Page 104 of Last Chance Christmas
She opened the car door and swallowed. Blood trailed down the side of Cole’s face, his skin pale, eyes closed. “Cole. It’s Kianna. Can you hear me?” She set the first aid kit on the dashboard, then took Cole’s hand to check for a pulse.
Her shoulders relaxed. Steady. Strong.
A hand gripped her upper arm.
“Victoria, call 911.” Kianna peered over her shoulder.
“There’s no need.” Victoria smirked, and in an instant, the woman had her other arm wrapped around Kianna’s neck and her hand clamped down on Kianna’s face with a cloth.
What in the world?
Kianna tried to elbow the woman, but a potent smell filled her nostrils. Her head began to throb until her eyes lost focus and the world spun into a web of darkness.
Kianna. Someone shook her shoulders. Kianna, wake up. The person’s breath tickled her ear, and she let out a groan. A pine scent wafted toward her nose, making her want to curl up and sleep more.
Had she been dreaming?
She went to turn over and wrap herself tighter in her sheets, except she couldn’t move.
Where was she?
A dull ache clung to her temples. Kianna blinked a few times.
“That’s good. Wake up, Kianna.” Cole’s voice registered next to her.
Finally, her eyes worked with her brain and opened.
Lines etched Cole’s brow, his eyes assessing her.
She pushed herself up on the leather seat. Sunlight shone through the car windows. Trees and snow lined the landscape outside with no houses in sight. They weren’t in her neighborhood anymore.
Victoria. Cole. The attack.
Kianna gasped. “Cole?” she whispered, twisting her upper body. She went to move her hand to the caked blood on his cheek, but a rope tied around her wrists held her back. “Thank God you’re alive.” She bit down on her lip, and tears spilled onto her face. “What happened?”
“Hey. It’s gonna be okay.” Cole lifted his bound hands and used his knuckles to wipe away a tear from her cheek. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to drag you into this.” He leaned his head back against the seat.
“We’ve already been over this. I volunteered on my own accord.” Kianna stared at the bruise on his forehead. The discolored skin had formed a goose egg. “You’re hurt. You need some ice for that.”
“After we get out of here.” He peered out the window. “Victoria is working with Mackey.”
“She’s the one who lured me to you.” Kianna grimaced.
“I need you to follow my lead, okay?” Cole placed his hands on top of hers. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Kianna nodded, or else her voice would betray her. Determination stared back at her in his eyes, and something else. Admiration?
“I thought we had a plan. And now you show up?” Victoria’s shrill voice pierced the air.
Kianna jumped in her seat.
The woman stood a hundred or so feet away outside, near a mound of snow on the other side of the paved two-way road. She flung one arm in the air. Her other hand gripped a red canister with a slim spout. A man with a long beard stood next to Victoria, a frown on his face.
“Cole, she has gasoline.” Kianna’s voice tremored. “And that’s?—”
“Mackey,” he finished. “They’re having quite the argument, which should buy us some time.”
“Where’s Titan?” Kianna did a quick scan of the car but didn’t see the K-9 anywhere.
