I don’t slow my pace.
“Abaddon!” the voice shouts again, and someone grabs my upper arm, jerking me to a stop.
Whirling around, I come face to face with my pursuer. “Slicer?”
He looks genuinely relieved as his eyes close, and he sighs. “I’m so glad I caught you.”
“Get away from me,” I snap as I attempt to yank myself free.
His grip tightens. “I’m trying to tell you something.”
“I don’t want to know,” I yell in his face, and reach for the knife in my pocket.
Slicer’s focus moves past me and over my shoulder, and his eyes widen. My body freezes as I turn my head to find the source of Slicer’s fear.
I squint my eyes, trying to make the figure take shape. “Jeremy?”
Jeremy lifts his arm, and there’s no mistaking the item in his hand. I squeeze my eyes shut and flinch as the gun goes off. I wait for the pain, but it never comes.
Slowly, I open my eyes, searching my body for the bullet. When I don’t find it there, I turn my head.
Red liquid leaks out of a small dark hole in the center of Slicer’s chest.
Slicer’s face is pinched. He releases my arm, and his hands clutch at his chest. He stumbles backward and collapses to the ground.
My pulse roars in my ears as I stare down at Slicer’s body. His eyes are open and staring at me, but the life in them is long gone.
An arm wraps around my middle, pulling me backward, and a leather hand covers my mouth. I scream on instinct, but it’s muffled.
“You’re mine, My Daisy,” Jeremy whispers sinisterly.
My survival instinct kicks in. I open my mouth as wide as I can and bite down on Jeremy’s hand as hard as possible. I feel tendons and ligaments shift beneath my teeth.
Jeremy relinquishes his hold, and I don’t hesitate to take off running again. Unfortunately, Jeremy’s reflexes are fast. I only get a few strides away when he catches me again, but this time he doesn’t cover my mouth. Instead, I feel a prick on the side of my neck.
“You’re not getting away from me,” he seethes.
The energy in my entire body quickly drains away. No matter how much I try, I can’t hold onto it. It’s like trying to catch smoke with my hands.
As my world goes black, Jeremy purrs, “My Daisy.”
CHAPTER 46
HUNTER
Christmas carols come on the radio as I drive my Audi down Park Ave, heading back to the penthouse. I can’t wait to get home and ease Savannah’s worries that have been lingering like a dark cloud since Nate showed up unexpectedly.
My ringtone goes off, echoing in the speakers as my phone links to my car. Savannah’s name flashes on the screen, and I accept the call.
“How’s packing up the studio going?” I ask as the call connects.
A shout reverberates from the other end of the call. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
My brows pinch. “Um. Nothing?”
Another voice comes through the speaker. “I’m here to get Hunterback. He’s mine. Always has been.”
My body tenses as I realize who is with Savannah.
