Page 100 of Racing Hearts

“Alek.” Alice shakes her head. “I can’t. Please, let’s just go to the cops?—”

“Look at me,” I order, and she does. “You can do this. I’ll be right there, okay? He isn’t getting anywhere near you. If we stay here, we’re dead. We have to keep moving and find somewhere safe.”

Bones nods. “I can take him. It’s one fucking guy.”

“With a car,” I remind him. “If it comes to it, we can all take him, but not with him using a car. We would be sitting ducks. He’s proven he’s willing to kill.”

“So am I,” Bones replies seriously.

“Will you marry me?” Skylar teases.

I spare him a glare as the car revs. “Now!” I roar.

I kick open my door and climb out, ignoring my wound as much as I can. The back doors open, the others spilling out as I meet the eyes of the man in the car. Lights spread across us and the road, doors slam, and I turn away.

Throwing Alice at Lally, I push them forward as we start to run.

I grab Evan’s hand and tug him after me as we burst into a sprint, heading toward the school. The car revs, and I glance back as we hit the path that leads past the parking lot, and the car suddenly rolls forward, heading straight for us. I stumble, but Evan pulls me upright, and we move faster. I can feel blood running down my side and jeans, but I ignore it, urging the others on.

“Keep going!” I yell as lights splash over us so brightly it burns, and I can nearly taste the metal of his bumper as he chases us. There’s a groan, and I glance back to see him jumping the curb before he hits the path and barrels toward us, rocks spraying everywhere from his tires.

I push my body as fast as I can. The sound of Alice’s panicked breathing reaches me from the front, where Lally holds her hand, pulling her along. Bones and Skylar reach the door first and yank it open, Tommy tumbling in after them. Racing up the steps after my sister, I push her inside and slam the door, turning as the car barrels into the stairs and stops, its engine smoking.

“Is there a lock?” I ask.

“No, not on the front door. It stays open for students working late,” Evan mutters. “Come on, there’s a lab on the second floor. It’s keycard only.”

Nodding, I keep my eyes on the car and the unmoving masked man inside before turning and following after them. Lally leads the way, holding onto Alice as we hit the stairs, taking them two at a time. I grit my teeth against the pain, not wanting to worry the others. Evan has his phone out, and I hear it ringing as we reach the second floor and hurry down the hallway, our feet squeaking on the tile.

“Hi, yes, we are at Pine Valley College. We have been attacked, and one of us has been stabbed. The assailant is still here. Please come quickly, we think it’s the killer.” He reels off more information as Tommy slides his card into the lock over and over until it glows green. We duck inside, shutting the door and turning on the lock. I push Alice under a desk with Lally while grabbing Evan and shoving him under another.

“Okay, they are coming. They said to hold on. Apparently, there was a big fire downtown,” Evan whispers. “We are safe here. We just need to hide until they get here.”

I hate hiding, but he’s right. I’m injured, and I need to protect my sister. Who knows what this guy is capable of?

Sitting under the desk with a wince, I meet Evan’s worried gaze. I open my arms and urge him to move closer. “I’m okay, pretty boy,” I soothe.

He slides to my side as I meet Alice’s worried gaze and smile. She gives me a shaky smile back, and I check on the others. Tommy is huddled under a tiny desk, and Skylar and Bones are under another one. I shake my head when Bones smacks Sky as he sneaks a hand down to his ass.

Sky isn’t one to miss an opportunity.

“What does this psycho want?” Tommy mutters. “Is he seriously planning on killing us to get Alice? What the fuck?”

“He’s insane,” Evan replies. “He isn’t thinking clearly, but if we play it safe and make it until the police get here, they’ll get the bastard, and it will be over.” He leans back, blowing out a breath, determination filling his gaze. “Okay, show me your wound, Alek, and let me see what I can do.”

“Evan—”

“Now, Alek,” he hisses. “Don’t fight me on this.”

I grin lazily. “You’re hot when you’re angry.”

“Not the time, princess,” he mutters, but he smiles like I wanted.

God, I love this boy.

I really fucking love him, and I hope I make it through the night to tell him that.

FORTY-EIGHT