Page 75 of House of Soot

My shoulder blazes with white-hot pain, but I force myself to keep moving, pushing through the thick foliage, making sure to stay between Jenna and the threats behind us.

Jenna slows, probably in response to my yelling out.

“Don’t stop, Jenna. Run!” If I have to carry her, I won't let them get to her.

Branches whip at my face as we crash through the underbrush. The car is just ahead. I can see its outline through the trees.

As we exit the woods, a figure steps from behind the car with a gun. Jenna stops short with a gasp of fear.

I couldn’t stop in time if I wanted to. So I barrel into her, wrapping my arms around her and lifting her.

“No!” She cries out, and I realize she must think I’m kidnapping her.

“That’s Phoenix,” I say as I continue to run as best I can with a hole in my shoulder and carrying Jenna. "It's okay. He's my brother."

Phoenix keeps his weapon trained on the woods behind us, his stance alert and ready. “Hurry.”

"The car. Now." I guide her to the SUV, pushing her into the backseat, ignoring the searing pain that rips through my shoulder as I dive in behind her.

Gunfire erupts behind us as Phoenix opens fire into the woods.

"Stay down," I order, pushing her head below the window line as bullets ping off the car's exterior.

Phoenix jumps in the driver’s seat. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.” He slams the accelerator, tires spinning before finding purchase. The car lurches forward just as our pursuers break through the tree line behind us. I twist in my seat, returning fire through the back window as we speed away into the night.

Phoenix tenses, raising his weapon. "We've got company."

The car approaching from the front of us is coming on fast. Too fast. My heart pounds as I consider our options. There are no side roads to this one.

“Get your belt on, Jenna.” I reach across her for the seat belt, hoping that if we hit head on, those fuckers ahead will die and she and our child will live.

Her fingers shake, but she gets buckled in.

The approaching headlights grow brighter, filling the cabin with harsh white light. I squint against the glare.

A flash of movement catches my eye behind the approaching vehicle. It’s gaining on it. Is that another Kean guard?

The vehicle reaches the one barreling down on us, maneuvering to the other lane. Then it turns in, hitting the car’s back bumper and sending the car spinning off the road, metal screeching against metal.

“Way to go, Ash!” Phoenix whoops.

Relief floods through me as Ash's sleek black car slows and makes a U-turn, then stops until we drive past.

I turn to look out the back window, watching as Ash's car pulls out and maintains a protective position behind us. The adrenaline begins to fade, making the pain in my shoulder more pronounced.

"Who were they?" Ash's voice comes through Phoenix's speaker.

"Kean's men," Phoenix replies. "Looks like they’ve sent a fucking army after Blaise.”

“Takes more than an army to kill Blaise,” Ash replies.

I glance at Jenna. Now that the immediate danger is over, I need to check on her.

She sits rigid in her seat. Her face is pale. The sight of her like this, terrified and hurt, guts me. This is my fault. I did this to her. God, I’m such a fucking asshole.

"Are you hurt?" My voice comes out rough. When she doesn't respond, I try again. "Jenna. I need to know if you're okay."

She lets out a shaky breath. "Okay? How can I possibly be okay? You killed people. Like it was nothing.”