He changed lanes yet again as horns blared around them. Had he run a red light? She felt the car slowing, albeit slightly. Was there a curve coming up? Dare she try it? She looked in the mirror again, but he was focused solely on the road. Stupid idea, she thought as she sat up and pulled the lock free before opening the door. It swung out wide as he turned the corner and she fell out, instinctively covering her head as she landed hard on the pavement. She rolled more times than she could count and she came to a final, abrupt stop against a concrete barrier. The roar of traffic, the squealing of tires, the blasting of horns all faded as she curled into a ball, praying she wouldn’t get hit.

* * *

Harper saw a flash of…of something as it was thrown from a car. It rolled up against the concrete barrier that separated the road from a construction site. She swerved to miss it, then slammed on her brakes. Horns blared around them and she braced herself, the car behind them missing her by mere inches.

“Are you out of your mind? He’s getting away!”

Harper had a moment of panic. Should she follow the car? Or? She started going again, thinking she would lose him if she hesitated any longer. But something…something wasn’t right.

“Come on, Harper!”

“Hang on.”

She spun the car around, scraping the barrier with her fender. They were now facing oncoming traffic and the sound of horns honking seemed to surround them. Her headlights landed on the object up against the concrete and she spotted a mass of blond hair.

“Oh, my God. How did you see her?”

Harper didn’t answer him. She got out, running toward her. She knelt down beside her, trying to prepare herself for what she might find. She touched Dani’s shoulder, rolling her over. She gasped as Dani’s eyes met hers.

“Harper,” Dani murmured before sobs took her breath away.

“It’s okay. I got you now.” She pulled Dani into her arms and she felt Dani cling to her, felt—heard—her sobs as Dani buried her face against her chest. “I got you now.”

She stood, taking Dani up with her. She wrapped Dani tight against her and walked over to the car.

“Is she okay?”

“I think so. You drive.”

She opened the back door and put Dani in, then got in beside her. Dani immediately clutched her arm. The overhead light was bright enough for her to see the blood on Dani’s forehead. She touched it lightly, seeing the scrape of skin. Her cheek was also bruised. Then Reid closed the door, plunging them into darkness.

She winced when Dani touched the bruise on her own cheek.

“Are you okay?”

Harper nodded. “Just blacked out for a second there,” she said quietly. “Are you?”

“I think so.”