Page 103 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
Up ahead, George’s car wove recklessly through traffic.
Zoey leaned forward, her nails digging into the dashboard as she strained to see. “Oh, God,” she whispered, tears streaking down her face. “Baby, just hold on. Mommy’s coming.”
The distance between us and George’s vehicle shrank with each passing second. We were gaining on him, but the busy road made the car difficult to maneuver.
“Come on, you bastard,” I growled, grinding my teeth. “Pull over. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
But I knew assholes like George too well. He wouldn’t give up without a fight. He was obsessed with control, and now that he had Ro, he would do anything to keep him. Not because of some twisted belief that he’d offer Ro a better life or even because he loved his son, but rather, he wanted to cause Zoey pain and maintain his dominance over her life.
I slammed my foot on the accelerator. The car’s wheels spun, and the back end swung out, nearly hitting a parked car. The tires screeched against the asphalt as I fought to maintain control, my knuckles turning white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly.
“Hold on, Zoey,” I said through gritted teeth. My heart shattered at the absolute devastation on her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
My stomach throbbed, a constant reminder of the bullet lodged inside me. Each breath felt like a knife twisting in my gut, but I refused to let it slow me down. My wolf stirred beneath the surface, urging me to push through the agony and keep going.
The streets blurred together as I navigated the familiar roads of our town, my mind racing with possibilities. I knew this town far better than George did. Growing up, Nate and I had roamedthese streets on four paws and four wheels. Every corner and landmark was etched into my memory.
If I could just get ahead of him, I’d cut him off before he reached the highway...
I made a sharp turn, the transmission grumbling in protest as I took a shortcut through a narrow alley. I pulled out of it, tires screeching as I maneuvered in front of George’s car on the narrow road. He had no choice but to slam on his brakes, the smell of burning rubber filling the air. In the rearview mirror, I could see the shock on his face through his windshield, but it quickly morphed into a twisted snarl.
If it had been just George and me, I would have stopped the car right then and there and faced him head-on. But I couldn’t risk it, not with Ro in the backseat. The kid’s safety was my top priority, and I couldn’t bear the thought of him getting caught in the crossfire.
My mind raced with possibilities, trying to figure out the best way to get Ro out of harm’s way. I had to be smart about this, to use my head instead of just relying on brute strength. George had proven how dangerous a shifter he was, and I’d already made the mistake of underestimating him. I couldn’t afford to do it again.
Through the rearview mirror, I caught another glimpse of Ro’s face pressed between the front seats. My heart clenched at the sight, a surge of protectiveness washing over me.
“Hang on, Zoey,” I said, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. “I’m going to get him out of there. I promise.”
The steering wheel creaked under my grip, the metal bending beneath my fingers as I fought to maintain control.
I eased off the gas, gradually slowing the car. George had no choice but to follow suit, trapped behind me on the narrow road. The distance between our vehicles dwindled.
Fighting George in my current state was a risky proposition, but I had no choice. I had to control my temper, so I took a moment to steady myself, bracing myself for what was to come.
With a final, steadying breath, I grabbed the door handle.
George had already climbed out of his car, his movements slow and deliberate. His gaze was locked on me, eyes narrowed with a mixture of anger and calculation. He raised his gun, the barrel pointed directly at me through the windshield.
George had no intention of engaging in a fair fight. At his core, he was a coward, relying on weapons and intimidation to maintain control. The fact that he had his gun trained on me only confirmed my suspicions.
Slowly, I opened the door and stepped out of the car, my hands raised in a gesture of surrender. The movement sent a fresh wave of pain rippling through my abdomen, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through it.
“George, let the kid go,” I said. “This is between you and me.”
He sneered at me. “You think you’re in a position to make demands, Noah? I hold all the cards here.”
I took a step forward, my hands still raised. “You don’t want to hurt Roland. He’s your son, for fuck’s sake.”
“Don’t tell me what I want,” George snarled, his finger inching closer to the trigger. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
He was right. George’s cruelty knew no bounds, and the fact that he had his own son in the crosshairs only proved it.
My mind raced, searching for a way out of this situation. I couldn’t take him on directly, not in my current state. “Think about what you’re doing, George.” I kept my tone measured. “The cops are already on their way. You won’t get far.”
George looked to the road behind me, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. I’d struck a nerve. He was a man who valued his own skin above all else.
“Shut up,” he growled. “I’m the one calling the shots here, not you.”
