Risky Romance (Wolf Security #4)

8. Whisper

CHAPTER 8

Whisper

Each twist against the ropes sent fire through my wrists and ankles and the damn knots grew tighter. My breath came in shallow gasps as I watched the barn door, praying that monster stayed away.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I dragged myself across the filthy straw, searching for something to slice the bindings—a nail, a shard, splintered wood. Shadows crept in the corners where hooks and chains hung above like instruments of torture.

Musty scents of old straw and dust mixed with my overwhelming dread as I wriggled my back against the wall. Something sharp jabbed at my shoulder blade. What’s that? As I wormed along the floor, my fingers brushed against a bent nail.

Yes!

I angled my body closer to the wall, hooked the nail between the ropes binding my wrists and breathing through my nose, I bit the filthy gag until my jaw ached as I dragged the bindings across the metal.

My thoughts surged back to my brother. When Bruce had dragged Dane in here earlier to see me bound and gagged, the terror etched on his face had shattered my heart. Tears had streamed down his cheeks as I struggled to yell through my gag, urging him to run for help, but my words had come out as nothing more than muffled pleas. Bruce’s chilling threat echoed in my mind: If Dane doesn’t deliver the truck to the wharf, then I’m dead.

I’d heard the semi-trailer rumbling away—was that an hour ago? More?

The ropes set my wrists on fire, and stopping, I slumped against the wall. I wanted to scream, but even that was impossible.

Dane’s despair twisted in my heart like a cruel knife.

What the hell is he involved in? That truck was probably loaded with drugs. How many times had he done this? Was this his first? Was that why he’d tried to back out?

Dread coiled around my chest. I had shared countless stories about Scorpion Industries and that Chui bastard with him. He wouldn’t willingly put himself in this position. I knew him—he didn’t need the money. Living with Mom, he didn’t pay rent and barely contributed to food or electricity.

Oh, Christ! Now he was going to go through with it because of me.

He’d do anything they asked to save me.

Clenching my teeth on the disgusting rag, I resumed rubbing the rope against the nail. My wrists were raw. Pain blazed up my arms. Tears blurred my vision. But I couldn’t stop.

Footsteps thundered outside the stall and my heart threatened to explode.

No. No. No. Sucking air through my nose, I braced for the new horror.

Bruce charged into the stall. His hulking figure blocked the scant light.

“You fucking bitch.” He grabbed my arm, and the nail clawed down my thumb as he dragged me into the middle of the room.

I bucked and twisted, but he was too strong.

I tried to scream but couldn’t.

Just breathing was an effort.

I shook my head, pleading with my eyes. Tears spilled down my cheeks as my heart pounded in my ears. Bruce stood over me, glaring.

What’s he going to do? Oh God. Oh God!

Cody burst through the stall entrance and aimed a rifle at Bruce. “Get away from her you sick fuck!”

Bruce jerked back. His jaw dropped and he released an evil chuckle. “You gonna shoot me with that thing?”

“If I have to.” Cody maintained his aim as he shifted around behind me.

Bruce took a menacing step toward me.

“Back off, Bruce. I’m warning you,” Cody yelled.

Cody cut the ropes and relief flooded through me as I dragged my arms forward.

“You’re making a fucking mistake,” Bruce barked.

“Shut up, asshole.” He tossed a knife to the floor in front of me. “Cut your ankle ropes.”

I tugged the rag from around my head and yanked the oily gag from my mouth. Gasping for air, I grabbed the knife.

Bruce stepped across the stall entrance, blocking our escape.

“Move.” Cody aimed the gun at Bruce’s chest.

“You don’t have the balls to shoot me.” Bruce sneered, clenching his fists.

My hands trembled as I sawed through the rope around my ankles and yanked it away.

Cody lowered the gun to Bruce’s groin. “You’re right, but I can make your life hell.”

Bruce charged across the stall.

Cody fired, and the gunshot echoed like thunder in the confined space.

I gasped as Bruce cried out, crashing onto the floor. Blood splattered the dirty straw.

“Get up.” Cody grabbed my arm, dragging me to my feet.

My heart raced as Bruce rolled onto his hands and knees. The gunshot had only grazed him. There was no way that .22 rifle would take out a man like him anyway. It could barely kill a feral pig.

Bruce scrambled back to his feet. Rage contorted his face.

“Run!” Cody yelled, forcing me out of the stall.

I stumbled forward, trying to find traction on the loose straw. Cody gripped my arm, holding me steady as we ran through the barn, dodging rusty equipment.

Cody and I burst outside into the warm night air. The lights from the enormous shed were off and I scanned from one dark shadow to the next. “Which way?”

“Get back here, you bastard,” Bruce yelled behind us.

“Go!” Cody shoved me forward.

We sprinted to the massive machine that I had hidden behind earlier. Gasping for breath, we ducked behind the giant tractor wheel. Bruce limped from the barn with blood oozing down his left leg.

“Shit!” Cody hissed.

“You’re a dead man, Cody. You hear me?” Bruce’s voice boomed like a cannon as he scanned the area, peering into the darkness like he had superpowers. His gaze locked on the machine we hid behind. He staggered toward us.

Jesus, can he see us?

“Bruce! Is that you?” Another voice thundered behind us, and lights flooded the area.

“Fuck, get down.” Cody gripped the back of my neck and guided me under the tractor’s belly. As he gripped the rifle, his gaze darted between the old farmhouse and Bruce.

