Chapter 27
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QUINN STUMBLED AS ADAM grabbed her, pulling her toward the tow truck.
He’d released the safety on the weapon, and Quinn had no doubt he’d shoot her.
As he yanked her toward the open passenger door of the truck, she quickly shoved her phone into the pocket of her raincoat.
There was no chance in hell she was letting him take her only method of communication again.
“Surprised to see me?” he asked with a dark laugh, pulling a pair of handcuffs from his coat pocket. He aimed the weapon at her chest. “Put these on or I’ll shoot you right here.”
Quinn trembled in fear but put the handcuffs on, not sure what other option she had.
Adam was crazy. Manic. He had a wild look in his eyes that somehow made him even scarier than before.
“Tighter,” he ordered, and she adjusted them.
“Now get in the fucking truck, bitch. We don’t have a lot of time. ”
She struggled to climb up with her hands restrained, then yelped in surprise as she felt the gun at her back.
Adam gave her a brutal shove, and she scrambled to right herself, sitting in the passenger seat.
Her gaze frantically swept the lot. Where was the driver?
When she didn’t show up at work, Knox would find her car. Someone would come looking for her.
She wasn’t willing to wait that long for help.
As Adam rounded the front of the truck to climb in, she managed to reach her phone in her coat pocket.
Knox’s number was one of her emergency contacts.
She could call him without even unlocking it.
Frantic, she swiped the screen, hoping like hell she’d pushed the call button.
If this worked, she’d reach either Knox or 911. Both would be able to help her.
Adam was already climbing into the driver’s seat and slamming the door shut, and she looked toward him, trying to act complacent.
“Everything go okay?” Knox asked over the phone.
His voice was muffled coming from the phone in her pocket, and Adam hadn’t heard it as he started the engine. He would soon though.
“Don’t say anything!” Quinn quickly said, her heart pounding.
Qureshi’s gaze whipped toward her.
“Please. Don’t hurt me,” she said loudly. “Just tell me why you’re kidnapping me again. I promise to listen and do whatever you want. How did you find me, Adam?”
He looked at her like she was an idiot, but Quinn needed to stall him. Knox didn’t say another word over the phone, but she prayed he could hear her. That he was listening. That he’d come save her.
“What happened to the tow truck driver?” Quinn asked when Adam didn’t respond. “Did you steal his truck? How did you even get here?”
“Who do you think messed up your car, bitch? I’ve been watching you, waiting for that prick you’re always with to leave. I’ve got sources, too,” he said with a chuckle. “I can watch on the surveillance feed every time you leave your apartment.”
“No.”
“Are you fucking him?” Adam sneered. “That’s not how I expect my wife to behave. You’ll pay for this, whore!”
He put the gear shift into drive and pressed down on the gas, the truck lurching forward. Quinn screamed as she fell toward the dashboard, catching herself before she hit her head. “Where are we going?” she asked frantically. “Please. Stop! Don’t kidnap me again!”
Quinn kept yelling for Knox’s sake, ensuring that he could hear her.
The fear coursing through her bloodstream, however, was very real.
Adam sped out of the parking lot, yelling at her to shut up.
Quinn cried out in surprise as she saw a man bleeding on the ground, just outside her apartment complex.
“You killed him?” she asked in shock.
Of course he had. Adam Qureshi was an evil, twisted bastard.
A homegrown terrorist who was also a monster.
He thought nothing of taking lives or hurting others.
Quinn screamed as he sped up. They raced down the street, and then suddenly, he took a sharp right, heading on a secluded road toward a wooded area.
“No!” Quinn said. “Take me home! Don’t take me here in the woods! ”
“Shut up or I’ll shoot you!” he roared.
Adam suddenly slammed on the brakes, the truck screeching to a halt. Quinn shot forward, barely catching herself this time.
“Listen to me!” Adam yelled, suddenly launching himself toward her.
The scratches on his face had healed, but Quinn didn’t hesitate to claw at him again as she screamed.
Knox had asked her once about them, saying he’d noticed them in the surveillance footage.
