Chapter 145 Losing Game
Chapter 145 Losing Game
ARYA’S POV
I had no idea where I was going. I just knew I had to get away.
The GPS screen in the dashboard flickered to life. I jabbed at it with one hand while steering with the other, trying to pull up a map that would tell me where I was, how to get to…
Where? The Vitale mansion? The police?
I shook my head. I just needed to get somewhere, anywhere that wasn't here.
So I pressed the coordinates of my family home and the screen flared to life.
I laughed in relief, tears of joy springing to my eyes. “Yes!”
"We're okay, Dante," I said again, more to convince myself than him. "We're getting out. We're-"
BANG.
Something hit the back of the car, jolting us forward and I screamed, swerving.
When I looked at the rearview mirror, I saw him and my heart dropped.
Marco had found another car, a bright red sportscar and he was crazily on our tail. His head was out the driver's seat, a shotgun in his hand.
How many fucking guns did he have!?
"STOP THE CAR!" His voice carried even over the engine. "ARYA, STOP!"
No way in hell.
I pressed harder on the gas and the car shot forward. My heart was trembling faster than my body.
I followed the turn of the map and another gunshot struck the car. This one shattered the back window.
The safety glass exploded, raining down on Dante's car seat.
“Shit!” I cried, turning behind to make sure the glass didn’t spray on him. “Sorry, baby. I’m sorry!”
But Dante was screaming now, obviously terrified. I turned back to the road. sobbing as I drove faster and faster.
The road ahead was empty. We were on some kind of industrial street, warehouses on either side, no other cars in sight.
Marco was still behind me. I could see him in the mirror and give chase.
The bastard was stubborn. Even with his injured hand, he was determined to catch us but I wouldn’t let him.
“I’m done with you, Marco!” I screamed, pressing harder on the gas but his car was faster and he was starting to gain on us.
I took a turn too fast and the car fishtailed. I overcorrected, managed to straighten out, and kept going.
The GPS loaded again alerting me that I was still several miles away from the main highway. I was nowhere near anything I recognized.
“Where the fuck are we!?” My voice came out strangled with tears but I didn’t stop.
I had to get out of here somehow. There was no telling what Marco would do if he caught me.
Probably something savage. Or he would take Dante away, his hatred towards my child was no secret.
My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. I wasn’t going to let him catch me no matter what!
Marco shot again and this one hit something vital. The back tire hissed loudly and the car lurched, pulling hard to the left.
"No! Please, no!" I screamed and tried to control it.
My plan was to slow down gradually, but the car had other ideas.
It spun out of control. Another scream left my throat while I reached for Dante, shielding him with my body.
The world became a blur of grey and brown and green. Then…. CRASH.
The impact with the tree was catastrophic. The metal groaned and glass shattered. The airbag deployed, slamming into my ribs.
For a moment, everything was silent except for the ringing in my ears.
Dante's cries brought me back. I blinked through the smoke and dust, my body screaming with pain. But Dante… I had to get to Dante.
“Hold on, baby.” I croaked weakly. “Hold on.”
I had thrown my arm across his car seat at the moment of impact, my maternal instinct taking over.
Now I fumbled with the seatbelt, my fingers numb and clumsy. When it gave way, I realized I had to get the door open.
It was jammed so I threw my foot against it. Kicking hard once then twice and the third time with a savage cry.
It flew open and I tumbled out, somehow managing to pull Dante's car seat with me.
"Run," some part of my brain screamed. "RUN."
I unclipped Dante from the seat, there was no time to take the whole thing and clutched him to my chest as I staggered away from the wreck.
Another gunshot exploded in the air and my ankle gave out after three steps.
“Arrgh!” I cried, the sound tearing from my throat.
Marco’s laughter echoed behind me. “You can’t fucking run from me, Arya!”
The pain was blinding. I looked down to see blood soaking through my jeans, a hole in my ankle and I realized that he shot me.
I couldn’t even look back. I tried to stand again but I fell and quickly twisted as I went down, making sure Dante landed on top of me, protected.
"I'm sorry," I sobbed into his hair. "I'm so sorry, baby. I tried."
Footsteps crunched on gravel behind me.
I looked up through tears and pain to see Marco approaching, gun in hand. Blood dripped from his wounded hand but his grip on the weapon was steady.
"The next time you want to shoot someone," he said with a bored drawl, like we were discussing the weather, "aim for the heart. A hand wound? That's just going to piss someone off."
My body was trembling with so much rage. "Fuck you," I spat.
His eyebrows rose. "There's that fire again. I do love when you put up a good fight."
"FUCK YOU!" I screamed it, putting every ounce of hatred and rage into the words. "I hate you! I hope you rot in hell for what you've done!"
His expression darkened. "Ungrateful bitch."
He raised the gun and brought it down and the butt of the weapon connected with my temple.
Another blinding pain erupted in my head and I thought I was seeing stars for a moment but only darkness.
“Dante.” I whimpered as I fell to the ground, the world disappearing into nothing.