Naomi’s feet tripped as she heard a shot behind her, with a resulting ping that sounded like Damon’s shot had hit metal. She veered, trying one door and finding it locked. The industrial park was isolated. She had no hope of running to someplace where she might find help. She needed to find a way to hide, then she’d come up with a plan. Maybe she could find a weapon.

Her breath came in panicked gasps as she turned and ran again, hearing footsteps closing in behind her. A window to her right was broken out and she dove for it, thankful it was low to the ground and large enough for her to wedge herself through. The packs of explosives he’d taped to her torso caught and she pulled and cried out as panic struck and pain sliced through her belly. The glass was cutting into her, but she ignored it and pressed forward, her legs following her through the opening.

With no time to let her eyes adjust to the dark room, she stumbled forward, banging her shins on something hard before dodging around it and heading toward a flight of wooden steps.

She heard a curse behind her and the sound of her attacker attempting to follow. She prayed the opening in the window was too small for him to fit through. It might slow him down if he had to find another way into the building.

The stairs creaked and moaned as she rose, and Naomi smelled urine. The building must be used by transients. She wondered if any of them might be here now. If they’d help her. If they’d fight off Damon and help her get to safety somehow.

At the top of the steps, she found a heavy door. Her hand closed on the knob and she tried to turn it, but it was locked.

A guttural cry escaped her and she shook the door, shoving at it. She needed to get out of the basement. Tears streaked her face as she threw her shoulder into the door.

Pain shot through her with the hit but the door didn’t budge.

“Naomi.” The voice came from further down the length of the building, a singsong taunt that told her Damon had gotten into the building and was coming for her.

Naomi pressed her lips between her teeth, clamping down on the sob that built deep within her. She couldn’t afford to make any noise.

Her eyes had adjusted to the dark. She slowly descended the stairs, praying none of the stairs would squeak and give away her position.

He dropped the singsong and called out to her in the deep, threatening tones he’d used so far with her. “When I fucking find you, I’m going to make you wish like hell you hadn’t done that. You and I are going to play, but I’ll be the only one having fun. I’m going to make you fucking pay, bitch.”

A shiver rocked Naomi’s body as she crept through the dark. There were doorways at the end of the room. She headed toward them, wanting—needing—to put a barrier between her and Damon. Maybe she could find a weapon. Or maybe they’d lead to a way she could get out of the building. If she could get to another building, if she could hide or lock herself away from him long enough, he’d be forced to give up and leave.

He was on a timeline. She knew that much. He’d kept them moving. He was trying to get them someplace, though she didn’t know where.

She reached the first door and moved through it. There was a small room and another door beyond that.

Locked.

Naomi’s eyes swung wildly around the small space she was in. She couldn’t risk going back out into the other room and running into him. He was too close.

Her heart sank as she realized she had blocked herself in. She was trapped. Everything in her screamed to sink to the floor. To curl up in a ball and close her eyes, squeezing them shut until this nightmare ended.

She couldn’t do that.

The room was strewn with old desks and shelves, turned on their sides. She scanned for something to use to defend herself with. Her heart raced as she heard something fall in the outer room. It was close. Too close.

She moved to the door and crouched behind it, waiting as her breath sounded in her ears.

“I’m coming, Naomi,” he called. “And then we’re going to really play, you and me.”

Naomi held her breath, straining to listen to his movements. She watched through the crack between the door and the wall as his shadow crossed in front of her.

Her heart beat in her chest and she counted the beats as it slammed hard against her ribs. Three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine…

He stepped into the room. “Come on, girl, don’t leave me hang—”

Naomi shoved the door as hard as she could. Damon went flying, his gun going down. She came around the door and ran for the opening but his arm shot out, grabbing her ankle, and she pitched forward.

A sickening crack sounded as her wrist hit the floor and pain shot up her arm and twisted her gut.

She scrambled, crawling forward, reaching. Trying to stand, to move, to run.

He was on her, hands fisted in her hair as he swore at her, slamming her head into the concrete floor again and again.