Chapter 28 #2
Desperation was clawing at my insides, but I did my best to keep my voice calm and steady. I had to try and talk him down. “Listen, