I screamed, the sound muffled by the thick fabric. My hands flew up, clawing at whatever was covering my face, but someone grabbed my wrists and yanked them down.
"Stop fucking fighting."
The voice was male, harsh, and unfamiliar. Panic and sheer disbelief warred in my chest.Seriously? Again?What was I, some kind of cosmic magnet for psychopaths? Another set of hands grabbed my waist, hoisting me off the log. My feet kicked out wildly, connecting with something solid that made one of my attackers grunt in pain.
Good. Hope that hurt, asshole.
"Grab her legs, goddammit."
My earphones ripped out, the wires tangling and snapping as I thrashed like a cornered animal. I couldn't see anything, couldn't breathe right through the bag, but I sure as hell wasn't going down easy. I twisted hard, breaking one hand free, and raked my nails down what felt like someone's arm. The satisfying hiss of pain that followed almost made me smile.
Not such an easy target, am I?
Strong arms wrapped around my middle, lifting me completely off the ground despite my struggles.
"IVY!"
Eric's voice cut through the chaos, and a touch of relief hit me. His footsteps pounded against the ground, getting closer.
"Fuck off, man. This doesn't concern you."
"Like hell it doesn't. Let. Her. Go."
The command in Eric's voice sent a chill down my spine even through my terror. This wasn't the man who'd brought me bagels and coffee. This was someone else entirely.
The Eric that was here to forge an alliance with the Donatis, the one who belonged in their world.
"Walk away before you get hurt."
"Last warning."
Two gunshots cracked through the evening air.
I flinched hard, my scream trapped in my throat. The hands holding me went slack, and I stumbled as the bodies on either side of me hit the ground with sickening thuds. Heavy. Final.
Running footsteps. More than one person.
"Ivy." Eric's hands were on me, gentle despite everything. "You're okay. I've got you."
He pulled the bag off my head, and I gasped in the cool evening air. My vision swam, colors and shapes blurring together before focusing on Eric's face. His dark eyes locked onto mine, searching my face with an intensity that made my chest tight.
"Focus on me. You're fine. You're safe." His voice was steady, grounding. "Just breathe, okay? In and out."
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My gaze dropped to the two bodies sprawled on either side of me. Both men, both wearing dark clothes. Both shot in the head, blood pooling on the grass beneath them.
Both trying to kidnap me.
"What—" My voice came out shaky. "What are you doing here?"
"Following you." He kept his hands on my shoulders, steadying me, his thumbs rubbing small circles against my jacket. "I had a bad feeling. Call me a stalker, call me whatever you want, but at least you're safe."
He guided me away from the bodies, his arm around my waist as my legs threatened to give out. Each step felt disconnected, like I was watching someone else walk through this nightmare. The surreal quality of it all hit me harder than the fear. How was this my life now?
"Easy," he murmured when I stumbled. "I've got you. You're not going to fall."
It took me a second to register that there was another man, a gun held loosely at his side.
He looked toward us as we approached, his expression unreadable in the dim light.
