Run for Her Life (Zoe Storm #2)

Prologue

Zoe’s fingers were covered in something sticky. She slumped down the wall, landing on the ground with a thud. A metallic whiff clogged her nose. She lifted her trembling hand to inspect it.

It was covered in blood.

Her thumping heart had slowed into a sluggish rhythm. A chill enveloped her. She traced her hand down her abdomen until she found it. The hole in her stomach. It was tiny but it emitted a steady stream of blood, which gushed out with every disjointed breath she took.

She stared up into the sky. The gold light was fading quickly. A wall of trees surrounded her. Its shadow encroached closer, threatening to engulf her. There was no one around—not anymore. No one to hear her whimper, no one to watch her bleed.

The gunshot was the last booming sound that had echoed in this remote part of the woods. Now only birds chirped. The cold seeped into her bones and darkness lingered at the periphery.

She felt like she was sinking. She was shivering and thought she would throw up at any moment.

“Storm!” Someone materialized from the woods. A voice she recognized. Her vision sharpened as he drew closer. “Oh my God.” Aiden’s usual stoic face was frantic and alarmed. He hovered over her, his hand shooting out to put pressure on her bleeding stomach. “Just stay with me.”

“I’m… I want to sleep,” she whispered, her eyes beginning to close.

“No! Eyes on me, Storm,” he roared, pressing his phone to his ear. “I need an ambulance. My partner has been shot in the stomach.”

He was losing her. And then Aiden’s head whipped up as he looked behind her.

“Who’s there?” he called out, his free hand searching for Zoe’s gun. A twig snapped. Footsteps pounded. Aiden frowned and raised his hands in the air in surrender. “Who are you?”

A familiar voice replied, “Who the hell are you and why did you shoot her?”