Page 128 of Maximus

Natasha was on her knees, Novak was half bent dealing with a screaming, hysterical, bleeding woman.

Instead of running for the trees, I took off toward Novak and Natasha. Shit, I was the stupidest bitch that ever lived but I couldn’t leave her.

But before I could take more than three steps in their direction, all hell broke loose. A bullet cracked, then I watched in horror as Novak’s head…exploded.

Okay, maybe that was a slight exaggeration, but Christ Almighty, half of it was gone.

My body froze, my lungs seized, and I threw up.

It was too much. Way too fucking much.

Natasha’s ear-piercing scream tore me from my stupor and I ran. I didn’t think about the blood, I didn’t think about the missing pieces of Novak’s skull. No, I was on a mission—get Natasha and run. We had to get out of there.

The woman was still shrieking—not that I could blame her, there was blood pouring from the gash in her forehead, running down over her brow, the bridge of her nose, and dripping from her chin. It flowed faster than the Alsek River during a melt-out. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Novak’s blood…and…other stuff…stuff I didn’t want to think about, had spattered all over her. But sweet Jesus, the woman had a set of lungs on her.

Then I was no longer running. Two steel bands wrapped around me from behind and lifted me clean off my feet. My eyes locked with Natasha’s horrified ones and time stopped. Fear slithered down my spine and my mind blanked. Two men dressed head-to-toe in black appeared—their faces hidden behind black masks, both had scary black rifles pulled up to their shoulders, pointed at Natasha.

We were going to die.

That’s when I remembered to fight.

And fight I did. I twisted and turned. Clawed at the arms around my middle, kicked my feet, threw elbows, and screamed my head off until I was finally dropped.

“Eva, stop,” the man grunted but I didn’t.

Now that I was on my feet I was prepared to run. I took off in a sprint, but didn’t get very far before a hand curled around my bicep, spun me, and pulled me close.

Fight!

I broke free from his hold and swung wildly, I wasn’t aiming at any particular body part, I was just punching, then I remembered I wasn’t using my feet, and I started kicking. The impact of my blows had no effect on the man, not that I was actually making that much contact, the man was so much larger than me he easily deflected my strikes.

“Stop, Eva! Max sent us.”

My fist finally connected, the man’s head jerked to the side, and before he could recover, I ran again.

I was off my feet, a hard wall of big-bad-scary-man behind me, the wool of his mask scratched my neck as he lowered his face, his mouth to my ear and he growled, “Stop, goddamn it. Max sent us. We’re here to help you. Tex and Max. Stop fighting me so we can get you home to your boys.”

My body started to sag in relief when I remembered how stupid I’d been in the past. No way had Max and Tex sent these men. They had no idea where I was.

This was a trap. It had to be.

I strained to get free, arching my back and jerking my body with every last bit of strength that I possessed.

“Fucking hell, woman. Stop. My name is Gabe. I work with Max. If you stop fighting me, we’ll get you home.”

“Gabe?”

I knew that name. I’d heard Max say it on the phone.

“Yes, Eva. I’m Gabe.”

“What team are you on?”

“Blue.”

Hm. Still could be a trick.

“Who else is on your team?”