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No more scratching came from within. A satisfied smirk formed on his lips.

Paige grimaced, a tear escaping to her cheek. “You monster! He’s not a threat!”

“I take no chances,” the man said as he eased the car off the exit ramp.

Paige stared at him, the look of disdain on her features pinching her face. Heat rushed into her cheeks and her muscles quivered. She lunged forward from the back seat, then she grabbed the wheel and twisted it.

The man fought against her. “What are you trying to do? Are you crazy?”

The car slowed as he let off the gas, still wiggling while they struggled for control over the wheel. The man dropped the gun in his lap and yanked his arm back, his elbow connecting with Paige’s shoulder.

“Ow!” she shrieked as she fell backward into the back seat.

He grabbed the gun again as she lunged forward a second time, then he pointed it in her face. “I don’t think so.”

Paige pressed herself against the back seat, raw fear in her eyes as she stared down the barrel of the gun.

The man shifted into park, reaching into his pocket for something. “Let’s play nice from now on, shall we?”

“I think not!” Dewey shouted as he sprang from the carrier.

He rose in the air and slammed into the man’s arm. The gun’s aim changed as it fired.

Paige ducked instinctively, a yelp escaping from her lips.

Another shriek from the man echoed in the car, and the gun clattered to the floor.

“Get off me, you little monster!” the man shouted, flailing his arm around.

A thud sounded as Dewey hit the windshield.

Paige whipped her head up, her breathing ragged. Dewey struggled to get to the man’s face, his wings beating hard and his teeth bared as he snapped his jaw, trying to bite into the man’s nose. Blood ran from the man’s wrist where Dewey had already sunk his teeth into his flesh.

Paige launched herself off the seat, wrapped an arm around the man’s neck, and tugged him back against the seat. “Get him, Dewey!”

Dewey buzzed toward him and bit his nose, earning another howl from him.

He pulled back, blood dripping from his teal lips. “Where’s the gun, Paige?”

“On the floor, I think. Move out of the way!” Paige waved him to the side.

Dewey darted over, and Paige rammed the man’s head into the steering wheel. He groaned as his head bounced off the horn. One short burst sounded in the night, then another and another when Paige banged his head into the wheel until he went limp.

Puffing for breath, she stared at him wide-eyed. “Did I… Is he…”

Dewey lifted his bloodied wrist and pressed a digit onto it. “No, he’s just knocked out.”

Paige released him and stared in stunned silence. She licked her lips and fixed her askew glasses. “What now?”

“Push him out of the car.”

“What?”

“Push him out and take the car. We need to get to that airstrip now more than ever.”

Paige’s head bobbed up and down in a panicked response as she puffed out a breath. “Get the handle.”

Dewey landed on the man’s lap and crawled across, then he pulled the handle and swung the door open.