Page 91 of The Vampire's Seduction

Do it. Don’t think about getting shot.

Olivia raised her hand to push the door. The woman stepped closer. As the door opened an inch, she whirled around and thrust her right hand forward while punching with the force of her magic. Her bracelet flashed a bright, blinding green. Her kidnapper yelped. Something thumped.

When she could see again, the woman was sprawled on the stairs, moaning in pain. For a second, Olivia considered running upstairs, back toward Leah, but the woman was already moving, attempting to get up.

A strange feeling twisted her insides. Rage expanding. Domineering. Arrogant. Ruthless. A presence she only associated with one person.

Marek?

Was he awake?

No time to wait for him. Olivia opened the door and regretted it immediately. Two people, dressed in black, waited outside next to a black SUV. A kidnapper’s vehicle if she ever saw one.

They saw her as she tried to jerk the door back closed. Shit. It was too heavy. One of them gripped the handle and yanked it wide open.

Olivia sprinted back up the stairs, adrenaline lending her speed. When the downed woman grabbed at her, she kicked on instinct. Heavy footsteps stomped behind her.

“Stop! Stop or we’ll shoot!”

Yeah right. Her flight instinct had taken over. Hell would freeze over before Olivia stopped.

Bang!

Olivia jolted, her heart slamming even faster and harder. They were really shooting at her!

Bang!

Agony exploded in her calf, blinding her for a split second.

Shot. I’ve been shot!The realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

Olivia crumpled to the ground, her injured leg giving out. At the last second, she shifted so she fell on her side instead of her face. Her breath exploded out of her. Her eyes squeezed shut as pain reverberated down her side. Yet, it was nothing compared to the breathless agony from her leg.

Damn it! She’d been so close. The door was within reach!

She opened her eyes when she felt her pursuers stopping and stared at the two pairs of dirt-encrusted combat boots.

“I told you to fucking stop,” one said, annoyed, as if he blamed her for shooting her.

One guy leaned down, slipped his arms under her armpit, and lifted her.

Olivia screamed. Tears blurred her vision. All she really wanted was to curl up and cry until the pain went away.

“Stop your noise or you’ll get the same treatment in your other leg.”

Somehow, Olivia found the strength to bite down on her lips to hold back the sobs, but she was powerless against the pained whimpers. Marek’s presence grew inside her. His fury intertwined with his fear. She felt it as though they were her own.

Marek. He would come for her. The thought helped her defeat the darkness at the edge of her vision.

She wouldn’t pass out.

The door swung open. Horror swamped her. The world slowed down as she met Leah’s shocked gaze and the other man, the one not carrying her, raised his gun.

“Leah! Run!” Olivia shouted.

The gun went off.

Chapter Twenty