We did it.
My heart kicks hard against my ribs, each beat a spark catching fire until it spreads like heat through my chest.
I breathe it in with the soft churn of tires shifting against asphalt, the low growl of the engine coming to life. My eyes fall shut of their own accord as my body begins to shake lightly at the weight of freedom as it presses in. Callum’s hand softly strokes my skin, and this time I don’t bite back.
I let out a heavy breath and bite my lip to try to hold back the tears.
This nightmare is ending.
Then a voice rips through the night. “Stop them!”
Terrance’s voice is like a chain yanking tight around my neck.
My eyes snap open fully, heart slamming into my throat, as the fragile hope splinters.
CHAPTER 18
ELIAS
Terrance’s roar still rings in my ears when Dante slams his foot on the gas pedal, the tires screaming against wet asphalt. The engine growls, a guttural sound that vibrates through the vehicle as the building's lights blur behind us.
Gunfire cracks a heartbeat later, sharp and merciless. Bullets slam into the rear panels, one ricocheting off the frame. Briar jerks upright, tearing free of Callum’s lap and wedging herself between us. I watch as she braces herself, eyes squeezed shut, every muscle straining like she’s waiting for the next round to punch through the glass and rip into us.
“Use the damn ring!” I bark, my voice cutting through the chaos.
Her eyes snap open, blazing with fury as she spits back, “What the fuck do you think I’m doing right now?”
The next spray of bullets slams into the rear window, causing it to fracture and stealing my focus from her.
“Window!” I snap at Callum while pulling my gun from its holster at my hip. “Return fire.”
He nods and rolls down his window, leaning out as I do the same. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Briar’s head lifting to look out the back window.
“Stay down,” I snap, my hand pressing her shoulder instinctively.
From the driver’s seat, Dante’s voice cuts over the roar of the engine, sharp but laced with a nervous edge. “Briar, now would be a really good time to use that ring before they have time to send patrols in cars after us!”
Headlights flare to life behind us, cutting through the dark of night as shots continue to hammer into the SUV’s armored exterior.
My gut drops even before Callum calls out, “Too late!”
Briar curses under her breath before shouting, “I’m trying! I’ve only ever done this once, and I don’t even know if it’s possible to do while moving!”
My stomach twists into knots at her admission. One SUV on us is bad enough, but if this goes on long enough, there’s no telling how many guards will be on our ass. We’re fucked unless she pulls off a miracle.
Briar lets out a feral growl, her fists balling against her thighs. “It won’t open!” she yells, voice ragged with frustration. “I don’t have enough space! We need to be on land and standing I think!”
My jaw clenches so hard my molars flare with pain.
“Brace!” Dante’s shout explodes from the front seat.
I whip around to face our front, my pulse slamming into my throat. Headlights blind me, an SUV barreling straight for us, guards leaning out of its windows with rifles trained our way.
“Down!” I roar as I grab Briar, forcing her low as my body covers hers.
Dante jerks the wheel, the tires shrieking as we swerve. My body slams into the door as the enemy vehicle whips past.Gunfire erupts in a deafening volley. Bullets hammer the side panels with metallic thuds, but the reinforced frame holds, not a single round punching through.
Callum pushes upright before I can stop him, teeth bared as he leans out the windowframe with his pistol raised. He fires into the dark, each shot cracking loud enough to split the night, until the volley of returned fire answers.