He’d told her that he was proud of her for fighting like hell, and she’d do it again.
“You fucked up everything!” Adam roared. “Your friends came for you, and that ruined me!”
“You kidnapped me!” Quinn shrieked. She reached for the door handle, trying to get out.
“I’ll do a fucking lot more than that now, bitch!” he yelled, reaching out and yanking her hair. “You’re going to pay for your sins and due your wifely duties.”
“We’re not married!” she yelled, trying to pull away.
Rage coursed through him, his face red and eyes hard. “No one will save you this time. This ends right now!”
Quinn let out a blood-curdling scream and pulled free from his grip, opening the passenger door.
She stumbled out, running toward the woods, nearly slipping on the wet leaves on the ground.
The rain continued to fall, and she cursed her bad luck.
Even if she got away, he’d be able to follow her tracks.
Adam was raging, slamming the truck door before he ran after her. A gunshot sounded, and she ducked down. “Stop or I’ll shoot again!” he screamed.
Crying, Quinn continued to run, branches and twigs scratching her face.
She’d left the road and was in the actual woods now.
Handcuffed. Scared. Helpless. Quinn ducked under a downed tree, thankful for once that she was a lot smaller than Adam.
He’d have to climb over it to get through.
She didn’t stop, just kept rushing through the forest, desperate to escape.
She slid on some wet leaves as she ran, making a quick turn to the left. Adam was still out there somewhere, and she needed to get as far away from him as possible. She was panting as she continued on her trek through the forest, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t.
Suddenly, Quinn heard shouts in the distance behind her, angry male voices that carried through the trees.
Hope bloomed within her. Either Knox and his teammates had found her or Adam’s sick terror cell friends had arrived. The voices grew louder. Closer. The crack of a gunshot sounded, and she ducked down, not sure if Adam or someone else was shooting.
Quinn stayed crouched where she was near a tree, trying to stay out of sight until she knew for certain what was happening. Her entire body was shaking, scared, and she was cold huddling alone in the rain.
“Clear!” a male voice yelled.
Her mind flashed back to Kabul. The men had yelled that as they’d cleared the house—when they’d determined it was safe. Her heart pounded as she sucked in a shaky breath.
“Quinn!” Knox yelled, and she stood, tears streaming down her face. “Are you here, Quinn? Where are you?”
Knox’s voice was frantic, and Quinn turned toward it, shouting in reply.
“I’m over here, Knox! Knox! Over here!” She yelled until he suddenly appeared through the leaves, looking dark and dangerous.
The relief that crossed his face was tangible, and when she rushed toward him, Knox lifted her into his arms.
“You found me!” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched onto him. She was handcuffed, soaking wet from the rain, but she’d never been so happy to see him.
“Of course I found you,” he said, brushing away her tears and kissing her. “Are you hurt? Did he touch you?”
Quinn shook her head. “I’m not hurt. He handcuffed me but didn’t do anything. I’m not sure where he was planning on taking me, but he said we needed to hurry. I called you and tried to stall him. When he detoured and took me into the woods, I panicked. I ran.”
“Good girl,” Knox said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
He leaned down, resting his forehead against her own for a moment, seeming overwhelmed.
He took a deep breath, his eyes landing on her hands.
“I’ll get those cuffs off when we’re back at the vehicles,” he told her.
“You did a damn good job running from him.”
Cooper, Gage, and Xaden suddenly appeared through the trees, each with their weapons drawn. They holstered them when they saw there was no danger. Knox walked toward them, carrying Quinn in his arms.
“Qureshi’s dead,” Cooper told them bluntly. “Boone’s taking care of a few things.”
“Thank God. How’d you guys get here so fast?” Quinn wondered.
“I tracked your phone,” Knox said. “And Boone’s a former sniper. Qureshi never stood a fucking chance. I only wish I got to take the kill shot.”
“You found me,” Quinn said, trying to hold back more tears. “That’s all that matters. Can we go home now?” she asked.
Knox’s gaze softened. “Of course. And after this, I don’t think I’ll ever let you out of my sight.”