Page 39 of Some Like It Hot

“I don’t think so, man.”

Riley brought up his knee, hard, an unfair street move that bent the man over, gasping. Riley followed with a kick to the face that knocked him back, stumbling.

It was enough.

Larke was already leaping from the truck—good girl—and sprinting toward a trail opposite the house, as if she knew where she might be going.

And where she went, he went. His new vow.

Riley took off after her, running crazily, his gait off from his bonds, but he wasn’t slowing. Wasn’t looking back.

She was fast, and she cut into the woods, the piney trees closing around her. Riley stayed on her tail, wishing he’d gone first to deflect the branches, to warn her of roots and boulders, to keep her from tripping, but she seemed oblivious to the danger.

A shot sounded behind them and clipped off a branch right over his head.

“Go off-trail!” he shouted to her. The man would have a harder time completing his shot with the debris of the forest working in their favor.

She glanced back, as if to confirm his words—

And tripped. A thick root scarred the path, and at her speed, she launched into the air. Without her hands to stop her, she landed in a ball, with a cry of pain that took out his heart.

Riley stumbled to a stop, standing above her, breathing hard. Glanced back at the path.

Through the trees he spotted the man, coming up fast.

“Larke!”

She was gasping—maybe her breath had slammed out of her. Her eyes widened, clearly dazed.

“Can you get up?”

She nodded, but maybe she’d hit her head, because she looked past him, around him. Then back to him as if not quite comprehending his words.

“Get up!”

She just looked at him.

He had no choice. He simply crouched over her, his body over hers.

The man would have to shoot him to get to her.

Footsteps thundered up the trail and Riley leaned close to her ear. “I’m sorry—”

A grunt. Crashing through the forest. Thuds—fists against skin, the growl of angry men, a howl.

Then another shot, one that ripped Riley’s heart clean out of his chest as he braced himself for more pain.

Silence.

Larke stared up at him now, her eyes clear, meeting his.

She swallowed.

“Please tell me you’re not hit,” Riley said on a wisp of breath.

“No. You?”

He shook his head, then leaned up and let her scramble out from underneath him. She looked over her shoulder and her mouth opened.