Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
He wants the formula I put my sweat and tears into. “No way.”
He reaches for me at the same time I lurch backward to get away from him, my back hitting the nightstand hard.
I am trapped with nowhere to escape.
“Formula, bitch. Where is it?”
I shake my head in refusal.
He puts his hands around my throat and squeezes, cutting off my airflow. Pain shoots through me, and spots appear in front of my eyes.
“Feeling more cooperative now?” He eases the pressure off, hoping for an answer.
I cough and remain silent, glaring at him defiantly. I’m not about to give up my life’s work. He squeezes his big hands tighter. My head spins until I begin to crumple against the dresser.
Suddenly he releases me, and I gasp for air, drawing a big, gulping breath, as I realize Shane threw the man off me, slamming him into the wall across from me.
Unfortunately he comes up swinging.
The room still spins, but I push myself to my feet, catching sight of the Taser. I grab the gun. Shane swings at the man, the blow hitting his jaw, and he goes down. Before he can shake it off and rise again, I aim at the intruder and fire.
He jerks hard, his body in spasms, giving Shane time to rise over him and place a foot on his chest, ignoring his twitching form.
He glances at me. “Grab my bag. There are zip ties at the bottom.”
I pull out the restraints, and in no time Shane has tied up the man, leaving him in flex-cuffs, writhing on the floor.
“Are you okay?” I ask Shane at the same time he asks me the same.
He comes up beside me, fixing my glasses, putting them more securely in place before running his big hands gently along my sore neck. He rubs his thumbs over my skin, causing me to shiver. His eyes are glazed with a combination of concern and anger, but his touch is so very gentle.
“I’m fine,” I assure him. I am trembling, but since this ordeal started, I’ve learned quickly to adapt.
He showed up in time, I think, and I exhale a long, relieved breath.
He glances at me, scowling as if he doesn’t quite believe me. My scratchy voice might not sound great, but I’ll live. And that’s what matters.
“How the hell did he find us?” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “We must have had a tail I missed. Grab your things…” He hesitates. “No. Get dressed, but leave everything you can behind. We can stop for new clothes and shit when we put miles behind us. Let’s get out of here before someone comes looking for him.”
“What about the bag with the formula?” I ask quietly.
“We’ll put the items in my duffel. Leave the satchel itself here.”
In no time, we are back on the road, my heart pounding hard in my chest.
Shane doesn’t show what he is feeling. He has nerves of steel as he focuses on the road ahead… and behind us.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“We’ll drive toward Portland till morning. Then I’ll call Ian, check in, and ditch the car at a used car lot. I also want to scan you one more time. Maybe I missed something.”
His gaze alternates between the front and rearview mirror, his aggravation at being found evident.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how they tracked me.” I curl into myself on the passenger seat.
“It’s not your fault. As a matter of fact, you’re pretty impressive under pressure.” He turns toward me and smiles. “You stepped up and tased the bastard. Are you sure your neck is okay?”
“It hurts, but yeah. I’m good.” I appreciate his concern.
I am glad he sees my strength, too.
* * *
Shane
While Talia dozes beside me in the passenger seat, I drive north, my head full of recriminations over the fact that they were discovered, wondering what I missed. I glance over, also marveling at the fact that Talia stepped up.
She didn’t shrink in the face of danger, she didn’t panic, she did what she needed to do and helped save my ass in the process. Yeah, I’d have taken the guy, but she made it a hell of a lot easier on me.
I grin, listening to the soft little noises she makes while sleeping, her eyeglasses on her lap. A glance at the clock tells me I can call the office, so I pull a burner from the bag on the floor at Talia’s feet.
Ian answers on the first ring. “Talk to me.”
“We were made at the motel. Damned if I know how. I’m going to switch wheels and stop somewhere we can scan everything again. Not that I imagine we missed much. Fucking big pharmaceutical conspiracy. They could have tagged her anywhere.”
“Agreed. My sources at the Dallas PD tell me Talia’s assistant was found bound and gagged in a closet in the lab. Guy’s petrified, but otherwise fine. I don’t think he’s involved in any way. Unfortunately, the security guard in the front was taken out.”