Citrine rattled off their current location, then added bluntly, "Send someone to get

    us out of here. If you''rete, you''ll be picking up our bodies."

    She didn''t give Vester a chance to reply-just hung up.

    "Can he be trusted?" Sebastian''s voice wasced with a hint of sarcasm.

    He tried not to sound jealous, but seeing Citrine put all her hopes on Vester left him uneasy.

    Citrine kept her eyes on the road, hands tight on the wheel. She didn''t answer him directly. Instead, her tone was cool: "Now call Sherman."

    Sebastian followed orders, dialing the number. The call connected almost immediately.

    Citrine was direct and to the point: "Bring your team and get me out. Darius Archer wants me dead."

    She hung up again, nodding at Sebastian to send their location.

    Sebastian, who had looked sullen just moments before, realized he''d misunderstood her and felt a pang of guilt.

    He offered a quiet apology. "Sorry. I shouldn''t have doubted you."

    "You actually thought I''d put all my faith in Vester?" Citrine''s grip on the steering wheel tightened as she stared ahead.

    A small, wry smile broke across her face. "I haven''t known him that long. Do I really look that na?ve to you?"

    Sebastian nced sideways at her, studying her profile.

    No, she wasn''t na?ve at all. She was sharp and resourceful-no way would she trust her life to someone she barely knew.

    The cars chasing them clung to their tail like a pack of hunting dogs. The relentless pursuit was starting to wear on Citrine.

    They were in the city now, weaving through streets crowded with pedestrians and cars. If their pursuers started shooting, innocent people could get hurt.

    After a moment''s thought, Citrine said, "Let''s take the side streets. There are too many people on this road-we can''t risk civilians getting caught in the crossfire."

    Sebastian hesitated, his heart softening. He nced at the people passing by on the sidewalks and nodded.

    Without another word, Citrine yanked the wheel and shot into a deserted alleyway. She floored the elerator, the car leaping forward.

    The cars behind tried to box them in, but didn''t expect Citrine to veer off so suddenly. Faces set in grime determination, they all swerved to follow.

    Citrine kept her foot pressed down,

    ching the car as hard as she

    But no matter how

    went, she couldn''t outrét

    A sharp crack rang out the window shattered. If Sebastian hadn''t ducked in time,

    that bullet would have found his temple.

    "You okay?" Citrine asked, eyes on the road and speed climbing.

    They were unarmed. Trying to fight back now would be suicide. Sebastian wiped a trickle of blood from his hairline. "I''m fine."

    "Good." Citrine didn''t dare ease up on the gas.

    The gunfire from behind was relentless, bullets pinging off the car''s frame.

    Citrine focused on driving, weaving through the narrow streets.

    Sebastian watched the rearview

    mirror, calling out warnings as

    swerved and dodged on hisvel

    bullet flew their way. Citrine

    cues-somehow, the two of them

    working together in perfect sync.

    In the lead car behind them, a foreign man at the wheel mmed his fist against

    the dashboard in frustration.

    "Damn it!"

    He spat out another curse. "Those Northriver bastards drive like racecar champions."

    He jammed his foot down on the gas, barking orders at his partner. "Shoot! Don''t

    let them get away-take them out!"

    His partner in the passenger seat leaned out the window and opened fire, bullets tearing after Citrine''s car.