Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
We run until we get to a large wrought iron fence, built in a way that makes it impossible to climb, leaving us with only one way to go. To run along the edge of it and find an end. We don’t get far before we spot a guard tower ahead. Spotlights move across the lawn, searching for us like magnifying glasses.
“Let’s backtrack,” Zane says, the uncertainty in his voice is hard to miss.
We spin around, ready to head back the way we came when we see them. A couple yards away, some men are walking, they’re headed right toward us, the beams of light from their flashlights flicker as they close in on us.
Fear bubbles up inside of me. Now we have nowhere to go. We’re surrounded, trapped like mice. Apparently, Zane isn’t as worried, or maybe he is just better at hiding it because his face doesn’t show an ounce of fear. Instead, he acts like we’re playing a fun game, rather than one that could get us both killed.
“Hide behind that tree,” he orders, pointing to a group of trees a short distance away before heading straight for the search party.
“Zane,” I hiss through my teeth, but he must not hear me calling his name because, like a rocket, he’s off, charging toward the group of men like a Viking.
Turning on the balls of my feet, I run in the direction he pointed. Flattening myself against the tree, I push my back into the bark and listen to the sound of men fighting. Skin hits skin, and grunts and groans fill the brisk air, making my heart race faster with each passing second.
We aren’t going to escape, there’s no way.
Lights flicker over where I’m hiding, and I spot more coming our way. Do I run or stay hidden? I decide to run. Twisting around, I step away from the tree just to come to a sudden halt once more. Ice fills my veins when I see three of Matteo’s men pinning Zane to the ground.
“I will fucking kill you,” he growls as he struggles against them. His voice is so vicious and dark, it even terrifies me.
Through the tree branches, I can see Matteo walking across the yard. It’s hard to make out his features, but even from a distance, I can make out his angry scowl.
“Find the girl! No one leaves this property until I say so.” Matteo’s venomous voice carries into my ears, and terror trickles down my spine. We never should’ve run. Looking back at Zane, something shiny catches my eye. A gun or knife. I don’t know. All I know is I can’t lose him. I can’t risk him dying, not after I’ve just found him again.
My heart lurches into my throat, and even though I shouldn’t, I run toward him, instead of remaining hidden.
“No! Please, don’t shoot him. I’m right here,” I yell over the chaos that’s surrounding us.
“No! Run, Dove,” Zane yells, but I refuse to escape this place without him. Matteo will kill him in an instant.
“Please, please…” I beg as one of Matteo’s men points the gun at Zane while two others hold him to the ground.
I reach them at the same time my father does, the look of disappointment in his eyes would leave me feeling guilty as hell if I actually gave a shit about what he wanted or thought. Another man comes out of nowhere and circles my wrist with his hand like a shackle.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” Zane grits out. Even with a gun pointed at his head, his biggest concern is me. “I swear to god if you don’t remove your fingers, I will cut off every fucking one of them and feed them to you.”
“I think that’s the least of your worries right now,” Matteo sneers, frustration overtaking his features. It’s hard to believe a man so cunning, so violent is my father.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him, knowing and feeling that something bad is going to happen, deep down in my gut. We aren’t going to get away with trying to escape. There will be consequences, grave ones. I just don’t know how badly they will be yet.
“No, you’re not. But you will be shortly.” Matteo doesn’t even look at me as he speaks. “Take them downstairs,” he orders his men before turning around and walking back inside.
The men holding down Zane grab him and pull him up off the ground. While another comes and grabs me by the other arm, now I’m held on each side. They drag us back toward the house, and I’ve never felt more like a prisoner in my life. Fingers dig into my biceps, and I want to struggle—to kick and scream, but it would do me no good.
I’m a bird caught in a cage, my wings clipped, my spirit gone. Directing us around the side of the house, the men open a side door. They enter with Zane first and then me. Sweat beads against my forehead, and my body feels like a knot tied into a pretzel. They release both of us, and instantly, Zane is off the floor and rushing toward me. His hands move over my face, down my shoulders and arms like he’s searching for injuries.