Through the cracks in the windshield, a ditch of white snow is coming at us very fast. I grab the seat in front of me and hold on.
Chapter 56
Rhys
The remaining SUV cuts right, sailing at top speed into the snowy side road.
“Uh oh, I think the driver is dead,” Lachlan says.
“Shite!” I watch the car flip over, creating a spray of snow and flames.
“Land this thing!” I yell, and the ground rushes up until we collide with the snow, jerking to a stop.
I hop out and sprint across the icy terrain, boots slipping, lungs searing, and praying to God in between breaths and tears.
Please let Fallon be alive in that burning wreck.
It’s insane to hope that my girlfriend is in an overturned car, but I do. With everything in me.
I get to the upside-down SUV. Flames lick the undercarriage, and the air breathes heat and smoke from burning rubber and metal.
“Fallon!” I bellow, banging on the crumpled door. “Fallon, love, if you can hear me, crouch down, I’m breaking the window!”
I use my foot, and the glass crumples. Red hair in a wrecked bun covered by pale hands comes into view, and I nearly break down. Fallon looks up, and the flash of her big hazel eyes makes me feel like crumpling.
That and she’s covered in fucking blood.Oh no…
“Rhys!” she screams, struggling against the seatbelt.
“I’m here, baby!” I reach in, praying it’s not her blood.
“Oh, God, I’m stuck!”
“I got it.” I rip my blade from its sheath and slash the belt.
She tumbles into my arms and clutches my shoulders. The world narrows to her heartbeat against mine.
She’s shaking, but she’s not broken. “You came back for me.”
“I’m here, love. I’m sorry I left. I had no choice. I had to make them believe I didn’t want you. Please forgive me.”
“I knew you didn’t mean it,” she cries into my chest. “I knew it.”
Through tear-soaked eyes, I glance into the car and notice the seat next to her is…empty. “Where’s Kosta? Was he in the car with you?”
“He was. I—” She turns to point. “Oh no.”
Kosta is climbing out of the broken windshield, injured, covered in blood, but alive. He glances at me and then darts for the grove of trees.
Behind me, heavy boots crunch through snow. Shane, Connor, and Trace come rushing toward us.
Something in my chest cracks open. The empire. They came for me. They’ve got my back.
“Trace!” I yell. “Hold Fallon. That motherfucker Kosta is trying to get away.”
I round the car and chase after the man who tried to take Fallon away from me. When he’s close, I lunge and tackle him to the ground. “I got you, you miserable fuck.”
I roll him over, and something knocks into my hand. A…shoe. With a golden heel sticking out of his neck. Fallon. She fought back.
