What the Heart Takes Read Free Page B

only comfort worth claiming came from the warmth wrapping around her. It soothed the pressure in her back, and her belly, which was the one part of her that didn’t pulse with pain.
    She lifted her eyes, trading glances with a set of caramel ones. It wasn’t until Layne said her name that she realized she was cradled in his arms, on the ground. He shielded every inch of her body from above.
    “Are you okay?” His fingers traced over her face before moving to her shoulder.
    She nodded, gripping onto his arm. “Layne, what just hap—”
    “I don’t know, but we can’t stick around to find out.” He pulled her to her feet. “We gotta go! Now!”
    Heaven had just enough time to gauge her surroundings, though seeing anything past the smoke and dust proved difficult. She wasn’t sure how they’d managed to end up several feet away from the patio, but the source of the smoke came from a spot not far from where they were standing.
    Layne clasped his hand around her arm. He pushed her in front of him, forcing her to run. They didn’t stop until they met Dylan near the edge of the patio.
    “What the hell just happened?” He reached for her, pulling her to his chest, but Layne didn’t release her arm. He kept his fingers curled above her elbow.
    “What do you think happened?” Sarcasm drenched Layne’s words. He pushed past Dylan, tugging on Heaven’s arm until she stepped toward him. Not that Dylan would let her go. He tugged back, shooting Layne a look donned with folded brows.
    “Where are you going?”
    “Our location is compromised.” Layne’s eyes moved over the horizon, landing on a thick patch of trees and ferns. “It’s time for Plan B… me .”
    “We can’t go to Plan B ,” Dylan yelled. The spark of his touch spread over her hips, keeping her body pressed to his. “You can’t control your abilities yet. We just witnessed that. Do you even remember how you killed Marco?”
    “Quit arguing with me! We’re wasting time. We could escape without—”
    Another whooshing sound filled the air. Heaven didn’t have time to react. Dylan shoved Layne away. His arms curled under her legs as her feet left the sand. She held her belly, trying to keep it from jostling each time Dylan’s feet connected with the ground.
    Groans echoed from the earth as sand and dirt flew toward the sky. Then the ground rumbled, knocking Dylan off balance and them both to the ground. She didn’t know how he’d managed to spin her around so that he landed first, but his arms wrapped around her, cradling her to his chest.
    “Are you okay?” He waited until she nodded before the worry left his eyes. “I’m going to get us of out of here. Just relax.”
    She wanted to believe his words, wanted to believe that they’d get out of this mess without harm coming to any of them. The possibility seemed grim, and only one thought played through her mind.
    “Who is doing this?”
    She choked back a sob, hating herself for putting them in this position. Someone wanted her dead, not Dylan or Layne. If anything happened to either of them, she’d never forgive herself.
    “I don’t know, Heaven. We can’t worry about who it is right now. We have to get you out of here.” Still cradling her close, he pulled them to a sitting position just as Layne joined them. He extended his hand toward Dylan, motioning for him to grab it.
    “Get to your feet. We have company.”

CHAPTER 2
     
    Heaven’s eyes darted across the beach, noting a dark-haired man heading their way. Five men followed close behind him. All were dressed in dark clothing, just like something she’d seen in a movie. But this was no movie. She couldn’t leave the cinema to escape the way her heart pounded.
    Layne blocked most of her view and pressed into her just as Dylan’s chest warmed her back. She stood there, caught between them, unable to do anything but pray they made it out of this, alive. So much unfamiliar energy thumped through the air. It made her stomach