c to her skin. Alayna stumbled blindly across the flooded street, her hand

open and collapsed i

ing the windshield. She slammed he

he gas pedal. The tires spun on the wet asphalt before the car

screen flashed Jordon's name over and over. The relentless ringing

h one hand, her thumb swiping

her wet fingers and tu

a fraction of a second to gra

t the intersection short circu

noring the signals. Its blinding high beams flooded the interior

ead up. A scream rip

ly to the right. The tires shrieked against

windows became a dizzying blur of rain and streetlights

bomb. The coarse fabric punched her in th

ing wen

d Alayna back to consciousness. Warm liquid dripped down

e smell of burning rubber and gasoline choked her lungs. S

river's side door, pushing with all her remaining strength. The me

torcycle that had been tracking her Porsche from three blocks back tore

n in a black leather jacket swung his leg over the seat

burning Porsche without

aned but held fast. He immediately reached down to h

ed glass spiderwebbed instantly. He pulled his fist back and punched stra

e rain and smoke obscured his face, leaving only t

hand searching for the seatbelt release

rom his boot. In one fluid, brutal motion

ne block, crawling rapidly toward the

hed under his wet jacket. With a terrifying amount of raw streng

chest and broke into a dead

y yards before the

a deafening boom that shook the grou

twisted his body. He took the brunt of the fall, wrapping his broa

he heavy, steady thud of his heart against her ear. H

r again, and carried her under t

acket and wrapped it tightly around

rom his pocket and dialed 911. His voice was a low, gravelly bark

. A faint, jagged scar rested just above his left eyebrow.

but her lips only pa

rough with calluses, gently wiped the blood from her cheek. He

nce sirens finally

snapped. Her head rolled against his ches