Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Beard.
Dark hair.
So much blood.
A rope around his neck.
Dad.
They’re dragging my daddy behind the truck!
Without considering the consequences, I lunge from my squished position, over Ronan’s body, and hang over the edge of the tailgate. Commotion ensues behind me. Strong hands grab my thighs, attempting to pull me back. I’m guessing it’s Jace since he was closest to me. I kick out, hitting him somewhere that obviously hurts because his hold loosens.
My arms are just long enough I’m able to reach the rope that’s wrapped around the trailer hitch. I hack through the rope feverishly, kicking and fighting the arms trying to pull me back. I’ve lost my chance to be smart about attempting an escape. All that matters is freeing my dad.
The rope isn’t completely sawed through, but I’ve made a good effort. I’ve almost succeeded when a vise-like hand grips around mine, a heavy body pinning me. I recognize Jace’s voice cursing as we fight. His other arm wraps around my throat in a chokehold that has stars bursting across my vision. The knife is torn from my hold and then he yanks me back into the bed of the truck, shoving the tip of my own blade against the throbbing vein in my neck.
“Stop. Fucking. Moving.” Jace, though breathing heavily, laughs. “Now you have to watch.”
I gape in horror as Dad continues to be dragged behind us. I didn’t do enough. I wasn’t quick enough. I couldn’t save him.
I’m sorry, Daddy.
Snap!
The rope severs suddenly, whipping back at us like a snake. It smacks me across the chest and Jace’s arm that holds me in place. It knocks the breath out of me. He howls in pain but doesn’t release me. It’s a long few seconds before I’m able to suck in air.
Dad is no longer behind us.
There’s a chance.
He could be alive.
I could have saved him.
Jace turns us around and shoves me into Tom’s waiting arms. He’s no longer holding the kids from before, having pushed them into other laps around him. Since Tom is built like redwood, he easily captures me and pins me to him, forcing me to inhale his musky body odor that somehow overpowers the scent of smoke.
I’m unable to move and my heart is slamming so hard in my chest, I fear it might explode. My entire world has been upended and destroyed. These monsters hurt my family. We trusted them, welcomed them into our home, and befriended them.
And how did they repay us?
They took everything from us—from me.
The pain of losing so much drags me into a pit of despair. Dark. Lonely. Horrible. I want to wake up tomorrow morning and it have all been a sick dream.
Something touches my hand. I follow my arm until I find a small hand curled around mine. Dakota sniffles and searches my eyes like I know how to save us.
I don’t.
I can’t.
“Rae,” he mouths, bottom lip quivering. “I’m scared.”
Yesterday, I’d have gloated about him being scared about something because he and I have always annoyed one another. Tonight is different.
“I know, Kota,” I croak out, unsure if he can hear me. “Me too.”
Tom, upon noticing us, plucks Dakota’s hand off mine and then twists me around until my face is forced between his man boobs. I struggle but soon learn it’s futile. Tom is much bigger than me. I’m not going to ever be able to beat him physically.
I’ll have to be smart.
These people will pay for what they’ve done to us.
And more importantly, I will find a way to save what’s left of my family.
* * *
* * *
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The throbbing inside my skull is incessant and maddening.
I can’t think. I can’t move. I’m going to puke.
My body bounces and the back of my head hits metal. The sharp pain is enough to rouse me from my daze, forcing me to make sense of my surroundings.
Metal. Wind in my hair. Movement.
I’m in the back of a truck.
A groan slips past my lips as I attempt to crack my eyes open. There’s a purplish tint to the sky, promising dawn soon. Trees whip past at a nauseating pace. I clamp my eyes shut and breathe deeply.
What’s happening?
When I reopen my eyes, everything is blurry. I see people of all shapes and sizes all tucked tightly around me. Squinting, I try to focus on the person closest to me.
Freckles.
Reddish-orange hair.
Jace smirks at me and then turns his head away. My stomach twists as I begin to piece things together. I remember last night.
Falling asleep in the bed beside Raegan…
And then?
I woke up to men in our cabin. I’d thought it was Ryder and Wild playing a prank on us at first. But the voices were harsh and threatening. Noncompliance had one of them bashing me in the head. I remember the cracking of my glasses under a heavy boot.