Running Wilde Read Online Free PDF Page A

her.
    He drew a breath as if about to say something, but she wasn’t going to give him the opportunity. She slammed a knee into his balls, and he bent double with an umph . Pain seized the back of her throat for hurting him, but dammit, she couldn’t afford feelings of guilt. If she let them in, they’d consume her. She bolted past him, scooped up her bag, smacked open the side door that let out into the alley…and ran directly into another big male chest.
    Goddammit.
    She glared up, expecting to see one of Vaughn’s brothers—most likely his twin—but instead met brown eyes crinkled in amusement.
    Marcus.
    So that was how Vaughn had found her.
    He caught her arm and the corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile that was too damn charming. “Going somewhere, doll?”
    Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
    She glanced around. The alley was blocked on three sides by the walls of her neighbors’ houses, and he was barring her only exit onto the street. She had to get past him if she had any hope of escaping.
    Okay, no problem. She knew what made guys like him tick.
    She drummed up every ounce of desperation she felt and let it leak out her eyes in the form of crocodile tears.
    “Please,” she whispered, giving her voice a tremble. “Let me go. He’s my ex, and I’ve been trying to get away from his abuse and—”
    “I don’t think so,” Marcus said, and his smile widened. He was enjoying himself, the bastard. “See, I know all of the Wilde brothers, and not a one of them would ever harm a woman.”
    So much for tapping into his inner knight in shining armor.
    Dammit, she’d known this guy was trouble. As soon as he walked into Elixir and her inner alarm bells started clanging, she should have ran out the back door to a new life. It had been so, so stupid to ignore her instincts when they hadn’t failed her yet. She’d know better next time.
    If there was a next time, which wasn’t looking too promising. Marcus still held her by the arm and inside, Vaughn’s heavy footfalls were coming fast through her apartment toward the side door.
    “Marcus?” Vaughn called, his voice strangled.
    “Yeah, I got her.”
    Oh, no. No, no, no.
    She looked up at Marcus. He seemed like a decent enough guy, and she hated to hurt him, but…
    “I’m sorry.” She yanked a Taser from her bag and shoved it into his ribs. He made a choked sound and dropped as if his legs had dissolved from underneath him. Without glancing back, she jumped over his prone body and sprinted into the street with Vaughn’s curses chasing her into the chill of the night.
    …
    Vaughn staggered to the door, wincing as he readjusted himself. The woman had damn near kicked his balls up into his throat, and his stomach threatened a revolt with each step he took.
    A shout of pain rang out from the alleyway. Vaughn cursed, slammed through the door, and found Marcus on hishands and knees in the alley. Lark was long gone.
    “Jesus.” He dragged his hands through his hair, then locked them behind his head and stared down the alley. At his feet, Marcus groaned and sat up. He was looking a bit green, and Vaughn winced in sympathy. “Nut shot?”
    Marcus dropped his head into his hands. “Dude, she fucking tasered me.”
    Vaughn swore again and dug his phone out of his pocket. “If you were her and wanted to get out of the city fast, where would you go?”
    “Got me. I don’t know this city. This is Jean-Luc’s stomping ground.”
    “Then call him.” It came out as more of an order than he intended, but fuck it. He wasn’t trying to make friends here. He pulled up the GPS app on his phone and searched for nearby train or bus stations. He doubted she’d try to fly. She’d need too much money and documentation to get on a last minute flight. Would a train ask for ID? Probably, and he assumed there wouldn’t be one leaving at this time of night. So the bus stations were his best bet. And there was a bus stop less than a mile away.
    He didn’t wait for Marcus,