Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Guardian 9)

I briefly closed my eyes against the fury that swept me. They were bastards. Complete and utter bastards.

"I'd rather hold on to the hope of revenge," he added as his gaze met mine. His gray eyes were dark and his expression was pensive. "Will you help me get that?"

"If you help me get mine - and not just by giving me information. I mean tracking these bastards down and stopping them. Whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes," he murmured, and shivered. "I have a feeling you're far more used to that sort of thing than I am."

"If you're a border guard, then you obviously can fight. That's what I need. I can handle the finer details."

"Of that, I have no doubt."

He touched his neck briefly, then jerked his fingers away. I thought about stopping the truck to undo the wire, but he didn't seem to be in great discomfort and I wanted to get as far away from those men as possible. I really didn't trust them not to have some form of backup plan in the event of things going wrong - like us escaping.

Evin added, "You know, I'm really surprised that they didn't just kill you. It would have been less dangerous for them."

"But not as much fun."

>"Fuck" was all he said as I ran forward.

We made it to the car. I flung open the passenger door, dropped him onto the seat, shoved his legs inside then shut the door and ran around to the driver's side.

Denny and his men were almost on us. I grabbed the keys out of my pocket, slammed the door closed, hit the lock button with my elbow, then leaned across and locked Evin's door.

And jumped about a mile high as a rock hit the windshield and the glass became a spidery network of cracks.

But I could see the men through them. Could see their vicious expressions. If they got their hands on us now, it wasn't going to be pleasant.

Not that it was actually going to be pleasant before.

"Fucking hell," Evin said. "Get us out of here!"

"I'm trying." I shoved the key in the ignition and fired the big engine up, then released the hand brake and threw the truck into reverse.

It rocketed backward. Another rock hit the windshield, this time punching through and landing with a thump on the seat between Evin and me. I twisted the wheel, pointing the truck's nose in the general direction of the road, then changed gears and hit the gas pedal.

As the truck surged forward, something hit the bed behind us. My gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, and I saw one of Denny's friends scrambling into the back. I hauled on the wheel and the big truck turned sharply to the left. The man behind us flew sideways, his shoulder smashing into the side of the truck and his body half flying out.

Yet somehow he managed to maintain his grip and didn't fall all the way out.

Evin twisted around. "Turn the other way."

I kept my foot planted and twisted the wheel in the opposite direction. Our passenger flew across the truck and tumbled out over the side. I glanced at the side mirror, saw him bounce several times in the sandy soil, then roll to a stop. He didn't get up.

I kept accelerating. I couldn't see Denny and his other friend, but I wasn't about to risk slowing down until we were well out of the area.

For a long time, the only sound was the growl of the big engine as we arrowed through the night. I handed Evin the knife and he hacked away the rope binding his legs. He tried undoing the silver wound around his neck, but it was twisted on tight.

I didn't say anything and, eventually, he cleared his throat and said, "I don't suppose you could stop and take the silver away? My skin feels like it's blistering."

I didn't look at him. Didn't slow down.

"That depends."

I could feel his gaze on me - a heat that held no anger, only the hint of confusion. Whatever else Evin might be, I didn't think he was a particularly devious man.

"On what?"

I met his gaze then. Saw his gaze widen, so heaven only knows what he actually saw in my eyes.