The words sent a chill straight to my bones.

I clung to the lapels of Luke’s coat, my fingers trembling.

“Don’t listen to her,” Luke muttered, his breath warm against my forehead as he carried me into the rain.

Marco led the way, his gun drawn but kept low against his leg, his eyes tracking the two men by the car.

The men did not move, waiting for Vivian’s signal.

Vivian only watched us, her umbrella tilted forward to shield her face from the wind.

Luke reached the back door of his sedan, and Marco quickly opened it.

Luke slid me onto the leather seat, climbing in right after me and pulling the door shut.

The sound of the rain was instantly muffled, replaced by the heavy, tense sound of our breathing.

Marco jumped into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The tires screeched on the wet gravel as he threw the car into reverse, backing out of the narrow alley between the storage units.

I looked out the window, watching Vivian’s silhouette grow smaller in the distance.

She was still standing there, holding her umbrella, watching us flee.