Page 59 of Wild Ride

That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try. Stupid or not, this is life and death, and I’ll take death over this life. It’s not like I’m doing anything magical or wonderful with my life. I am a virtual assistant. My bosses have only ever seen me over the computer at a Zoom meeting. They would just hire someone else if I disappeared.

As soon as the one guy leaves, I take a step out of the bathroom and into the hallway across from the other. I try really hard not to look from side to side for an exit so he doesn’t figure out what I’m about to do.

I’m not sure how effective I am. He takes a step forward and starts to reach for my bicep. I tuck my arms against my side a little more, shaking my head. “I need to keep my towel up,” I say.

It’s the truth and a lie all wrapped into one. He flicks his gaze to my boobs, then back to my face, his lips curving up into a smirk when he does. He doesn’t say anything, although I can practically see the wheels turning inside of his head.

He turns and starts to walk toward the room where I was being held earlier today. At least it’s not the dark room. I follow behind him, eyes scanning every place we walk, and then I see it.

A door.

I have no idea what is behind it, but I don’t care.

Turning toward the door, I take off in a run. I move as fast as I can, reaching for the handle and wrenching it open. I can hear the man behind me shouting for me to stop, but I ignore him, all of him, and I move.

I’m not sure how I picked a door that led to the outside of the building, but maybe God or my father is by my side, but mylegs don’t stop. They move, they pump, and then it happens. The man finds my towel with his fingers and grips it.

Instead of holding on to the fabric, I let him take it with him. Naked, terrified… and naked, I continue to run. I ignore the way the rocks hurt my feet in the gravel parking lot. I don’t give a shit about rocks right now, and I have no doubt that my feet are bleeding… again, I don’t care.

Then I see a motorcycle roaring in my direction. I don’t know whether to jump out of its path or not. And I’m too scared about the man at my heels to even attempt to stop or shift. He’s right on my heels, and I know it won’t take him much to tackle me to the ground. The motorcycle does stop, though.

Right in front of me.

I can’t get around him, but something causes my steps to falter, and maybe that’s because the man is huge, but instead of feeling scared shitless, I run right into his spread arms.

“Fuck,” he hisses.

BULLET

The bikes in front of me stop so abruptly that I have to slam my foot on the brake to avoid hitting the bikes in front of me. Dirt and rocks go flying around me.

“What the hell,” Ralph hisses behind me.

“I don’t know,” I murmur as my eyes scan the area in front of me.

Then I see her.

Long dark hair, slim sexy-as-fuck body… naked.

What the fuck.

Turning the truck off, I pull the key out of the ignition and shove it in my pocket as I move toward Dakota. Viking isholding her in his arms, which instantly fills me with rage. Not just because she’s bare fucking naked, but I should be the one holding her.

There’s a noise somewhere in the background, a whimpering, like a small animal, and when my gaze scans the area, it lands on a man being held at gunpoint. Not recognizing him at first, I flick my gaze down, and I see that there is a Bloodhound patch on his vest.

My lips twitch into a smirk at the sight of him on his knees like the bitch he is. No, that’s an insult to women because this man is so much less than any woman could ever be. He’s a Bloodhound, aligning himself with the goddamn scum of the fucking earth.

Pulling my gun out of its holster, I point the barrel directly at the man’s forehead. If he’s going to whimper like a dumb fuck, I’m going to give him something to whimper about. His eyes meet mine, and I dip my chin slightly so I can catch his gaze.

My lips curve up into a grin, and without a word, I squeeze the trigger. I watch the fuck fall to his knees. Viking chuckles behind me. And for just a moment, I watch the man’s body twitch until it stops, and he’s dead.

I’m sure that is not supposed to have been satisfying, especially since I have no idea what his name even was, but it was pure satisfaction. Killing the rest of them will be as well.

“So I guess we’re just shooting first and asking questions later.”

Looking over my shoulder, I jerk my chin in Viking’s direction. “I’m past that shit. I was past it the moment they thought they could take what was mine.”

“You mean Dakota?” he asks.

---