Chasing a Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

Ignoring the pain that streaked through her limbs, she groped frantically for her keys. Tears blurred her vision. The rush of blood in her ears muffled all but the drumming of her heartbeat.
    She didn’t waste time wondering how she’d won her release. Focused only on fleeing, she searched futilely for her keys. Finally, her fingers touched metal. At the same time, a muscled arm wrapped around her waist again. The powerful man dragged her to her feet.
    “No!” She wrenched around and flailed at the assailant who’d imprisoned her in his grip.
    “Tess! It’s me!” Justin caught her wrists and held off her blows.
    Confusion stilled her momentarily. A groan called her attention to the man sprawled on the pavement at her feet. Clutching the back of his head, the wounded stranger turned dark, feral eyes up to meet her stare. With a growl, he swiped a hand toward her feet. Justin jerked her by the wrists away from the sweep of the man’s arm.
    She stumbled as her cowboy-savior tugged her toward the parked Jimmy. Her gaze locked in terror on the dark scowl of her would-be kidnapper. The face of evil. Her living nightmare. A chill slithered down her spine.
    “Hurry, Tess!” Justin pulled harder on her arm.
    The man pushed to his knees and grabbed for the gun he’d dropped when he’d lost his hold on her.
    “Justin!”
    Justin spun around at her cry. “Get in the truck!”
    He ran back toward her assailant, but fear rooted her to the spot. Her cowboy reached the pistol just before the man’s fingers could close around the weapon. With a brisk kick, Justin sent the gun sliding across the pavement.
    Another swing of his booted foot caught his opponent in the jaw. The man howled with rage, collapsed on the ground again, and held his injured face. Justin fled for the Jimmy. “Tess, get in! Let’s go!”
    Jolted into action by his shout, she mashed the remote button on the key chain that unlocked the doors. She fumbled with the handle on the driver’s door, only to have him reach around her and yank it open.
    He shoved her inside then followed, pushing her to the passenger seat. “I’ll drive.”
    Snatching the keys from her, he jammed one in the ignition and threw the truck into reverse. The Jimmy’s tires slipped on the wet pavement before finding some traction and squealing as he peeled out of the parking lot.
    The crack of a gunshot reverberated through the damp air. Tess screamed.
    “Are you hit?” He glanced over, his eyes dark with concern.
    Her body convulsed with fright. Her knees and hands stung. She registered these facts on some level, but shock rendered her mute.
    “Tess? Are you hurt?” Justin asked again, his voice rising.
    She managed a quick head shake then hugged herself to suppress the shudders ravaging her body. “How did he f-find me so f-fast?” Closing her eyes, she moaned. “Oh, God, I knew he’d find me.”
    “What are you talking about, Tess? Are you saying you knew that guy?” Incredulity filled his voice.
    She chewed her lip, remembering the black, evil eyes of her attacker. She rocked slowly, squeezing her arms more tightly around her. “Not him. But . . .”
    “But what?” Justin guided the Jimmy on to the interstate, passing cars as he inched their speed up well past that of the other traffic. “What did he want, Tess?”
    If the man had gotten her into the car . . .
    If Justin hadn’t come along when he did . . .
    If she’d been alone . . .
    When she realized how close she’d come to dying, a whimper escaped her throat. What did it feel like to die? Would the man have let her suffer?
    Knowing Randall wanted her dead was a whole different creature than actually experiencing a brush with death.
    Drawing a shaky breath, she turned tearful eyes toward Justin. He’d saved her life. The reality of that truth seeped in through the thick veil of her terror.
    Should she trust Justin with the truth? Didn’t he deserve to know what he’d gotten himself into? If he knew, she