“Fucking Cody released that bitch and took her,” Bruce hollered across the distance.

“Ah, for Christ’s sake. Where are they?” The man’s voice shook with age, or maybe rage.

As I peered beneath the tractor toward the farmhouse, a pair of bowed legs came into view. Was that Uncle John who Cody mentioned earlier?

Cody leaned toward me. “I’ll make a distraction, you run, okay?”

I nodded. “Where?”

“To the corn field.” He pointed out the other side of the tractor.

“Okay. What about you?” I whispered.

“I’ll be right behind you.”

I shuffled to the other side, and crouching next to the massive tire, I waited for his signal. The Milky Way stretched across the entire night sky, giving me enough light to see the gap between the corn rows I planned to run into.

“I’m gonna kill that bastard,” the old man hollered.

“You and me both.” Bruce sounded like he was three feet away.

What was Cody waiting for? I glanced at him over my shoulder. He was on one knee, peering through the rifle scope. His composure was equally impressive and terrifying.

“Cody! You fucking pussy,” Bruce roared.

Cody pulled the trigger. Bruce howled as he fell backward.

“Run!” Cody yelled at me.

I dashed out from under the tractor, but my balance was off, and I stumbled onto my hands and knees. Off to the side, Bruce lay on the ground, clenching the bloody wound on his shoulder, yet he was getting to his feet again.

“Move!” Cody hooked his hand under my arm, yanking me to my feet.

Fear propelled me forward as we ran into the towering stalks. The leaves slapped my arms, legs, and face as we ducked low, trying to conceal ourselves in the rows of corn. My heart pounded in my chest, and Cody’s ragged breathing matched my own frantic gasps.

“Keep moving,” he urged.

Behind us, a new sound pierced the night—the throaty growls of engines. Motorbikes!

“Shit! Run!” Cody yelled behind me.

The engine noise quickly escalated, drowning out the rustle of the corn as we ran through the lush stalks.

Pumping my arms and legs, I ran faster than I ever had in my life. But the motorbike engines grew louder. They’re catching us!

Cody tapped my shoulder. “This way.”

He darted through the corn, running perpendicular to the rows, shoving the stalks away as he barged through them.

Panic blazed through me as I kept on his heels. I glanced over my shoulder and motorbike headlights lit up the stalks behind me.

“Shit! They’re coming!” Clenching my fists, I forced my body to run harder.

We sprinted deeper into the cornfield. The stalks offered cover, but dense foliage was also suffocating the air. The lights of another motorbike roared ahead of us and my stomach dropped.

“Fuck!” Cody grabbed my arm, dragging me down. “Stay low.”

We squatted together, shoulders touching, gasping for air as the world around us narrowed to my thumping heartbeat and the revving motorbikes that raced through the corn rows, hunting us like prey.

“You okay?” Cody whispered.

“No, I’m not okay.” Frustration and fear boiled over in my tone.

Cody groaned, snapping his gaze over his shoulder. “Shhh. Keep your voice down.”

I glared at him. “What the hell’s going on here?”

His eyes drilled into me. “You tell me. You’re the trespasser.”

“I was trying to save my brother,” I shot back.

“Who?”

“My brother. Dane.” Venom laced my tone.

His eyeballs bulged. “I don’t know who Dane is, lady, but you’ve got us into serious trouble.”

“Me? You’re the criminal.”

“What?” He did a double-take.

“The drugs.” I shook my head.

“What are you talking about?” he snapped.

“I know what you’re doing here.”

“Look, lady. My whole life is fucked because I saved you, and that bastard is going to kill me.” Hurt flashed in his eyes as his jaw tightened.

“I didn’t ask you to shoot him!” I glared at him, seeing both pain and anger etch across his expression.

A headlight carved through the stalks aimed right at us and I froze. Dread pooled in my stomach.

“Over here!” Bruce bellowed like a crack of thunder.

“Fuck! Run!” Cody bolted away, charging through the corn, dodging left and right.

Leaves slapped my face as we darted between the rows and along them. The ground was uneven, and each time I stumbled, Cody yanked me to my feet with firm hands.

The motorbikes roared closer, their engines revving like hungry beasts. Bruce and the other man shouted to each other. It was like they were herding us to our deaths.

My breaths came in ragged gasps as I raced to keep up with Cody. The corn rows seemed endless.

I kept myself fit, but my body was already drained from fighting Bruce. My legs burned. My mind fought to comprehend what was happening. Was Cody telling the truth? How could he not know my brother? Dane drove that enormous semi-trailer. It was impossible to miss.

Cody shot left, charging between two giant stalks. I raced after him, begging for the chase to end. How much more? My legs were like rubber bands. My lungs burned.

“Cody,” I gasped. “I can’t . . . I can’t.”

“Keep moving.” The rifle slapped his shoulder with every stride, but the weapon had already proved to be useless against a thug like Bruce.

Tears flooded my eyes. My legs buckled beneath me, and I crashed into a corn plant, toppling it over and landing hard on the stalk.

A motorbike roared ahead of us, sending shivers down my spine.

Cody dove onto my back, shielding me with his body.

“Stay down,” he growled in my ear.

Gasping for breath, I stared at the dirt.

A new noise dominated the chaos, the menacing thump of a helicopter. Its blades sliced through the air above us, pelting us with dirt and debris. The chopper’s blazing floodlight swept across the corn rows, blinding me.

“Oh fuck!” Cody cried. “Run!”