Page 67 of Pursued-

I’m in a trunk,and, despite the musty darkness, I’m happy about it. Leone called me a whore and slapped me in the face for calling him an asshole, but I’m all right. I’m safer here than in the car with him. I yelled at him, so I’d seem scared. I had to resist a little or he might have gotten suspicious.

My hands shake from the adrenaline, but mostly I’m okay. I have the locket on. I’ve touched it several times, trying to calm myself. I don’t know if Sasha’s discovered I’m gone yet, but he will. And then he’ll come.

I don’t need to do anything yet. I just need to wait.If I have a chance to get Leone’s gun though I’ll take it.

The trunk opens.We’re in a parking lot near warehouses. I smell salt water. Near the docks?

Leone drags me from the trunk, using both hands.

Now, I think.Right now.

I grab his gun.

I’m falling. My back slams against the concrete and the shot goes low and wide, tearing through his slacks.

He yells, falling too, and rolls away.

I hear a sound, like popcorn popping.Gunshots!

I roll under the car, looking around. There are men advancing on the car, but they fall down, one by one.

I recognize Sasha’s shoes.

I roll from under the car.

He hauls me up and looks me over, turning me around and then back.

“I’m okay. Not shot. I’m okay,” I repeat, the gun still gripped tightly in my shaking hands. I am trying to keep it pointed straight down so I don’t accidentally shoot him.

“Blood. She hit him,” Trick calls, running across the asphalt toward a warehouse.

“Come this way,” Sasha says, pulling me with him as he follows Trick.

We enter. Inside things are cool and dark. I try to control my panting breaths.

Sasha puts me behind a piece of construction equipment, a giant metal shovel thing that’ll be good cover. “Stay down. But if you get a shot, take it,” he whispers. He kisses my forehead, then he moves away silently.

There’s a whistle. I suspect it’s from Trick.

Something heavy skids across the ground.

What are they doing? Trying to draw fire, so they’ll know where he is? I took Leone’s gun. I don’t think he has another weapon on him. Unless he picked one of the mercenaries’ weapons up, I realize. And do I even know that Leone’s the only bad guy in here? No, I don’t.

There are other small noises. Soft snapping sounds.

The door near me is shoved open, and I see Leone’s silhouette mid-sprint. Before I even raise my gun, he flies forward as I hear two shots.

Then someone whistles, and it sounds like a deflating balloon.

“Funny,” Sasha says. In seconds he’s standing over me again. “He’s down, Raven. Lower that.”

I drop the gun’s muzzle and stand.

Trick pushes the door all the way open and stands in the doorway, letting light pour in.

“You don’t have to look. If you want to close your eyes, I’ll carry you out.”

I shake my head, but hold out the gun to him.