Protecting Tessa (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Brotherhood Alliance #6)

Chapter 44

44

T essa huddled behind a counter in an abandoned convenience store, the cracked linoleum pressing into her knees. She stopped thinking about her cut-up and bloodied feet a while ago. They were the least of her problems.

Her pulse roared in her ears as she glanced at her watch: 6a.m. She’d been hiding for an hour. It felt like an eternity.

The stale stench of rancid milk and old cigarettes made her stomach churn, but she forced herself to stay still. This store wasn’t her first choice, but when she heard voices echoing down the street, she panicked. Uncertain if Damien and Marty or a gang lay in wait, she’d run in.

The door hung ajar, groaning on rusted hinges as she managed to close it more, although it didn’t lock.

The floor was littered with old newspapers, greasy food wrappers, and other trash. In the corner there was a bundle of musty clothes chewed on by mice. Someone had been here at some point. She prayed whoever it was wouldn’t come back.

Through the grimy window, the sky was streaks of orange and pink bleeding into a dark sky. Dawn was fast approaching, and she knew she needed to run before it got too light. Even though her heart was pounding, she felt fairly safe at the moment. I have to move. I can’t stay here. But where else could she go?

Tessa hoped to find a cop or a taxi or beg someone for money to make a call, but she’d come up empty.

It was as if Haywood Lake, assuming she was still in Haywood Lake, had forgotten this corner of the city and left it to rot.

Every instinct screamed at her to move, to run, but she was afraid of what waited outside. Her heart thudded; her breath was shallow and uneven. I can’t wait any longer. When the sun comes up, I’m a sitting duck.

Summoning all the courage she had, Tessa slowly stood, every muscle trembling from exhaustion, ready to make her move.

Movement outside caused her to freeze mid-step. She dropped down behind the counter. Oh God, who was there? Panic clawed at her gut as she frantically scanned the floor for something, anything she could use to defend herself.

There, in the corner! She found shards of glass from a broken bottle. She snatched the largest one, holding it tightly against her chest even as the glass bit into her palm.

The footsteps grew louder. A shadow paused outside the door for a second, then the footsteps started to fade. She let out the breath she was holding and waited.

Minutes ticked by. She started to get up, her legs trembling beneath her. A soft creak cut through the air like a gunshot. Her eyes snapped to the door.

It was moving. She tried to duck down, but a familiar voice drawled, “You’re only making it harder on yourself, sweetheart. Come out from behind that counter, and maybe I’ll go easy on you.”

Oh God, how did Damien find me? Her heart raced with terror. She grasped the shard tighter. No way was she letting him take her back to that warehouse.

“D-don’t hurt me,” she begged as she forced her legs to move. She stood and slowly stepped out from behind the counter.

Damien’s lips curled into a sneer. “You silly woman. Did you think you could get away from me?”

Her chest heaved, but she stepped closer to him. Patience. He extended his arm out to grab her.

Tessa surged forward, slashing the shard across his forearm, putting every ounce of strength she had left into the movement. The jagged glass tore through his flesh, and he roared in pain.

“You bitch!” he bellowed as he let his arm drop and blood began to seep on the floor.

Tessa didn’t wait but bolted out the door. She went to turn, thrilled she made it out, until a pair of arms locked around her waist from behind in a vise.

“Gotcha,” a voice whispered in her ear.