Page 67 of Merciless Angel

Usually I enjoyed my psychology classes. They were so interesting and kept my attention. Or was this criminology? Shit, I didn’t even know what class I was in anymore. Stifling a yawn, I happily packed up my things at the end of class. I needed a nap.

Slinging my bag over a shoulder, I left the classroom and ambled along down the hall. Maybe I should grab a coffee from the cafeteria on my way out.

Footsteps echoed in the hall behind me. The school was pretty empty this time of year. Not many of us took summer classes. I cast a glance over my shoulder, frowning when I didn’t see anyone there. Weird.

Continuing on, I pulled out my phone and texted Raina that I should be there soon. Again the footsteps echoed, coming faster now this time. What the hell?

I turned around to find Cash quickly advancing on me. Adrenaline zinged through me, freezing me in place. The hate filled expression he wore got my feet moving. I shoved my phone away and started to run.

“Clover,” he shouted after me. “Stop running. You are ours, Clover. Have you forgotten that? We keep you or we kill you. Those were your options.”

The anger in Cash’s voice spurred me on. I’d really messed up this time. They would surely kill me now.

Cash’s footsteps quickened as he broke into a run behind me. The hall was empty. There was no one around to help me. The school was large. There was still a lot of building left separating me from my car. Not to mention a lengthy chunk of parking lot.

As I approached the stairs that led up to the library, I made a hasty decision. I darted up the stairs, hoping to lose him in the library. The many shelves of books would give me a chance to hide as I made my way out the other side and down another set of stairs back to the main floor. The library thankfully had a few exits. Maybe that would confuse him.

“Clover, stop fucking running if you know what’s good for you.” Cash’s furious demand followed me up the stairs. He wasn’t far behind.

“I can’t,” I tossed back over my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to be this way.”

“Did you really think that you would get rid of us so easily? You made a big mistake, Sunshine. Fucking huge.”

Cash hauled himself up the stairs, taking them three at a time. I thought surely he would catch me. Fate cut me a break by having him stumble. The brief delay gave me the precious seconds I needed to stay ahead of him.

I entered the library at a fast walk, trying not to run or appear chaotic. The librarian didn’t even glance up from her computer. Rather than walk through the open area in the middle of the room, I veered off to one side, slipping behind a shelf of books.

I kept looking back over my shoulder, expecting to see Cash. Pausing when I had to move from one shelf to another, I peeked around the shelf. Cash stood in the middle of the room, surveying his surroundings like an animal on the hunt. As he turned in my direction, I jerked back, hiding behind the shelf.

My heart pounded in my ears, making it hard to hear his steps. The carpet muffled them as well which didn’t help. I waited until he continued on before moving from one shelf to another.

I weaved my way through the large library, doing my best to stay hidden. Part of me expected Cash to appear any moment, trapping me. He didn’t. Somehow I made it to the other end of the library without running into him.

Before leaving, I waited a good fifteen minutes. He had to have given up by now, right?

Sucking in a deep breath, I left the library, holding tight to my bag. A large spiral staircase took me down to the main floor and right to an exit. I watched for Cash, sure that he would grab me outside. When I didn’t see him lingering outside the building, I ran for the parking lot.

If I could get to my car and book it to Raina’s, I’d be safe. At least, that was the plan.

As I crossed from one row of cars to another, a silver Camaro burst out from between the rows. The engine snarled, as angry as its driver. Fuck me.

Blaze hit the gas, making the car roar as it surged toward me. Panic engulfed me. I ran like I’d never ran before. There was nowhere to hide with me so obviously within his sights. Blaze chased me with his car, forcing me to run between cars and leap over parking blocks to escape him. Unfortunately, the lot wasn’t as full due to the summer season.

That didn’t stop him for long. His tires squealed as he raced down the lot and turned a corner that would bring him to the side I was now on. I needed to get to my own car. Would that stop him from chasing me? Doubtful.

A panicked sob lodged in my throat as Blaze revved his engine. Opening his window, he shouted, “There’s nowhere to run, Clover. You can’t hide with the Gods forever.”

I squeezed in front of a car parked really close to another car, forcing myself to fit between them. Anything to stay out of Blaze’s path. My car was a few rows away. Even if I made it there, Blaze would just block me in. Locking myself inside might give me time to call Raina for help.

While Blaze continued to follow me, I kept moving between cars. Finally I saw my little blue sedan up ahead. Unfortunately, I’d have to sprint across the lot to reach it. I had no choice.

Shoving out from between two cars, I ran for my vehicle. Blaze was hot on my heels. His car raged toward me, making my legs pump harder and faster. Would he really run me down?

Hell yeah, he probably would.

He swerved toward me, forcing me between two cars for refuge. I didn’t have many choices here. There weren’t enough cars to cover me the entire way there.

With my heart in my throat, I ran. My car was close enough. I could make it. I had to. A sense of victory overtook me as I reached my car.