Chapter 14
The door burst open.
I tightened my grip on the gun, heart slamming so hard it hurt.
And then p>
Someone ran out. Not threatening. Just a waitress, stumbling forward like she’d been shoved, heels slipping on the concrete as she hit the ground hard and cried her, her glasses falling from her face.
“I I’m sorry,” she sobbed, scrambling to her feet. “I can’t see without my glasses”
Zane was already moving.
Picking up her glasses and shoving it in her hands “Go,” he said sharply, motioning her away from us.
She didn’t need to be told twice.
She got up and ran.
The door behind her slammed shut again, the noise echoing through the alley, but nothing followed. No footsteps. No gunfire. Just the distant chaos bleeding out from inside the club.
My breath came out shaky. “That was p>
“Not them,” Zane finished. “Yet p>
I swallowed and lowered the gun slightly, my arms starting to ache from holding it so tight.
“Come on,” he said. “My car wasn’t parked far.” I only then remembered my own carr was at the premises.
He took my wrist again, firm but controlled, and pulled me down the alley. We moved fast, weaving past dumpsters and parked vehicles. My heels clicked too loudly against the pavement, every sound feeling like an announcement.
Here. I’m here. Come find me.
My mind wouldn’t shut up.
We rounded a corner, and I spotted it a dark sedan parked beneath a broken streetlight. It looked ordinary. Too ordinary for a man like him.
Zane unlocked it quickly, shoving the passenger door open for me.
“Get in p>
I didn’t hesitate.
The door slammed shut behind me, and he was in the driver’s seat a second later, the engine roaring to life. The interior smelled faintly like leather and something sharp clean, expensive, controlled. Just like him.
As we pulled away from the curb, my hands started to shake.
The adrenaline was wearing off.
“Take me home, please ” I said.
He glanced at me briefly. “Now p>
“Yes p>
He didn’t argue. “Address p>
I gave it to him, every turn, every landmark, my voice steadier than I felt. He nodded once and turned onto the main road, accelerating smoothly.
For a few seconds, it almost felt normal.
Streetlights passed overhead. The city buzzed on, unaware of how close I’d just come to well dying. My heart was still pounding, but my breathing slowed.
Then I noticed the headlights.
Too close.
I glanced into the side mirror, my stomach tightening. A black SUV had pulled out behind us, matching our speed.
“Zane,” I said quietly.
“I see it p>
Another car joined from the opposite side street, falling in line behind the first.
My mouth went dry. “That’s not normal traffic p>
“No,” he agreed.
He reached forward and killed our headlights.
“What are yo p>
“Trust me.” Like I haven’t just met him a few hours ago.
The city plunged into partial darkness, the road ahead lit only by streetlamps and ambient glow. For half a second, I thought it worked.
Then the SUV’s headlights flared brighter.
They’d seen us.
“Shit,” I whispered.
Zane pressed harder on the accelerator.
The engine responded instantly, the car surging forward as we blow through an intersection just as the light turned red. A horn blared behind us. Tires screeched. And a driver cursed at us
“They’re following us,” I said, stating the obvious because my brain needed something solid to hold onto.
“Yes. Elaine I can see that” he replied clear that he’s annoyed. It’s not like I’m the one making armed men chase after us so he can shove he’s annoyance up his ass.