Desert Thorns (Unconquerable Faith #2)

1. Chapter 1

Harley

“Don’t let her get away!”

My sneakers slapped against the concrete dock as I raced along the water past run-down boats and vessels. Don’t look back! They’re right behind you!

They were. I could hear at least two sets of footfalls chasing me. I wanted to scream for help, but it would be a waste of breath I needed to preserve. Silent Wharf was deserted, and not because it was past midnight. No one was ever out here, except the Italian Mafia, apparently.

And Craig. What did my ex-boyfriend have to do with them?

He was a detective with the Darkwater Refuge Police Department.

Detectives were supposed to be safe, not hunt you down after catching you spy on them from behind a stack of crates.

Somehow, he’d turned into a maniac who did anything for . . . money?

The way he’d shot those two guys point-blank in the head . . . The report of the gun echoed in my mind over and over. Would he do the same with me if he caught me?

I reached the harbor and banked to the left. My VW Beetle was parked two hundred yards away on the side of the jungle road leading to civilization. I couldn't lead them to it. Not when they were this close. I wouldn't have enough time to get in and lock the doors.

Every step reverberated through my legs, my heart pounding hard in my chest. I had to get off this road. The moonlight made it impossible to hide.

I cut to the right and scaled the low picket fence of a dilapidated house, then darted through the withered yard. The windows were broken, the shutters hanging off their hinges.

“You can’t get away, Harley!” Craig hollered behind me.

He sounded close. So close.

I dodged the low-hanging branches of a tree that seemed to grab at me, leapt over a tire lying in the grass, and finally reached the back fence. No, no, no, it was way higher than I’d anticipated.

At least nine feet high.

I bore down on the wooden wall. Two steps away, I leapt. Pushed off the fence—

My sneaker slipped on the wooden surface. The thin ledge cut into my arms as I managed to hook them over it. I bit down on a scream. Go, go, go!

“You’ve got nowhere to go.”

Craig’s snarl—even closer now—sent a jolt of panic through me. The adrenaline gave me the strength to pull myself up and clamber over the fence just as a hand grabbed my leg. I jerked it away.

Gravity took over, eliciting a gasp from me as I dropped to the other side.

Pain exploded in my hip when I landed hard on concrete.

Gritting my teeth, I shoved to my knees and scrambled back to my feet.

Started running again. My hip throbbed, my heart thudding so hard I felt the pulse in my throat.

Praise God my parkour skills weren’t too rusty, even though I hadn’t practiced since my teens.

This move had bought me the minute I needed to make it to my Beetle and drive off before they caught me.

I chased down the narrow street and took another right.

There. My lime green 2003 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible sat just beyond the edge of the jungle.

Never slowing down, I fumbled the key fob from my jeans and unlocked my Beetle.

As soon as I reached it, I yanked the driver’s side door open and dove inside.

Slammed the door behind me and locked myself in.

“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon,” I muttered as I turned the key in the ignition.

The engine sputtered, then died.

“No!” I tried again. Please, God. Not now.

The tinny roar that came to life flooded me with relief. You’re the best, Jesus!

Thwack! Thwack!

I jumped in my seat. Craig. He was pounding his flat hand against my window.

“Open up, Har—”

I stepped on the gas, not caring that I might roll over his feet.

The Beetle shot forward. Only one road led out of here, and Craig’s Charger was much faster than my Beetle.

The thick canopy of the jungle blocked the moonlight, forcing me to turn on the headlights.

I shot down the dirt road, each bump rattling my car.

Over and over I checked the rearview mirror. No one behind me. Yet.

Ahead, concrete replaced dirt. Not much longer, and I was back in civilization where I could call for help. The road split. Wait, had I come from the left or right? Left or right? Make up your mind, Harley.

I jerked the wheel to the left. The road narrowed, then merged with another road. Wait, why was it going uphill? No, no, no.

It was too late. There was no way I could turn now. This road was too narrow and framed by thick jungle on both sides. Not to mention I would run right into Craig’s open arms.

White-knuckling the wheel, I took one sharp turn after another.

Where was I headed? Darkwater Refuge was a small island located in the Pacific Ocean, east of Hawaii.

Circumnavigating it only took four hours, and there was plenty of civilization, but the northwest was cluttered with jagged green mountains and only accessible by foot.

Please tell me this is not where I’m headed, God. Please tell me this isn’t a dead end. Craig would catch me. And then . . .

No, no he wouldn’t. If I had to leave my Beetle behind and continue on foot, I would. Somehow, I would get away. God was with me.

The jungle cleared, and I emerged at the top of the hill. The headlights of my Beetle hit a cathedral, then a massive stone wall. I turned to the right, nearly crashing into a banyan tree. I swerved around it and ended up on a gravel parking lot. Beyond it was nothing but jungle.

I hit the brakes, cut the engine, and fled into the night. The air felt cooler up here, and suddenly I was cold in my bootcut jeans and turtleneck T-shirt. I sprinted past the banyan tree toward the cathedral. Hopefully someone was inside.

Low stone steps led up to a heavy oak double door. I almost tripped, but caught myself. My fingers trembled when I reached for the handle. Please let it be unlocked.

The door swung inside with a groan. Almost fainting with relief, I stumbled into the cathedral and quickly shoved the door closed behind me.

For a moment, I just leaned against the hard wood and breathed in incense.

Candlelight flickered at the front of the cathedral, the wooden pews throwing eerie shadows against the stone walls and marble floor.

A noise from outside made me jump. I whirled around, searching the door for a bolt or lock. Nothing. I wasn’t safe here.

Heart in my throat, I sprinted along the back row, then down the left nave aisle. A side door caught my attention. I tried the handle, and it opened. Fresh air hit me—back outside.

I ran to the back of the cathedral. Maybe I could hide somewhere here. Climb a tree or—

A sea of headstones bathed in moonlight opened up before me.

A cemetery. And there were those thick walls again, running behind it.

A glint of hope blossomed inside of me. If I’d be able to climb up, Craig could never follow me.

Despite being a detective and strong, he wasn’t the best runner or climber.

Not thinking twice, I sprinted past the headstones toward the wall. It was at least fifteen feet high. If only there were a corner where I could tic-tac up. But there wasn’t.

Didn’t matter. I just needed to jump high enough to catch the ledge. After that, I could pull myself up.

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

This verse was probably not meant literally, but I didn’t care.

Repeating it over and over in my mind, I let it propel me forward until I’d reached the wall.

I lunged. Shoved off the stone wall with my left foot, then the right.

And caught the ledge. A thrill shot through me. I still had it in me. But man, my hip. It still throbbed from that brutal drop onto concrete. I gripped the ledge with my other hand, then pulled myself up onto the four-foot-thick wall. If only I could lie here for a bit and catch my breath.

No, I couldn’t risk it. Craig only had to spot my Beetle—which wasn’t hard, considering it was lime green and parked out in the open—and he’d know that I was in here.

I scooted to the edge, and, holding onto it, lowered myself as far down as possible.

Then I shoved off the wall, turned midair, and landed in the grass.

To soften the blow to my ankles and knees, I performed a roll and came back onto my feet.

Trees dotted the pasture all around me, a lake glimmering in the moonlight to my left.

I pushed on. My hip screamed for a break.

Lord, I can’t go on. I need to—

A hooded man wearing all black stepped from behind a tree—and I ran straight into his open arms.