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—”

grabbed a knife from the floor-one of the ones the men had dropped-and sliced through the ropes tied around his

push himself up, sweat sticking his shirt to his back. The rain outside

in the motel, she'd

mouth?" His voice cracked at the sight of

taking a few steps forward. "Dog

just stopped and

along the wall to

you... I mean, you

Like someone

always had these moments. Serious, unreadable, like she was

answer. She just kept walking

tower split into two exits-left and

car waiting for her outside. But she turned and headed right

hobbled after

he hurt you? Did he forge mouth.

you? Your there was

way he

her fingers to her forehead, like she

still hadn't worn off. She felt wired and restless.

was about to ask more, but

He panicked. "Clara!"

the pain in his ribs,

besided sweat

forehead. veld.

this,

when her eyes

annoyed glare. "Shut up."