Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,1

to die,” I commanded. “You hear me, asshole? That’s a fucking rule and I know how much you love abiding by those. You are not allowed to die.”

The roar of the motorbike's engine being pushed to its limits faded away into the distance until it was just me and him, alone in the dark and bleeding. And I just had to pray that fate wasn't ready to fuck us quite yet.

Tatum was out there somewhere counting on us. And Saint was counting on me. We wouldn’t let either of them down. The five of us had made our vows and sealed our fate. We belonged together and if I had to walk through the nine circles of hell to make sure we all stayed that way then I’d gladly do it.

Saint Memphis wasn’t going to die on my watch. I fucking refused to let it happen. And when a Night Keeper decided something, not even the will of the gods could change it.

I stared at the man who'd murdered my father, who'd shot and run over Saint, who'd destroyed my world within minutes. He was my death. I could see it in the depths of his eyes, could see him working out the details already, his tongue whipping out to wet his lips as he thought over what he'd do to me first.

His gun was pointing at me across his lap, but his focus was waning now, lost to his fantasy. The car sped along a dark road and the silence between us was piercing. I let him fall deeper into a sense of security, let him think I'd given up. But fuck that.

His hand moved from his gun to rearrange the bulge in his pants and adrenaline pounded through my limbs. I twisted in my seat fast and kicked the gun from his lap with a yell of determination. It crashed into his footwell and Mortez swore, but I didn't hesitate before kicking him again, my booted heel slamming down into the centre of his crotch and crushing his junk, making him cry out in agony.

My pulse pounded harder as the car swerved violently. I spun around fast, grabbing the door handle, pulling and twisting and yanking it as it still refused to unlock and I cursed Monroe for his choice of vehicle and its dodgy fucking doors. Open please, please!

It suddenly swung wide, making my heart soar with victory and Mortez lunged forward to try and grab a fistful of my hair. He missed.

"No!" he roared as I flung myself out without a thought, needing to escape no matter what kind of landing awaited me. The car bumped up a verge and I slammed onto grass, praising my luck as I rolled even though pain still burst along my back. "Bitch!"

I got to my feet, panic making my breaths come heavily as I scrambled upright and took off into the dark trees beside the road. The car revved and headlights suddenly cut through the dark, illuminating me between the trunks and making fear wheel through me. I glanced over my shoulder, finding he’d parked the car, facing it towards the forest, the driver’s door thrown wide as he got out.

A gunshot cut through the air and a scream of fear escaped me as I ducked instinctively. I felt nothing. No bullet tearing through flesh and bone, no heated metal driving into my body. So I ran like the hounds of hell were at my heels, but it was worse than that, far fucking worse.

"You wanna play with me, darlin'?!" Mortez roared, his boots crunching twigs and dead leaves beneath his feet as he took chase.

I veered away from the headlights, desperate to be swallowed by the dark, needing to get as far and deep into this woodland as I possibly could. My heart leapt as another bullet was fired and I swear my hair stirred in the air as it rushed past me. Fuck. Too close.

I made it to a steep hill, racing down it and leaving the light of the car far behind me at last. My breaths sounded too loud in my ears, even the drum of my pulse was like a claxon. Every footfall was a giveaway. I was sound embodied. He'd hear me, find me, rape me, kill me - no. He won't. If he catches me, I'll fight. I'll win.

I passed tree after tree, but his footsteps were still coming. My nightmare. My death. I could hear the heavy drag of his breaths