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Before I can blink, the sound that tears from the blast knocks me sideways. My ears pop, and my chest goes tight. Hot air surrounds my skin, burning. High-pitched ringing fills my ears, drowning out everything else, as my body slams into the ground.

I don’t know how long I’m out for. Seconds. Minutes. The world is fuckin’ tilting around me.

My body goes limp and heavy, and when I open my eyes, all I see is grey smoke and dust.

“Gianna!” I try to scream, but the air is too thick.

With all my strength, I push my body up with my arms, my heart pounding wildly as I make even the smallest movement.

Fuck. I just about make out the truck, but tires screech. Or is that my ears?

Pushing myself to my feet, I’m staggering like a zombie towards my truck, through the thick air.

CHAPTER NINETY-ONE

Gianna

The truck shook when the explosion went off, and I tried to make a run for it to get to Colt. Hands grabbed at me, and I couldn’t shake them off.

“Shhh. Mi prenderò cura di te. I’ll take care of you,” a man's voice whispers.

I don’t know how many of them are holding me down. Their weight presses down on each of my limbs when I try to thrash out. I can’t see shit with this material over my head.

And with every breath, it’s getting harder to fill my lungs.

Closing my eyes, I go to the calm place in my mind. I see Colten, his dark eyes and that naughty grin he does. We’re on the ranch with Sally the sheep. Instantly, I calm down enough to listen and concentrate.

We’re moving. I think I’m being pinned down in the back of the truck.

There’s groaning beside me. Male. It’s not Colt. I’d know if it was him because my body would tell me. Biting down on the gag, I try to kick them off me again. All it does is make my muscles scream.

“He warned me you were a feisty little bitch,” my captor taunts.

A hand pushes down on my chest so hard that I wheeze, and there's a sharp prick on my arm.

These motherfuckers drugged me.

A gush of hot air brushes over my skin; I guess they’ve opened the door. The whirl of a chopper hums in the background. I can’t work out their muffled voices to pinpoint which asshole took me.

Within a few seconds, my eyes droop and my body relaxes. Whoever wants me needs me in one piece. So, I don’t fight the feeling of peace washing over me. I’ll let them think they’re winning.

But they won’t.

After what I’ve been through, this is nothing. And perhaps it’s a good thing I’m being taken away; I’d rather they inflicted whatever hell it is on me than taking it out on Colten and his family.

CHAPTER NINETY-TWO

Colten

Hunter and Evan are rushing towards me as I stagger over to the truck.

“Where is she?” I shout. I’m not sure who to.

“Gianna!” I scream until my chest burns.

With one hand on the burning metal hood, I focus my eyes on the open door on the passenger side.

“I can’t find Tate,” Jett rushes his words out.