time, I threw myself out of the way and continued my dash across the parking lot, dodging shopping carts and gawking onlookers.

My car was unlocked—always. I’d learned the hard way that even seconds could make a difference.

Yanking the door open, I scrambled inside. I hit the lock and started the car at the same time.

The ancient engine jerked, hesitated.

I turned the key again. “Come on,” I begged. “You can do it.”

I glanced wildly around, lungs working in short, panicked bursts. Even though I couldn’t see the blond vampire, I knew he was out there. A Syndicate enforcer would never let me go this easy.

The engine stuttered.

I drew a sobbing breath. “Please, please, please…”

The engine ground to life just as fingers clamped on the rim of the door. The vampire’s face appeared on the other side of the window like something out of a horror movie. Dark eyes with a glowing blue rim. Long white fangs fully extended.

A sharp jerk, and the rusted door gave with an earsplitting screech.

I slammed the car into gear, but it was too late. He plucked me out by the nape of my neck like I was a runaway kitten, reaching over me to shove the gearshift back into park. I only just managed to grab the switchblade off the seat.

He set me on the pavement in front of him. I planted my feet and we faced off.

Blue-rimmed eyes captured mine. “Come with me, Camila.” His voice held the force of compulsion.

I strained backward, resisting with everything I had, but I couldn’t drag my gaze from his.

“Now,” he commanded. “Drop the knife and take my hand.”

“No,” I rasped, but he was too powerful for me. The switchblade clattered to the pavement as I took his outstretched hand like a fucking zombie.

Forgetting my car. Forgetting the switchblade at my feet. Forgetting everything but the compulsion to obey.

He speared his other hand in my hair, dragging my head back. He shoved his face into mine. “No more fighting. You will come with us.”

Somewhere deep inside, I screamedno, but my head bobbed up and down. “Yes.”

The limo pulled up next to us. Inside were two other men: a human at the wheel with a boxer’s bent nose and beefy arms, and another vampire, this one with dark hair and sleepy eyes, sprawled on the leather seat, long legs stretched out before him.

“Get in.” My captor shoved me into the back seat.

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