Metal crunches.
Rubber screams.
The truck jerks sideways, tires skidding over loose gravel as we slam into the guardrail lining the mountain curve. Xena lets out a blood-curdling scream as her body jolts forward, snapping against the restraints.
My chest slams into the steering wheel; a flash of stars explodes behind my eyes, but I don’t stop.
I can’t.
I try to steady us once again when the black car rams into us from the other side.
“FUCK!” I roar, spitting out the blood that has pooled in my mouth as I yank the truck right, trying to escape the trap, but there’s nowhere to go. The truck fishtails, scraping the barrier, sparks showering the side window. The frame groans.
My girl is sobbing now, hands over her ears. “What the fuck, why is she doing this?”
I didn’t answer.
Because all I want to do is shout, I told you so.
But it’s not her fault for wanting companionship— a friend.
Even if that friend turned out to be a fucking deadly snake.
“Hold on,” I bark, slamming the shifter down and twisting the wheel hard left just as Tokyo pulls in again. Her car smashed into the front bumper this time, causing the truck to spin completely.
We’re skidding.
Flying.
My girl screams my name over and over, but all I hear is the blood rushing to my ears and the thundering of my heartbeat.
And then the world goes sideways… The truck flips. Metal and glass explode.
We roll once.
Twice.
The night sky spins, the earth groans, and then—
Silence.
We land on our side, engine still hissing, smoke spilling from the front. The windshield is cracked into a million pieces. My ears are ringing. I don’t know if I’m dead or alive until I feel her hand wrap around mine. Gripping me with little strength as she whimpers.
“Ro.” Her voice breaks. “I can’t move.”
“Don’t,” I rasp, my head pounding, blood dripping down the side of my temple. “Don’t move. Just– stay with me.”
I can’t see Tokyo’s car anymore, but I can see a pair of boots closing in, stepping away from the black car.
Slow.Confident. Predatory steps.
Then blue eyes stare back at me as he waves. “I’ll be taking her now.”
I fight with my seat belt as he opens the door. Xena mumbles something as he cups her into his arms. My body screams as I use all my strength to push open the door and fall to the cold soil. The man stops before me. Xena lies slumped in his arms, her arm dangling as her blood drips onto the ground… on me.
“Who?” I rasp. “Are–”
The man steps on my back, and I almost scream out, but instead, I bite down, holding back the urge to scream from the pain.
