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This, this is real fear. I’ve never before thought that I might die at any moment, but now I know what it feels like. Now…

Thecrackof Damian’s gun makes me jolt backwards, against his grasp as my ears ring, my nose burning with the scent of hot metal and blood. I hear a body hit the floor, and Damian drags me forward, shoving me against a wall as he blocks me with his broad, muscled body, looking around a corner. I see him aim, fire, hear thatthudof a body dropping again, and then we’re moving, Damian dragging me forward?—

I see the propped-open door of the warehouse. I see the dark outside, the rain still puddling at the opening, in that sickly glowof light. And then, I feel awhooshof air next to my head, and thepingof a bullet hitting metal as…

Damian swears in Russian, swinging me behind him as he aims, and I see one of the men who brought me here, one of those two men wearing jackets, aiming at both of us. There’s the sound of Damian firing again, and the other man drops. His blood gleams in the light, and I feel that nausea rising up again.

“Run!” Damian snaps, grabbing my elbow as he bolts for the door. He hauls me after him, but I’m running now too, trying to keep pace with his long strides as we rush out into the rainy darkness.

It’s warm rain, but it feels cold against my hot skin, pelting us in sheets as Damian runs through the parking lot with me. My ankle rolls, twisting in my high heel, and I feel myself toppling, about to fall to the gravel as pain shoots up my leg.

Before I can hit the ground, I feel strong arms go around me, and suddenly Damian is carrying me, holding me against his chest with one hand as he runs. He twists around, firing once more, and I have a second to wonder how he knew someone was there before we reach a black Mercedes G-Wagon, and Damian yanks open the passenger’s side, shoving me in.

“Don’t you dare try to get out,” he growls, slamming the door shut in my face, and I see him sprint around the front of the car, leaping into the driver’s side as he shoves the key into the ignition.

The car growls to life. I stare at Damian, shaking all over, my teeth chattering together from fear and shock. “What’s going on?” I gasp. “What’s happening? Why?—”

“Don’t ask questions,” he snaps. His foot presses down onto the gas, and the car lurches forward, gravel spitting.

“But I—I don’t understand—” I can feel my shaking intensifying. I feel like I might pass out, or scream, or—I don’tknow. All I know is that an hour ago, my life was one thing, and now it feels like something else altogether.

“You’re in danger.” Damian jerks the wheel to one side, pulling out onto the road. “Your life is in danger.” He looks over at me. “Do you understand?”

“No, I?—”

“Stop talking. Stop asking questions.” He grips the steering wheel with both hands, and the car speeds up, driving us faster into the darkness of the rain-drenched night.