Read Online To Hell and Back by Juliana Stone - Free Book Online Page A

as Logan had taught her. Within seconds she had the layout. She knew that the washrooms were to her right, that there were seven truckers in line waiting for coffee, as well as three full tables near the window. Vending machines lined the wall to her left and beyond that was an exit that led to the rear of the building.
    Chest heaving, she took a few more steps, mind racing, adrenaline pulsing in her veins. She was a bit lightheaded and exhaled softly, taking a moment to gather her wits and her thoughts.
    The two men in the rear booth eyed her with interest, but she passed over them and focused on an orange wall phone. It was a direct line to the local taxi service. She started toward it but paused when she realized that not only could Cale and Priest see her inside the brightly lit service center, but just because she got hold of a taxi didn’t mean one would appear within the next few minutes.
    Kira turned on a dime and disappeared inside the ladies’ restroom, grateful to find it empty. She splashed cold water on her face and stared at a reflection that while familiar was still surprising to her.
    Her face was fuller, her cheeks redder—healthier—and her skin glowed. In a few weeks she’d gone from being a shut-in mental patient who’d not seen the sun in weeks or months even, to a dead body on a slab in the morgue. She’d traveled to the gray realm and won. Now she was here, back in the human realm, very much alive and determined to stay so.
    Kira licked her lips, tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, and stepped away from the sink. She fingered the dagger in the front of her jeans and made sure it wasn’t visible. She knew what she had to do.
    She turned abruptly and left the washroom, but instead of heading back the way she’d come, she jogged out the back exit. Her chest was tight as she burst into the night and she took off at a full run, her gaze focused on the still-flashing lights.
    By the time she reached the police vehicles she was out of breath, and the stitch in her side was painful. She didn’t stop. Didn’t take a moment to reconsider her actions. She just did what Logan had asked her to do.
    “Officer!” she cried, stumbling over the large ruts that the tractor-trailers had worn into the pavement. She waved her hands in the air like a crazy person. “Please help me!”
    A lanky officer jogged toward her with his gun drawn and she tripped once more, letting him catch her as she shuddered against his chest.
    “Please help me,” she begged. “They won’t let me go. They’ll come for me again.”
    The officer motioned to the others behind him. “What’s going on, Miss? Who won’t let you go?”
    Tears seeped from her eyes and her voice trembled as she gazed up at him, all the fear and despair she could muster shadowed in her eyes. It wasn’t hard to do—Kira was scared out of her tree. “The two men who took me. I was at a party and they gave me a lift, but that was two hours ago. The only reason they stopped here was because I—” She swallowed and shook her head. “Well, I had to go to the bathroom.” She tugged on his arm. “But they’ll come for me when I don’t come out and they’re going to—” She shuddered once more and collapsed in his arms.
    “They’ve taken you by force?” the officer asked.
    “I only wanted a ride home.” She sniffled and nodded. “But they wouldn’t let me out. I’m so afraid. Please.”
    The officer nodded to his partner and the others. “Seems we’ve got a kidnap situation.” Gently he disengaged himself, his eyes kind but his demeanor focused. “Where are they? Are they armed?”
    Kira hoped like hell none of these nice men would get hurt, but at the moment she could think of no other way to escape Priest and Cale.
    “They’re driving a large black SUV, the one parked beside the red pickup truck. They’re wearing leather and the one guy is smoking a cigar out near the front of the service center.” She paused. “They’re