It sank deep into the flesh of his right shoulder. His roar ripped through the night as his grip broke.
I tore free.
And ran.
This time I didn’t look back.
Branches whipped my face as I plunged into the trees, the darkness swallowing me whole. My breaths came in harsh, ragged bursts, my legs screaming, but I didn’t slow.
Behind me, I heard him barrel through the brush, coming after me. I risked a glance over my shoulder, straining through the night to see, and smacked into a wall of muscle that appeared out of nowhere.
God, how many are there?
Strong arms caught me, keeping me firmly rooted against their chest as I squirmed, raising the knife and preparing to fight for my life, until I heard my name.
“Hales.”
It was the hiss of my last name that halted my movements more than it was the sound of his voice. Everything inside me stuttered, and I froze, blinking back the haze of ingrained survival instincts until they slowly faded.
Maddox?
The blade fell from my fingers, and I launched myself into his arms. Hearing his voice almost broke me, my knees trembling. His arms wrapped around me. “Where is he?” he demanded.
“I—I don’t know,” I stammered, twisting in Maddox’s hold, my head whipping around to scan the woods.
Maddox’s grip bit into my shoulders as he crowded into my space, his breath hot against my cheek. His eyes were wild, burning with a fury I’d never seen before. “You’re bleeding.” The pad of his thumb brushed over my lip. “Why are you bleeding?”
“I think I bit my lip.”
His eyes darkened as if he didn’t believe me. “Go back and get in my car,” he ordered, one arm shooting out to push me back, positioning himself in front of me.
“I’m not leaving you,” I argued. I couldn’t. The thought of him alone in the forest with someone who might be from my mom’s past sent a fresh wave of terror through me. I couldn’t let Maddox get hurt. Calling him had seemed like the right thing when I thought it was just a burglar, but now…
This was so much more dangerous.
Not just for the guy I stabbed, but for me…for Mom…but mostly for Maddox.
His head snapped toward me, irritation flashing hot in his light-green eyes. “Hales?—”
“I’m not leaving,” I repeated, firmer this time, planting my feet even though my entire body was still shaking from adrenaline, despite every rational part of my brain screaming at me to run, to hide, and take him with me. “I hurt him, I think. I’m sure he’s taken off by now.”
Our eyes locked, green meeting mine with protective intensity. “I need to make sure and can’t be responsible for what you see.”
My breath caught as he reached under his sweatshirt, his hand moving to his waistband, and pulled something out.
Is that a…
Gun?
Not just any gun.
My eyes locked onto it, recognition clicking into place in a way that felt disturbingly natural. It was a Glock 19, but it had been modified with a custom grip, extended magazine, and a silencer. The weapon sat like an extension of him. Clearly, he was familiar with it. A little too comfortable.
“Where did you get that?” I asked, my gaze narrowing.
“Are you really surprised to see me with a gun?” he shot back, glancing over his shoulder at me, eyebrows raised.
I sucked on the corner of my lip, still tasting blood, and shook my head. “No.” I knew he was part of a crew. I just didn’t know the rules of a crew…of his crew. That part of the underground world was new to me.
