Chapter 6: Running.

Reese’s POV

The desert was never meant for the weak.

And right now, I was weak.

I had never gone past my garage when it was just me. Never had I dared the desert sands. Now, I wasn't even doing it alone.

My hands wrapped tighter around my tummy. I would not be sold.

The muscles in my legs burned as I pushed myself to run faster because I didn’t dare stop. I heaved with each step, my lungs dry and in dire need of water. I could feel the sweat slide down the back of my neck, sticking my shirt to my skin.

But I couldn't stop. Stopping meant thinking and remembering the way Jaxon’s eyes had pinned me in place, the way his voice had cut me down like I was nothing.

“You’ll regret it,” he’d said.

I swallowed hard and kept going, wrapping my hands tighter around my tummy. It wasn’t just me anymore. It was us.

My child.

If it wasn't so dry, a tear would most definitely have rolled down my eyes. This was the only family I had. It's strange how I can be connected to something I had just figured out days ago. And now? Now that I finally had someone to call family it's about to be snatched from me.

A massive wind blew, loosing strands of my hair and blowing in dust into my eyes. Accompanying it was the smell of engine oil and smoke. I'd know this because half of my life had been spent working with these factors.

My eyes widened at the conclusion I'd come to.

They were hunting me.

My heart began to race as I ran. I couldn't possibly know where they'd show up from so I kept my sight everywhere until I stepped on a piece of rock that sent me skidding right down a dune. Trying to hold on to whatever I could to stop myself from rolling to my doom. I finally stopped, my knees and palm scalded from the effort but it didn't seem to matter. Worse was coming.

I pushed back to my feet, stumbling toward the jagged shadows of boulders clustered near the base of a dune.

Hide. I needed to hide.

I pressed myself against the cool stone, forcing my breaths to come slow, shallow. I could hear them now, the distant growl of engines, the faint echo of howls riding the wind. My heart hammered harder. They were close.

The roar of motorcycles grew louder, rolling like thunder over the desert. I crouched low, curling an arm around my stomach. My lips pressed tight to keep any sound from slipping out.

Headlights swept across the dunes, beams cutting through the dark. I held my breath until spots danced in my vision. One bike slowed, its engine idling as the rider scanned the sand.

Felix.

Even from a distance, I recognized the silver glint of his ring, the cruel smirk dancing on his lips as he raised a hand to signal the others. My skin crawled. He would enjoy being the one to drag me back.

No.

I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

When their lights moved away from where I hid, I ran from my cover, scrambling deeper into the rocky slope. Pebbles skittered under my boots, clattering down the incline. My stomach clenched. Did they hear?

“South dunes!” Felix’s voice cut through the night.

Shit.

The engines roared louder, closing in. I ran harder, forcing my aching legs to move. My chest burned, my vision blurred with tears I refused to shed. The sand pulled at me like quicksand, but I clawed forward anyway.

I didn’t make it far before a dark shape blocked my path.

My breath hitched.

Blaze.

He stood between two boulders as his golden eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight. His hair was tied back the same as always and his jaw set in that unreadable mask. The sight of him made my heart beat faster than it was already beating.

My throat tightened. I skidded to a stop, every muscle screaming at me to run, but my body wouldn’t move. His gaze pinned me the way Jaxon’s had, but different. It was less cruel and more conflicted.

“Move,” I hissed, though my voice cracked.

He didn’t.

Behind us, the engines drew closer, the howls louder. I twisted, panicked, knowing they were seconds away.

Blaze stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.

“No!” I jerked, thrashing against his grip. “Let me go—”

His hand tightened, steady but not crushing. He leaned in close, his voice low enough only I could hear.

“This way.”

I blinked, thrown off balance. “What?”

“Quiet.” His eyes burned into mine and for the first time, I thought I saw something there, a choice.

He pulled me sharply and deeper into the rocks, weaving through narrow gaps I never would have noticed. The sound of motorcycles sounded just yards away now, voices barking orders and wolves howling in excitement.

Of course, that was why they had wolves as pet.

Blaze shoved me against a stone wall, pressing a finger to his lips. My breath came shallow and fast, every nerve in my body buzzing as Felix’s voice rang out.

“She’s close. I can smell her.”

My stomach dropped.

Blaze shifted slightly, his body angled like a shield between me and the sound of approaching footsteps. His scent wrapped around me as I tried hard not to focus on it. My pulse jumped for reasons I didn’t want to name.

“Nothing here!” another voice shouted after a few tense seconds. “Her trail’s gone cold.”

Felix cursed. “Keep moving! She can’t get far.”

Engines revved again, fading slowly into the distance.

I rested against the stone, down with exhaustion as Blaze finally stepped back, releasing my wrist. His expression was as unreadable as ever, but his chest rose and fell faster than normal.

“Why?” My voice was barely a whisper.

He didn’t answer. Just turned, motioning for me to follow.

I hesitated, watching him run forward as he bent forward to avoid being seen. Everything in me screamed not to trust him. He was Jaxon’s man. 

But then, he hadn’t dragged me back. He’d hidden me.

My heart pounded. Against my better judgment, I followed.

We moved between large rocks and dunes till we got to an open, large field of sand. He finally let go of my hand, stepping away from me.

“You won’t last out here alone.” he said without looking at me.

“I’ll manage.” My words came out brittle, even as my knees wobbled.

His eyes flicked to my stomach, then back to mine. Something dark flickered across his face, gone before I could name it.

“You need food, water and shelter.” He looked away, scanning the stars. “Head east. There’s an old trading post by the cliffs. Abandoned, but it will give you cover.”

The shock of it hit me. “Wait, you’re... helping me?”

Blaze didn’t move or spare me a glance, he just turned, and began walking back toward the sound of faint engines.

“I was never here,” he said over his shoulder.

I stared after him, my mouth hanging slightly open. There was no reason for him to help me. Why'd he choose to help me, knowing the kind of boss he had?

My mind was blank and also a mess. No matter how that sounded like.

But something was sure, for the first time since leaving Jaxon’s mansion, I felt something that wasn’t fear.

Hope.

I wrapped my hands tight around my tummy and began heading east.