Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 699

Ryan didn't even get the words out before gunshots shattered the air.

Between the rain hammering down and the rapid-fire cracks, he couldn't tell which sound hit first.

In his twenty years, he'd never seen anything like this. Not in real life. Not even on TV.

Less than three minutes later, every one of those thugs was on the ground-gone without even getting to bark a threat.

Ryan just stood there, stunned, wondering if he was hallucinating.

Every shot had been a headshot. Not one missed.

He slowly sat up, barely breathing, afraid even to blink.

That couldn't be Clara. No way.

But the figure moved closer, slim but somehow as solid and intimidating as a mountain.

His mouth opened, but tears spilled out before he could say a word.

Shit...

That wasn't Clara. That was Death itself.

He sniffled hard, trying to pull himself together, and finally looked up. "C-Clara?"

Clara crouched next to him, brows drawn tight at how pathetic he must look.

He braced himself for a slap-honestly, he kind of deserved it—but it didn't come. The wait was almost worse than the blow.

"Clara, you should just hit me. I always drag you down. I'm useless, I—”

from the floor-one of the ones the men had dropped-and sliced

push himself up,

again. He hadn't seen Clara in so long. After that night in the motel, she'd just disappeared. Dylan had hidden

What happened to your mouth?" His voice cracked at the sight of blood at the corner of her

shrugged, taking a few steps

just stopped and glanced back. "You coming

limping along the wall to follow her. "Are

you... I

Like someone

always had these moments. Serious, unreadable, like

She just kept

The tower split

waiting for

after her,

whole time? Did he hurt you?

you? Your there was

him. The way he

stopped, pressing her fingers to her forehead, like she was trying to squeeze the chaos

they'd given her still hadn't worn

ask

He panicked. "Clara!"

pain in his

over and knelt besided sweat

forehead. veld.

this,

was about to lose it when her eyes finally opened, and she shot him

annoyed glare. "Shut up."