Deadline≫hemmings a.u

1.1

Immediately, Luke's hand gripped mine tightly as he tugged me along in a sprint down the street. "C'mon, we gotta go."

For someone who hated running, Michael managed to stay a good five feet ahead, with his tight black skinny jeans. I had a good feeling Luke would have been up there with him, if not even further, if it hadn't been for me. I always hated running, but unlike Michael, I nowhere near good at it. After a block and a half, I was already panting, my feet aching from the boots.

As if he sensed my will weakening, Luke gripped my hand even tighter, still careful not to squeeze too tight. "Don't slow down now, only two more blocks to the car."

I swallowed to wet my dry throat and instantly regretted it and gagged at how it took my breath away. Still, I nodded and forced myself to move faster.

"Michael," Luke called, "where are they?"

"Don't know," Michael huffed up ahead. "They were tunnin me down with their car...Could be anywhere...How's she doing?"

"Fine," I panted, answering for Luke. "I'm fine."

I really wasn't. My untoned legs were aching and my heart was pounding, partly from running and partly from fear of what would happen if we didn't make it to the car. But God, I hated running.

"Hey," Luke looked over at me, holding my gaze with his steady blue eyes. "We'll make it."

Jesus, could he read minds?

Finally, by some miracle, we made it back to the car without so much as a single sighting of the black SUV Michael told us to look out for. But at the same time down the street, the front doors to the building Luke and I literally climbed out of burst open and a mob of security guards and a few workers burst out.

"Shit!" Michael hissed, hurling himself into the driver's seat. "We're low on gas and they might have spotted us."

Luke opened the door to the backseat, usherig me in quickly and climbing in after, not bothering to sit up front. "Can it go thirty?"

Michael checked as he rammed the keys into the ignition. "It can go thirty-two, even with the extra five it gives when it hits zero and I coast a little."

"Good, good," Luke nodded. "There's a gas station in small town twenty-eight miles away. That should be far enough. It's safer than any place in the city."

"I can change the plates there," Michael said, pulling out of his spot and down the street. I prayed the security gusrds didn't spot us. Or whoever was chasing us.

"Change the plates?" I raised my eyebrows still recovering from the sprint.

Luke nodded and pointed to the glovebox. "Those security guards," Luke glanced through the window at them, his voice becoming stiff. "They're gonna see our license plates and report it. We have to change them."

"Oh."

"Wouldn't have to though," Luke said in a steely tone. "If someone hadn't given us away."

I shrunk back into my chair, watching Luke cautiously. I knew he blamed me for this. I would have too. Luke's eyes hardened and narrowed as his mouth twisted slightly in disgust at my obvious, what, fear? Or was it wariness? Either way, Luke went from reasonable and reassuring to brusque and upset with me in an instant, and I was worried how he might take it out. I had encountered an upset Luke quite a few times already, but not like this. He was brimming with anger now, staring at me intensely, his eyes like cool flames. I had yet to determine how Luke handled his anger. I didn't know if he blew up, held it in, or it faded quickly. I really didn't want to find out.