Read Online PRIMAL INSTINCT by JANIE CROUGH - Free Book Online Page A

of her hand as she brought her hands up to keep her skull from splitting.
    He was looking for them again, the intent to kill at the forefront on his mind, rage that he couldn’t find them a close second. And he was getting nearer.
    Adrienne knew Conner had Seth coming to help her, but even five minutes would be too late. She had to warn the couple sitting across the coffee shop. Get them to leave. Bar the door. Do something.
    Or people would die.
    Adrienne attempted to stand up, but her legs wouldn’t seem to support her. She took her hands from her head and put them on the table to use as leverage to get up, vaguely aware of the concerned looks she was getting from the people around her.
    I will kill them both!
    The pain seared through her head with each of his thoughts. His feelings were beyond just a jealous rage. It was a malicious desire to see them both suffer, to watch them cower in fear. And he didn’t care if he had to kill others to achieve that goal.
    Adrienne finally hoisted herself up from her seat, leaning heavily against the table. She looked down and saw a drop of blood on the table and realized her nose must be bleeding. She wiped it with the back of her hand as she took her first unsteady steps toward the couple in the corner across the way.
    The trip seemed to take forever. Adrienne concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. She was losing her peripheral vision, could feel blackness closing in around her, but fought it back. He was getting closer, Adrienne knew.
    She finally reached the table where the couple sat, still gazing at each other, oblivious to Adrienne’s agony. They looked up in alarm when she finally stumbled into their table.
    “Excuse me...” the boyfriend started in a perturbed tone.
    “Oh, my gosh, are you all right? Your nose is bleeding,” the woman asked. Both she and the boyfriend stood to help steady Adrienne.
    Adrienne couldn’t think straight. How could she get them to leave?
    “A man,” she finally said, her breath sawing in and out of her chest as if she were running a marathon. “Coming. Hurt you.”
    Adrienne could tell they didn’t understand, had no idea of the danger they were in. She knew they were out of time, could feel the man getting closer. What could she do? She had to make them leave. Maybe if she could just get the woman out.
    Adrienne turned to the younger woman and grabbed her upper arms, trying to keep herself upright. She took a deep breath and focused desperately on the words she needed to say.
    “Can you, please.” Breathe. “Go get me.” Breathe. “A wet paper towel.” Breathe. “From bathroom.”
    The woman looked very confused, but finally nodded. “Sure. Just hang on. Do we need to call a doctor?”
    “No, not yet,” Adrienne answered. She slid into the woman’s vacated chair with relief as Adrienne watched her cross to the bathroom. Hopefully it would be enough.
    The boyfriend looked at Adrienne with a blend of concern and apprehension. Adrienne didn’t blame him for either.
    The door slammed open behind her. He never said a word, but at this close proximity, Adrienne could see every malicious thought the man had. He was sure they were here. He looked around at all the tables and eventually got to where Adrienne and the boyfriend were sitting. He didn’t even pause to glance twice at them. The woman he searched for was not there; Adrienne had sent her to the bathroom.
    A rage overwhelmed the man once again that he had not found his prey. Adrienne whimpered, the pain consuming her, but nobody heard. The man turned to walk back out the door.
    “Here, miss, is this enough? Your nose is bleeding more.” The woman rushed across the coffee shop with paper towels in her hands.
    Adrienne felt the absolute glee the man experienced when he heard the woman’s voice. He would not be denied his vengeance after all.
    He was only a few feet behind where Adrienne sat. Adrienne knew he was about to reach for the gun he had hidden in