Series: The Circle of Monsters Series by Sam Crescent
Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
There was no point in asking as the moment he shot through it, the door seemed to open out onto the back. Galen didn’t waste any time. He grabbed her hand and she had no idea where they were going.
She didn’t have time to scream as she heard the sound she’d come to associate with a silenced bullet. The ground made little puffs of dust where they hit. There were some awful shots made which was good for them. They were still too close for comfort.
Galen made a run toward a forest. The bark on a tree splintered to their left. Galen pulled her in front, took them several meters into the forest, and then took cover behind one of the oversized trunks.
“What’s happening?” Skye asked, almost completely out of breath.
“I’ve got to keep them off our tail. Anyone following us must be killed, Skye. You know that.” He pulled out his gun again, and she noticed he had several other weapons strapped to his body.
“What do you need me to do?”
He pulled out a cell phone and handed it to her. Galen also removed the bag from his shoulder and gave it to her.
“There’s enough money in there to keep you going for several months. Keep moving. Don’t talk to anyone. I’ll catch up with you.”
“Galen, this is crazy—”
“Either me, Slash, or Kensington will find you. We’re the only ones who know that number.”
She shook her head. There was no way she could leave him. This was madness.
“Galen, I can’t leave without you.”
He stood up, reached out with his free hand, gripped the back of her neck, and pulled her close. “I love you, Skye, and trust me, I’m going to be with you soon. Nothing will ever keep us apart.”
He kissed her again and she moaned, melting against him.
“I love you too.”
How could she leave him now? It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair. This seemed too cruel. There was no way she could do it.
“Do as I say. I’ve got to keep you alive, and to do that, everyone who saw us must die.” He kissed her again. “Now go.”
She wanted to argue, but he was so persistent. He’d told her days ago that when he gave an instruction, she had no choice but to follow it. If she didn’t, it could be a matter of life or death. There was no way she could risk it.
Stepping back, she kept her gaze on him. Skye hated this. She hated running away. She wanted to tell him no, to scream at him, but there was nothing more she could do. There was something in the way he’d spoken to her. He lied. He wasn’t coming back to her.
Charging through the forest, she felt the tears as they filled her eyes. They blurred her vision. She had to cover her mouth at one point as she felt the pain of leaving him would give away her location. Skye knew she had to do what he asked.
The forest seemed to be never-ending. A maze that would not release her. After she’d been walking for what felt like hours, she came to a stop and tried to listen. There was no sound, nothing but stillness and some rustling of leaves far above. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
Someone was close.
She didn’t know how she knew, she just did. Galen had told her to always listen to her instincts.
Sickness swirled in her stomach, and as she was about to make a run for it, she felt something hard and heavy hit the back of her neck, sending her into instant darkness.
Chapter Twelve
Galen weaved around the trees, resting his hand on one occasionally to catch his breath. He continually called Skye’s name. The longer he trudged on, the more terrified he became. How far could she have traveled on her own? It hadn’t taken him long to eliminate the threat, so he expected her to be much closer than this.
“Skye!”
Fuck, where was she? He’d dialed the cell he’d given her relentlessly with no answer. He didn’t like this. As far as he knew, he’d killed all the men following them. There shouldn’t be anyone else.
He finally gave up hope and returned the way he’d come. Galen found his car and headed back to civilization. As he drove, he tried not to think about what could have happened to Skye. He hadn’t been joking when he told her how important she was to him. After a lifetime of being alone, of never knowing love, he was desperate to hang onto the bond he had with Skye. It was supposed to be just the two of them against the world. And now what?
He dialed the number again. This time she picked it up. His entire body sank into the seat as relief flooded his system.