Page 152 of Corrupted Pleasure

Garrett turned behind him, as if he had to process my words without looking at me.

This was my opportunity. My open window to bolt.

I sprung away from him, running into the woods, but keeping in the general area of the road. It would have been easier to run on the road but then he could follow me in the car and I had no intention of getting caught.

“Fucking bitch,” I heard him cuss behind me, but I kept going.

My feet crunched over the pine needles and branches, giving my location away. I didn’t care, I kept running. I might not be in good shape like Wynter, but I was in better shape than Garrett. I stumbled a few times, but I always dragged myself up and shuffled away. The bottom of my palms burned from catching myself each time I fell.

I heard the start of an engine. As expected, he’d try to catch me by following me in the car. Lazy fuck! I wished he’d follow me on foot, so I could hit him upside the head with the biggest log I could find. Assuming I could pick it up.

It only took another ten minutes before I was heaving. I was totally out of breath. I bent over, my hands resting on my knees as I breathed, feeling the oxygen burn in my lungs. Or maybe it was the lack of oxygen that burned my lungs.

What-the-fuck-ever.

I just knew I couldn’t breathe. I’d ask Liam to wake me up in the morning so we could train together.

After I get plenty of rest from this past weekend’s activity.

It was hard work undertaking a heist.

I could see Garrett’s car through the branches. Then my confirmation came.

“Get in the fucking car, Davina,” he yelled, dark warning in his voice.

Yeah, I’d get right on that. He’d have to catch me first. I attempted to run again, though it wasn’t as fast this time. God, I wondered where we were. There were so many trees around. But we couldn’t be far from the city. We didn’t spend that much time in the car. Trying to watch where I stepped, I rushed through the woods and realized my mistake too late.

The tree lines disappeared and I was out on the road. A squeal of tires. Slamming brakes. Garrett!

I whirled around, but as soon as my feet hit the soft dirt ground, my shoes slipping on the pine needles, I realized how stupid I was not to pay attention. The car door opened, but I didn’t bother checking behind me. It would slow me down, and I was already too slow.

Before I even got to the first tree, Garrett tackled me so hard, it stole my breath away. My lungs burned and I couldn’t take a single breath. If I thought that was bad, what followed was ten thousand times worse.

Bullets sprayed above our head and filled the silence of the woods. Birds chirped angrily. My ears buzzed. I thought I heard gurgling sounds. I squeezed my eyes shut as a wave of terror hit me. Garrett’s body still covered me, though I was surprised he’d bothered.

More bullets tore through the air.Dear God.

This was something that happened in the movies. Not in fucking New York City or Long Island. Or wherever the fuck we were.

My heart hammered in my chest, threatening to break my ribs. Adrenaline surged through my body and despite my reason telling me not to look behind me, I did. If Garrett was trying to protect me, I should at least ensure he was alright.

My eyes darted behind me and horror slammed into me. Garrett’s blank, empty eyes stared unseeing. Blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. A terrified cry left my lips, and I cringed, but I was too scared to scoot away.

Can a bullet go through him and into me?

I felt like such a selfish bitch. I struggled to shift and make my way out of here. Otherwise, I was a sitting duck. Whoever was shooting, they’d get me. Gunshots already sounded too close.

“Stay down, Davina!” A familiar voice traveled through the air.Liam!

Without hesitation, I put my head back down, my face kissing the earth. As long as I could smell the dirt and feel it against my cheek, I was alive. So I’d take it. The gunshots continued and every single shot made my body jerk and my heart jump with fear.

For my husband.

The terror of his loss tasted like a mixture of gunpowder and heart wrenching sorrow. The kind that would tear me apart.

Tires burned. Doors slammed. Silence dropped like Garrett’s dead weight crushing my body. Slowly, I turned my head, glancing to my right, sending a silent prayer to the heavens. I needed more time with him. A lot more time.

A familiar figure ran towards me and a sob erupted out of me. My throat constricted the inflow of air into my lungs and each desperate inhale sent a dizzying relief washing through me.