Page 194 of Where Broken Wings Fly

It will stealthily take us across the continent and away from the monster chasing us. We can’t risk leaving a breadcrumb trail behind. He’s far too well-connected and powerful to let us go without a fight.

Making it to the truck, I take the set of keys from Arianna and quickly unlock it. She lets me boost her into the front seat, taking the duffel bag from my hands.

“We’re going to be okay, Ari.”

I don’t know who I’m reassuring more—her or myself. As I fire the engine and peel out of our hiding spot, a bullet clips the back of the truck and ricochets off. Arianna screams at the top of her lungs, and I shove her into the footwell.

“Stay down!”

The bullets keep coming, spraying across the thick steel of the truck and shattering a window in a spray of glass. Pedro taught me how to drive a few summers ago while Mr Sanchez was away on a business trip.

Careening through the night to join the road leading away from hell, I slam my foot on the accelerator and watch the sand-blasted turrets of Sanchez mansion vanish behind us.

We’re finally free.

CHAPTER 35

WILLOW

DARLIN’ - GOODBYE JUNE

Fisting my long black hair, I choke back the scream swimming up my throat. I’m shoving clothes at random into a suitcase, paying no attention to what I’m packing in a panicked state of autopilot.

All I can think is one thing.

Run.

Run.

Run.

I can barely suck in a breath, let alone think straight. There’s no time to stop and consider my options. No time to say our prolonged goodbyes. No time to mourn all that we’ve lost. When we’re on the road, I’ll let myself break.

All that matters right now is keeping Arianna safe. I’ll rip my own bloodied heart from my chest and shred it into ribbons with my bare hands if that’s what it takes. My pain doesn’t matter. I won’t let her go back to that place.

I’ll die first.

He won’t hurt her again.

Grabbing the fake passports and my wedding ring from their hidden place in my wardrobe, I locate the cash I withdrew from my bank account. Old habits die hard, and I’ve been stockpiling some of what Lola loaned me just in case.

“Willow? Where are you?”

Rather than shouting back, I let the exploding force of nature find me on his own. Nothing can hold Killian at bay. My bedroom door smashes against the wall, nearly breaking from his brute force.

Huge shoulders brushing the door frame, his fiery eyes bounce between my state of disarray and the semi-packed suitcase. The look on his face sends shivers down my spine. He looks ready to lock me in the damn wardrobe to keep me here.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he thunders.

“Packing.”

“I can see that. Why?”

“We have to get out of here before it’s too late. Our cover is blown. It isn’t safe.”

“You’re not going anywhere. Put the bloody clothes down.”

“I’m sorry, Kill.” I swipe the falling tears from my face. “I don’t want to do this, but I have no choice. He knows where we are. Arianna’s in danger.”

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