Page 56 of Secrets Along the Shore

SURVIVAL MODE

TAYLOR S. NEWPORT

CHAPTER

ONE

June 2

8:45 p.m., Dubrovnik, Croatia

Adrenaline coursedthrough Elara Atkinson’s veins as she tugged her ten-year-old son through the dark neighborhood. The scrape of their shoes against the cobblestone road made her wince. Too loud. It might give away their location. Her heart pounded in her ears as she stole a glance over her shoulder.

Where were they?

The five black shadows that had followed them through the Old Town, and past the Ploce Gate that led into the residential outskirts vanished. “Please, let that be a good sign.” Elara tightened her grip on her son’s small hand. “Hurry, Rian.” She paused at the edge of the long line of homes to check the alleyway they’d have to cross. Not a person in sight.

Dread washed over her. They’d had a head start on Rian’s father’s men, escaping without anyone seeing them. Since they left just after dark, she hoped that the night would help them disappear. She was wrong. Rian’s dad must have sent someone to check on them earlier than the typical two hours. That had to be the reason why Elara had barely gotten her son a few blocks away before she heard the commotionat the mansion.Hesent his hitmen after them. The same men who trained night and day to hunt their prey and kill it.

And tonight, Elara and her son were their prey.

The knot in her stomach tightened. Her hands sweat despite the gentle breeze in the summer air. Without the sight of their hunters, she had no way to know if they’d really lost them or if they’d discovered a way to ambush her and her son. Any moment, she could turn a corner and run into one of the hitmen.

Oh, what had she been thinking?

Escaping Viktor? It was a stupid idea, with a low chance of success. For years, he’d treated her like his property. He decided where she went and who she spoke to. He’d controlled every part of her life. And for a while she’d accepted it. Until Rian came along.

Elara refused to let Viktor turn their son into a ruthless mobster. It was her greatest fear—that Viktor would makeherson just like him. She squeezed Rian’s hand. Her strong, sweet boy. A smile tilted her lips at the firm squeeze he returned. What would she do without him?

The answer to that made her spend hours praying that God would lead her to do the right thing—to protect her son. The urge to leave the Croatian mob leader pushed her to gather her and Rian’s things in a backpack, then escape Viktor’s mansion and into the city. This had to be God’s will. That urge must have come from Him. And if that was true, He’d get her and her son to safety.

“Momma, I heard something!”

Elara clamped a hand over Rian’s mouth to silence his loud whisper. His body tensed as he froze in place. She used her other arm to tug him closer, his sneakers scraping against the ground before he willingly moved. Shifting her hand from his mouth to his head, she held him against her as she backed against the cold stone of a house. No lights shone from the windows of the small, single-level dwelling. Limbs trembling, she forced herself to focus. Her gaze drifted around them as she searched for the dark forms that would come to collect them. No movement drew her attention.

But Viktor’s men had found them. They must have.

God, please, protect us!

What would Viktor do when they were dragged back? Or did heorder the hitmen to kill them in the street? Her maybe. Not Rian. Viktor had every intention of turning Rian into the new leader of his corrupt business. As well as the mob.

Elara swallowed hard. She had to survive for Rian.

His small arms wrapped around her waist. He was strong. So strong for his age, but he was still a child. And with the men chasing them, he was aware of what might happen. That they might die.

After another moment, she eased away from the house and checked their surroundings. The alleyway across from their position was dark. Someone could hide there. But she’d have seen them slip into the shadows. Unless Viktor’s men were way ahead of them.

She took Rian’s hand and led him down the road again. “We have to hurry.”

“Momma, he won’t catch us. Jesus will save us.” The faith of her child never wavered.

Did he realize how much she feared that they’d get caught? That maybe she’d misunderstood what God wanted her to do? Perhaps he did. But he had faith that they’d be okay. Like she needed to. Her faith in Christ had saved her years ago. The Bible she’d spent hours reading had changed her life and was tucked safely in her backpack. Her hand tightened around his. “I know, but we have to do our part.”

They passed another eight identical limestone homes without trouble, failing to avoid the streetlights overhead. There was just no way to move unseen. Elara tensed as a shadow shifted near the intersection of a road across the street. Her heart caught in her throat as she backed toward the home behind her. Clouds covered the moon for most of the evening and aided their escape from Viktor’s mansion. But now, dull light streamed past the thin clouds.

A tree waved in the breeze casting a shadow on the wall of the stone house. The thin branches ceased moving and then stood as still as Elara. Something dark shifted at the intersection, diagonal from them. Not a tree. Not a shadow. It stood tall and menacing. The number increased. Two. Three. Four.

Lord, save us!