Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
When I get into the house, I immediately check the feeds from the cameras in her place. She’s sitting on her couch with her laptop propped on her knees. She stares straight ahead, and her fingers don’t move over the keyboard.
She’s pale and scared, even though she’s trying to convince herself she can use writing as a distraction.
My heart shreds. I never want her to be afraid. It was hard enough to endure when I was her “stalker”.
But now that the threat is real, her fear is all the more agonizing.
Because it mirrors my own.
I’m terrified of losing her.
I keep the current feed live while I find older footage from earlier in the day. I speed through it, searching for any sign of an intruder.
All I see is her mail slot flipping open as the letter is delivered.
I check the timestamp and text it to Ghost. He has to find a lead for me.
Karolina is frightened. Someone will die for this.
I haven’t made any progress when Karolina texts me two hours later.
Karolina
I need to go for a run.
Rand
Not alone.
Karolina
Why do you think I’m texting you?
I grit my teeth. I don’t want any distractions right now.
If I could, I’d lock her in her flat until I kill the fucker who sent that letter.
But she’s headstrong and independent—qualities I usually admire but are troublesome now.
She wouldn’t take it well if I tried to cage her.
Rand
I’m on my way. Don’t leave without me.
Karolina
Yes, Professor.
That’s my brave girl: flirting with me even under these stressful circumstances.
By the time we’re both dressed in our running gear and are heading to the river path, the sun is low on the horizon.
“What did your friend say?” she asks in between huffing breaths.
“He’s looking into it.” I barely keep my fake accent in place over the harsh growl.
She shoots a wary glance at me. I’m not doing a good job of appearing calm and rational.
All I can think about is eviscerating the man who wants to hurt her.
She doesn’t ask any more questions.
And I don’t have any answers to offer her.
Not yet.
I’m so distracted by my panic and fear for her that my senses are dulled. All I can do is stare at her like I’ll die if I lose sight of her.
That’s why I don’t see him coming.
Heavy footfalls slap against pavement, and suddenly, he’s on us.
I whirl to face the threat, but I’m not his target.
A black-clad form barrels into Karolina, shoving her hard to the left.
The nightmare unfolds faster than I can process what’s happening.
Her scream knifes into my chest. She hits the dark water and goes under.
I don’t have time to go after her assailant. I can’t even glance away to try to see his face.
Nothing else matters but getting to her.
I take a deep breath and dive in after her.
22
KAROLINA
Cold, dirty water floods my mouth. I try to force it back out, but I’ve wasted all my oxygen on a scream.
I kick and flail, searching for the surface.
Cool air kisses my hand, and I try to follow it. I manage to surface just long enough to gasp once before the current pulls me back under.
The river is dark and impenetrable as I tumble though it.
I can’t see.
I can’t breathe.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to drown.
Just like my parents.
My lungs seize, a horrific sensation I recognize all too well.
But this time, my head isn’t forcibly submerged in the ice-filled sink. My foster mom’s fingernails aren’t digging into the back of my skull.
There will be no reprieve once she’s satisfied that I’ve learned my lesson.
I’m not that weak little girl anymore, but the river is far stronger than I am.
There’s only the murky water and my impending death.
I claw at the water as though I can rip it away before it trickles into my lungs.
Something hard hits my chest, knocking the precious little air I have left from me.
I can’t open my mouth again. I’m not ready to surrender yet.
But my insides are burning.
My vision goes darker than the river.
I’m not sinking anymore. I’m floating away…
“Look at me,” Rand begs raggedly. “Open your eyes.”
He pounds my chest, and I vomit dirty water.
I roll onto my side, clutching at the damp pavement as I gasp in precious oxygen.
He smooths my wet hair back from my brow.
I blink hard, and the world comes into sharp focus around me.
We’re both soaked, and we’re lying on the river path. Rand goes limp beside me, as though all of his powerful muscles have given out.
I struggle to push myself upright.
“Are you okay?” It’s little more than a pained rasp.
He gathers me up in his arms and holds me to his chest.
“You’re alive,” he murmurs. “You’re alive.”
“What happened?” I croak.
“You fell into the river,” he says shakily. “Someone pushed you.”
I shudder and meet his panicked gaze.
“And you saved me?”
He manages a jerky nod.