Page 11 (1/2)

Damn, he seemed to do that a lot around this woman

Wrath Pure, cold wrath overwheluy had to be the Voice of Doom Who else would blow up her car? After she heard Jake’s coe and took off after the jerk

Waif thin, the cretin didn’t look as though he had the power to beat a girl to death The thought of what he had done to Kendall and what he could do to her slowed Claire’s pace for a hteous fury sped her back up

She’d be dairl’s body at her restaurant, threaten her faet aith it If Hank and Jake weren’t going to hightail it after hi him roam free meant a constant threat to her family’s safety She couldn’t live with herself if the Voice of Doom hurt someone because she had missed his call

But, damn, he ran fast

The creep pivoted into the alley behind Harvest He sped toward the railroad tracks a few blocks away So hard—she really didn’t want to knohat—pierced the bottom of her bare foot Pain broke her stride, caused her to stumble

She reeled Flinging out an aret away Not when she was so close Her shoulder banged against a Duht position Recovering her balance, she ratcheted up her speed Fear of hi away spurred her forward

She offered a silent thank you to her h school Most ravel side roads off Highway 28 Despite their quick pace, she hadn’t even broken a sweat yet

Digging deep for an extra burst of power, she pushed forward and got within reach Hope filled her heart as she reached out The bastard wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone ever again Her family would be safe

Her fingertips brushed the sweat-soaked cotton of his T-shirt, but she couldn’t hold on He sprinted out of reach, looked back and sneered

Oh, really? This guy didn’t think she was a threat, huh? He’d learn When it caht until the bitter end

She blocked out the sound of her brothers hollering behind her as she ran and concentrated on her one goal, taking this guy down An approaching train’s blaring horn punched its way through her focus, planting an idea for how she could take him out

One side of the alley dropped off into a short but steep, rocky e down to the train tracks If she ti Too much of a shove and she could lose her balance too They could both end up on the train tracks with the engine bearing down on them

She ignored her doubts and ha heart It would work It had to

Claire pushed herself to the liot within an arm’s reach and launched herself at hier forward Exactly what she wanted But thedown the stony decline Helpless to slow her descent, the surface as the world spun