Page 73 of Twisted Mates

The Jeep was racing toward us. And when Xander tried to move out of its way, it followed his movement. Whoever was driving it tried to kill us just miles away from home.

They failed where I’m concerned, but Xander... Goddess, please help him.

TWENTY-THREE

Xander

The only thought in my head when I come to isAlexia. Turning my head to the right to check and see if she’s okay is more than painful, but when I see the passenger seat empty with nothing but blood and glass left behind... The pain is unbearable.

“Shit,” I sob, tears leaking from the corners of my eyes. “Alexia, where are you?” My voice is nothing more than a weak croak, though, and I doubt she could hear me even if she were just outside the window. But she isn’t. She’s nowhere around; I would be able to sense her if she was. I struggle against the seatbelt, but I’m trapped. Between that, and the airbag, there’s no getting out on my own. I think all my limbs are in one piece, but the pain in my head and ribs is intense.

I don’t even know how this happened. I had my eyes on the road, I wasn’t distracted. Sure, Alexia and I were talking, but I was watching what I was?—

The Jeep.When I swerved to miss it, it matched my movements and hit us head on.

They hit us on purpose. Tried to kill us.

Tried to kill us and Alexia is gone.

No. No. I can’t think that way. I have to get out of this car and find her. I try again to undo the seatbelt and fail, a frustrated roar escaping my lips. I slam my head back against the headrest in anger and immediately regret it, the pain multiplying. I close my eyes for a moment, and when I open them, a bit of movement outside catches my attention.

It’s a person, someone moving beside the Jeep. They step around the open driver’s side door. Squinting, I attempt to focus, trying like hell to recognize the face, the gait, anything about them.

And when I do, my heart speeds up and anger boils my blood.

Kai.

“What the actual fuck?” I growl as he gets closer. “What are you doing here, Kai?” I don’t even know if he can hear me, but the rage and devastation in my heart is too much; I can’t stay silent.

He steps to my crumpled door and pulls on the handle. It creaks under his efforts but doesn’t so much as budge. His gaze meets mine over what’s left of my shattered side window.

“You have a way of pissing everyone off, don’t you?” he asks, pulling harder on the door.

“What have you done? I can’t believe this,” I grumble, yanking on my seatbelt. I don’t even know what I’m saying; I think I’m in shock.

Kai slams his elbow against the glass, clearing out what’s left of the window. My heart stumbles in my chest as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pocket knife. He flips out the blade and aims it at me.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask. If I’m going to die, I can at least go with the knowledge of why he did this. Why did he walk away from Alexia when he had her from the start? Why gothrough all of this only for it to end in such a violent way? I don’t understand any of it.

He grabs the seatbelt and brings the blade toward the center of my chest. I close my eyes, anticipating the first piercing stab. Instead, a sharp rip fills the quiet between us.

“Because it’s the only way to get your large ass out of this tiny car.”

I shake my head in confusion even though the action hurts like a bitch. “You’re not going to stab me?”

Kai’s eyes widen. “Stab you? Why the hell would you think I’m going to stab you? And why would you think I’d do it with this shitty little pocket knife?”

“You mean you didn’t come back to finish the job?”

“What?” he asks, clearly frustrated with me as he tears the seatbelt away and does the same with the airbag, helping me to move out of the car through the window. “Finish what job?”

“Was it not you that ran us off the road? That Jeep you’re driving has been following Alexia around. And I’m with your mate...” I trail off, not wanting to piss him off while he has a sharp knife in his hand, no matter how small.

“That’s not mine. I don’t need to overcompensate with a lifted Jeep. No offense—your black truck is nice, but it gives small dick energy.”

“I don’t have a small...” I rub my aching head with my index fingers, refocusing on what’s important. “Where is Alexia?”

He scans the side of the road and shakes his head. “It was only you and this wrecked Jeep when I arrived. Was Alexia in the car with you?”

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