Hunted Read Online Free Page A

do it justice anyway. Though if you’d said yes, I would’ve had a hard time turning you down. Come on, let’s go to Missouri.”
    “Funny, I thought we were already in misery.”
    “You must be feeling better. Sarcasm and wit.”
    Will grabbed the remote off the bedside table to turn off the television, when images of a fire on the local news caught his eye. He turned up the volume.
    Emma watched Will, cocking her headed in confusion.
    “...the bodies of two teens were found next to the burning home. Officials won’t release the cause of death, but word has leaked that the boys’ deaths were unrelated to the fire.”
    Will tensed and tossed the remote on the bed. “We’ve got to go.”
    “Were those the two kids you—”
    “Yes.” Will moved to the window and looked through the slit between the cheap polyester drapes.
    “But I thought you said you didn’t kill them.”
    “I didn’t.”
    “Then—”
    He turned back to look into her strained face. “Exactly.”

 
     
    Chapter Three
     

     
    He doubted they’d followed him here. He’d checked and double-checked to make sure he hadn’t been trailed. But he was less than twenty-five miles from the burning house. Too close for comfort.
    “Have you felt sick?” While her violent nausea and vomiting triggered by the close proximity of the group was a hindrance, it had saved their lives on several occasions.
    “No.”
    “Are you sure?”
    She glared. “I think you’d have noticed the uncontrollable retching.”
    He eased through the door, holding Emma back in the room with one hand. The rundown motel parking lot was mostly empty.
    “Stay behind me and if I tell you to run, run.”
    “Okay.”
    The car was close to the door. He reached for the passenger door handle.
    “That’s not our car.”
    “It is now.”
    “Where did you get it?”
    “I traded it in. Now get in.”
    She stood in front of the car with her hand on her hip checking out the vehicle. He’d come to recognize it as her defiant stance. “Do I want to know where you got it?”
    “Probably not. Now get in.”
    “No way. You show up with a Camaro and expect me to ride shotgun. Hand over the keys.”
    “Emma, get in the damned car. We don’t have time for this.”
    She held out her hand. “Exactly. Hand over the keys. You and I both know I’m a better driver than you.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Better driver, my ass. You just know how to street-race.”
    “And if the people who killed those kids find us, who better to be driving? Hand over the keys, Will.”
    He hated to admit she was right. While he’d love nothing more than to insist she was still recovering, he knew she was well enough to drive. He tossed the keys to her and shoved the duffle bag with their clothes and weapons in the backseat. “Then get your ass in the car,” he said. “Don’t just stand there waiting for someone to take a shot at you. I’ve had enough fun playing nursemaid.”
    She slid into the driver’s seat, looking happier than he’d seen her in weeks.
    “If I’d known all it took to turn you on was a fast car, I would have got you one ages ago.” Will teased, but his nerves were shot to hell. The sooner they got out of there, the better.
    “Shut up, Will.”
    When she pulled out of the parking lot onto the two-lane highway, Will reached for the glove compartment. “The car came with a surprise you’ll be sure to like.”
    She raised an eyebrow.
    “I finally found that Tim McGraw CD you kept asking for.”
     
    ***
     
    Emma smiled in spite of herself. Leave it to Will to take an insult she hurled at him when they first met and turn it into something bordering on sweet. As Will watched for her reaction, she wondered where she’d be if he hadn’t climbed into her car mere weeks ago. It left a mixture of gratitude and irritation.
    He reached over and laced his fingers through hers, sending shivers up her spine. This new Will was growing on her and that scared the shit out of her. Had she