Chosen Prey Read Online Free PDF Page A

pop into view.
    The man beside her rounded another corner, then shot up a street that she did recognize, the one that led up to the high school. When he neared the top of the hill, he swung into the high school's empty parking lot and gunned the engine so hard they practically flew out the opposite entrance.
    The van's tires squealed behind them, but the sound was more distant now. Lyra looked over the back of the seat and saw the gap between their vehicle and the van was increasing. They rounded a corner and the van disappeared from view.
    The cowboy tore along the street, whipped the steering wheel, and entered a neighborhood they'd been through before. She continued to look over her shoulder. She held her breath, but as the cowboy charged down the narrow street, the van didn't come into view. "Did we lose them?" she asked, trying to catch her breath and slow her heart.
     
    "Damn sure hope we did." Where the street curved, leading to another street, the cowboy brought the vehicle to a stop. They were hidden from view where they parked.
    For a moment all Lyra heard was the purr of the engine, the heavy sound of her breathing, and the beating of her heart.
    Her gaze met the cowboy's coffee-colored eyes. When she found her voice she said,
    "Thanks."
    A droplet of sweat ran down the side of his face, and the scratches she'd left on his cheek looked red and still a little bloody against his tan skin. By the marks on his face and his bloody nose, he'd taken a lot because of her.
    Why?
    He rubbed his shirtsleeve over his face and blinked several times before looking at her.
    The pepper spray was probably hurting him like crazy.
    "They sure want you bad," he said.
    She frowned. In all the craziness, she'd forgotten she didn't know anything about the man who'd rescued her. "Who are you?"
    He stared at her for a long moment. "The PI hired to track you down."
    Lyra's heart thumped and she fumbled for the door handle with one hand while clutching her backpack with her other. The man grabbed her upper arm and she froze, her gaze locked with his.
    "I'm not going to let them or anyone else hurt you." The man's grip tightened as she tried to jerk her arm away. "I'm trying to help."
    She clenched the door handle and her knuckles ached. "You led them to me."
    "I tracked you down this morning. I figured I'd find out if you wanted to be contacted by someone who claimed to be your cousin." His expression hardened even more. "I never planned to lead anyone to you. They must've followed me from my office."
    "Neal Barker's not my freaking cousin." Lyra ground her teeth. "He's the leader of a cult called the Temple of Light. The compound is in Oregon, but he's been after me for five years."
    The man relaxed his grip on her arm and let his hand slide away. Her flesh burned where he'd touched her, but not because he'd hurt her. He hadn't. Instead a kind of electrical energy sparked between them.
    "What's your name?" she asked, softer than she'd intended.
    "Dare Lancaster."
    That was right. He'd told her when he'd arrived on her doorstep.
    She leaned back against the car seat and a whoosh of air left her lungs as she stared straight ahead at a house painted pale blue with white trim. Its neat yard was a contrast to the weed-choked lot beside it.
    After a moment, she turned her head and studied Dare. His stubbled jaw was set, his eyes dark and narrowed. "You okay?" he asked.
    She still fought for breath but managed a, "Yeah."
    "You were lucky you didn't fall all the way down those stairs," he said. "How's your ass?"
    Lyra couldn't help a small laugh. "Hurts like hell." She sobered. "But you—there's blood on your face."

    Dare shrugged. "Just a hit to the nose."
    "Thanks for helping me," she said quietly. "And sorry about the cheek."
    "My shins hurt worse." He winked. "You kick like a mule."
    Lyra managed a smile. "Shouldn't sneak up on a woman."
    The corner of his mouth quirked. "There's always that."
    "I've got to get out of here." Chills rolled