Page 84 of August

Gigi threw her gaze over her shoulder to see Marko and Alec skidding over the loose stones. Tears clogged her throat. Every gasp made her chest ache, but she had to keep running.

Goddammit, I should have taken up running years ago.

The sun had fallen. Wind whipped her hair and the strands flew in front of her eyes. Dashing them away, she charged on. Footsteps crunched angrily behind her. They were getting closer—and fast. If she didn’t lose them or find somewhere to hide soon, they’d reach her in seconds. But every yard she whizzed past was gated or fenced, the towering wooden planks well over her head.

There was nowhere to hide. All she could do was run and pray the night swallowed her.

Up ahead the alley curved to the left. If she could push herself the last fifty feet, she’d have maybe fifteen seconds to lose them.

Picking up speed, she drove her feet harder and harder into the unrelenting ground. Each footstep shook her joints, but she didn’t slow. Her heart was like a hummingbird’s wings, vibrating more than beating.

Please, God. Help me get away.

She reached the bend in the road and soared around it. To her left was a junkyard. The clearing was full of shadowed piles of what appeared to be scrap metal and garbage. It also contained three out-of-commission cars.

It was her only shot.

Darting through the yellow, barren grass, she went straight for the vehicles. She tried the handle on an old Camaro. The door creaked open and she lunged inside. After closing the door softly behind her, she clambered over the seat and into the back.

The scent of musty leather and cigarette smoke permeated the air. Dust and grime covered the stained floor and ripped seats. Getting low to the ground, she wedged her body into the footwell.

“Stop,” Alec bellowed in English. “She’s probably hiding in here.”

Gigi’s pants echoed in the tight space. Clamping her hand over her lips, she forced her breath in and out of her nose. Her chest ached with every small intake of air, the amount not enough to replenish all the oxygen she’d lost while running.

Her legs trembled and her hands shook. Pressing her knees together to stop the miniscule movements, she prayed like hell that her pursuers wouldn’t search inside the cars.

“You look over there!” Marko shouted.

The clink-clank of junk being kicked around reached her ears. A shudder racked her spine. They’d surely turn over every stone to find her. Tears burned her eyes and throat. Her mouth ached for water. Her lips and tongue as rough as sandpaper.

The men shouted to each other, moving further away. Were they giving up? Looking somewhere else? Hope flared inside her. If they left, she could hide a bit longer and then knock on someone’s door and ask to use their phone.

Not ideal in this sketchy neighborhood, but it was better than walking right into Marko and Alec’s path. She strained her ears but couldn’t hear a sound over the rasping of air through her nostrils and the drumming of her heart.

She sucked in a mouthful of air and held her breath so she could listen.

Silence.

Relief spread through her. Oh, god. They’ve moved on. I did it. I lost them.

She’d wait fifteen minutes or so to be sure. Then she’d—

The door beside her flung open and Alec’s leering smiled filled the space. Gigi screamed and tried to scramble from the floor. His fingers sank into her hair, tearing her backward.

“No!” The cry belted out from deep within her, pulling with it the balloon of hope she’d clung to. He yanked her roughly and agony split her scalp. His other hand closed over her bicep, and she fell backward onto the ground.

The wind coughed from her lungs and her chest spasmed. Before she could get her bearings and attack, Alec’s fist connected with her jaw. Stars blipped in front of her vision.

“Come on, man! All those bruises are going to piss off Alvarez.”

Gigi lifted her hand to her throbbing face and stared at the two men. Alec looked ready to throw one of his brutal punches at Marko, but Marko didn’t stand down. Alec’s chest heaved with anger. “She fucking escaped because of you. I’ll make sure Alvarez knows. You’re too fucking soft.”

Marko reached forward, grabbing her elbow roughly. “I’m not soft. I don’t give a fuck about this puta. But I know Alvarez doesn’t like his merchandise roughed up. Too hard to sell.”

“Get her back to the fucking house.”

Marko’s fingers bit into her arm as he hauled her toward the alleyway. Her gaze swung desperately around the quiet alley. No cars came or went. No people. Just fences, garages, and backyards.

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