Page 95

Luckily, none of the bullets hit us, but I still hear the cars, tires screeching as they chase us through the streets.

Rowan doesn’t slow down as we approach a red light where vehicles are waiting for their turn. His body stays loose but controlled, his shoulders squared and his hands steady on the handlebars.

As we near the stationary vehicles, he weaves so fast between the lanes, I can feel the rush of wind from passing mirrors. The right handlebar clips one, and the mirror goes flying into the air. The angry driver presses long and hard on his horn, the blare loud.

My breath catches and pins and needles spread over my body as we speed into the intersection.

When my eyes lock on a truck that’s coming from our left, I scream, “Rowan!”

The next instant, he swerves and somehow maneuvers us through a mess of honking vehicles and screeching tires.

As we make it past the intersection, he continues to speed down the road before suddenly putting out his left leg and taking a turn so sharp my butt slides partially off the seat.

Rowan rights the motorcycle with a hard jerk before we shoot forward again, but luck isn’t on our side. We hit a stretch of road packed with vendors dragging carts, and people everywhere.

“Oh no!” I gasp, and not wanting anyone to get hurt, I start shouting repeatedly, “Get out of the way! Move!”

My fingers tighten in Rowan’s shirt, and as things stand right now, there’s a really good chance I might rip it right off his chest.

Rowan swerves without hesitation, guiding the motorcycle through moving gaps that open and close at the drop of a hat.

“Get out of the way, people!” I shout at the top of my lungs while shutting one eye and hunching my shoulders.

My stomach twists with fear every time we pass too close by some poor person, scaring the living daylights out of them.

Rowan, on the other hand, is in beast mode. He just keeps moving, like every decision is already made before I even realize what the hell is happening.

I risk a glance over my shoulder and regret it instantly. Only one sedan and an SUV managed to keep up with us, but they’re barreling through the chaos behind us. One forces a cab onto the curb, causing some people to dive for safety while others wave their fists in the air, shouting obscenities.

My heart thunders so hard, I can hear it in my ears, and there isn’t a drop of spit left in my mouth.

Rowan cranks the throttle even more, and the motorcycle surges forward as we climb a road that goes uphill and curves around buildings.

I have no idea where we are. If he decided to leave me right here, I would never be able to find my way home.

My arms tighten even more around him, and I feel how his muscles flex.

He’s got this. Stay calm. Move with him.

And for the love of all that’s holy, do not fall off!

Suddenly, I hear another gunshot, and it sounds closer this time, making more fear pour through my body. I’m not sure if I’m trembling or just vibrating because of the engine beneath my butt.

Flinching, I press my forehead between Rowan’s shoulder blades and wait for the bullet to hit, but once again it doesn’t.

I don’t have time to let out a breath of relief, because Rowan leans forward, and the next instant, we go airborne. My eyes widen, and a scream is ripped right out of my mouth while the wind whips my hair all over the place as we soar over a long set of steps.

A peep escapes me when we start to go down, and landing hard, the wheels bounce and the motorcycle threatens to topple to the side. Rowan catches it with his leg, and his boot drags along the ground for a few seconds before we tear down an alley.

When we break through into a street, people on the sidewalks turn to stare as we fly past, some jumping back, others frozen in shock.

Rowan takes another turn, which leads to an on-ramp, and shifting gears, we shoot forward with a burst of speed that makes my stomach drop.

When I take a chance and carefully peek over my shoulder, there’s no sign of the sedan or SUV.

Oh, thank you, Jesus!

We keep tearing down the road for half an eternity, or at least that’s what it feels like before Rowan turns off onto a quiet street and slows down. At the last second, he turns again, and narrowly avoiding a gate arm, we head into an underground parking area.