With the limited numbness inside me, I almost start to cry thinking about him. I haven’t cried in a very long time. The sensation feels strange and kind of alarming.
I manage to suck back the tears as I head to the right toward the street. Then I stop dead at the sight of what’s at the end of the alley.
Parked near the dumpsters is an oversized SUV with tinted windows.
“It could be just a normal SUV,” I whisper to myself as I jog toward the street. “I’m just being paranoid.” I start to run. “Just being paranoid …” I take off in a sprint. “Just being—”
As the headlights flip on and beam brightly against my back, I don’t give myself time to hesitate. I run as if my life depends on it.
Tires screech against the pavement behind me as the car drives forward. I reach for my gun as I near the street. But right as I’m about to exit the alley, another vehicle pulls up and blocks my route. It’s not an SUV; it’s a plain, black car with no tinting, just like the one I saw in front of my house the other night.
Light trails into the windows from the lampposts lining the street and nearby buildings. I can tell there’s only one person inside, but their face is just a shadow beneath the hoodie pulled over their head.
Is that the guy from out front?
They start to lean over for the passenger side door, which is closest to me, and that’s when I notice the gun in their hand.
I step back from the door, hurry to the side, and then jump onto the hood of the car and hop onto the street. I take off toward the corner, telling myself to look forward. Don’t look back. But when I hear a loud crash and voices close behind me, I can’t help glancing over my shoulder.
The SUV has side swept the car and dented in the door.
I don’t stop, only speed up, especially when a group of large men hop out of the SUV, all dressed in dark clothing and packing. When I make out a few of their faces, my heart slams into my chest.
Frankie Catherlson’s men.
What the hell? Why are they here?
I don’t get it. I don’t understand. I’m not stupid enough to turn around and ask them, though. Whatever reason they’re here can’t be good.
I run like I’ve never run before until I’m several blocks away from the hotel. Then I flag down the first cab I see.
“Where to?” the driver asks, looking over his shoulder at me with a smile, but his grin immediately drops as he catches sight of my expression. “Miss, are you okay?”
“Yeah … I’m fine,” I tell him, wiping the sweat from my face. Then I sputter out my apartment address while wondering if I should go somewhere else. Regardless, I need to go back and at least get my money and a couple of other important items, like my identification, before I take off.
God, how far am I going to make it now that they’re here?
With no other choice, I let the cab driver take me to my apartment.
I glance through the back window only when I know I’m going to be able to get away. What I see makes me wish I never looked.
Standing in the shadows, watching Frankie’s men chase after me, is someone I never thought I’d see again.
At first, I think he’s a ghost. That’s the only way I should be able to see him.
My ex-best friend. The man who saved me. The man who, for the last eighteen months, I thought was dead.
Layton Everett.
About the Author
Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
Also by Jessica Sorensen
Other books by Jessica Sorensen:
Sunnyvale NA:
Isabella Anders
Isabella Anders 2 (coming soon)
The Soulless:
The Curse of the Soulless
The Curse of the Soulless (coming soon)
Shadow Cove Series:
What Lies in the Darkness: Part 1
What Lies in the Darkness: Part 2
A Deadly Game: Part 1 (coming soon)
The Unveiling:
Unveiled
Unveiled 2 (coming soon)
Mystic Willow Bay Witches Series:
The Secret Life of a Witch
The Secret Life of a Witch 2
The Secret Life of a witch 3 (coming soon)
Unearthly Balance:
Captivate
Captivate 2 (coming soon)
Shadow Cove Series:
What Lies in the Darkness
A Deadly Little Game (coming soon)
Standalones:
Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl
Confessions of a Kleptomaniac
The Illusion of Annabella
The Forgotten Girl
Broken City Series:
Nameless
Forsaken
Oblivion
Forbidden (coming soon)
Guardian Academy Series:
Entranced 1
Entranced 2
Entangled 1
Entangled 2
Enchanted 1 (coming soon)
Guardian Academy, Dash’s Series:
The Forest of Shadow and Bones
The Forest of Shadow and Bones 2 (coming soon)
Sunnyvale Series:
The Year I Became Isabella Anders
The Year of Falling in Love
The Year of Second Chances
The Year of Kai & Isa (coming soon)
Unraveling You Series:
Unraveling You
Raveling You
Awakening You
Inspiring You (coming soon)
Sins & Secrets:
Sins & Secrets
Sins & Secrets 2
Sins & Secrets 3
Sins & Secrets 4 (coming soon)
The Coincidence Series:
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
The Redemption of Callie and Kayden
The Destiny of Violet and Luke
The Probability of Violet and Luke
The Certainty of Violet and Luke
The Resolution of Callie and Kayden
Seth & Greyson
The Secret Series:
The Prelude of Ella and Micha
The Secret of Ella and Micha
The Forever of Ella and Micha
The Temptation of Lila and Ethan
The Ever After of Ella and Micha
Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always
Ella and Micha: Infinitely and Always
The Shattered Promises Series:
Shattered Promises
Fractured Souls
Unbroken
Broken Visions
Scattered Ashes
Breaking Nova Series:
Breaking Nova
Saving Quinton
Delilah: The Making of Red
Nova and Quinton: No Regrets
Tristan: Finding Hope
Wreck Me
Ruin Me
The Fallen Star Series:
The Fallen Star
The Underworld
The Vision
The Promise
The Fallen Souls Series (spin-off from The Fallen Star):
The Lost Soul
The Evanescence
The Darkness Falls Series:
Darkness Falls
Darkness Breaks
Darkness Fades
The Death Collectors Series (NA and YA):
Ember X and Ember
Cinder X and Cinder
Spark X and Spark
Unbeautiful Series:
Unbeautiful
Untamed
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