Page 133 of New Nebraska Heat

Her voice blared a siren in my brain. I had to get her. I had to.

I half-rolled off the booth and hit the floor with a thud I felt in my bones. Even my cry of agony came out a squeak, lungs laboring.

I’m coming!I told her. But not fast enough. I dragged myself around the side of the booth on my belly, and by the time I caught sight of her, she was so far away, thrashing in Armand’s grip.

An elevator opened in front of them, and her terrified internal scream ripped through my heart.No! Oh please! Not again! NO!SEB! Where are you?! Are you okay?HUNTER! SOMEBODY HELP!

I didn’t know how much was in my head and how much she was really shrieking over the din.My vision was spinning, but I could still make out Conrad in his rapidly deteriorating magic armor as he appeared in the elevator and yanked her away from Armand.

The great jaguar finally spotted her and crouched, ready to pounce. Conrad was hammering the close-door button but the machinery was sluggish. Hunter’s primal predator sprang, its mouth open, ready to rip and slaughter.

Conrad readjusted his grip on Serenity and kicked Armand inthe small of his back. He stumbled out, and the jaguar’s enormous jaws clamped shut on Armand’s head and shoulders as the elevator doors came together.

The jaguar flung what was left of Armand aside and roared in frustration, slashing open the elevator doors, but the car wasn’t beyond them.

My head sank down on my outstretched arm, tipping sideways so I could see the night sky.

Well, damn. A shooting star arced from among the darkness. Maybe, just maybe, any gods up there might hear my wish again. Just keep her safe. No more scars.

Seb…Her voice filled me up and soothed my pains… Or maybe they were fading because my fingers were going numb, my heart slowing.Please be alive.I heard tears in her desperate whisper.Just tell me you’re alive.

Not for long. She didn’t need to know.

They’re going to find you, beautiful. Don’t you worry. They’ll find you.

What you mean ‘they’? Why not you? Seb?

The question prickled my brain, but I couldn’t make sense of it. Could hardly see. Or breathe.

But I knew one thing I wanted to say.

I love you, Serenity.

I shut my eyes and made the wish she needed.

Her sob hitched through my head.I love you too, Seb.

I smiled. I didn’t regret my choice for a second.

Serenity

Ilove you too, Seb.I glowered up at Conrad, staring defiantly at the tire iron gripped in his hand. I wouldn’t cower to him this time, and I wouldn’t let my terror trickle into Seb’s head.I’ll love you forever. That’s why you can’t go. You have to hold on.

The iron whacked across my knees, and I buckled onto cold, leaf-sodden asphalt, white hot agony fuzzing my vision. Sickening waves of pain roiled into my stomach as he picked me up, bundling me into his car trunk and slamming it shut.

I screamed, hammering the trunk’s ceiling with hands and feet. When that failed, I tried to pick the lock with my hairpin in the pitch black. I had about as much success as anyone would expect.

Seb? Seb, answer me. I’m in a car. It was black, I think. We haven’t taken any turns yet.That was odd, now that I thought about it.Seb?

Cold silence.

Fear curdled in my gut and tears stung my eyes. No. No, he couldn’t be…

But there’d been so much blood.

My sob was more an outraged scream that made the tiny space even more stifling.

Had the other guys found Seb? Had they gotten him help? They had to!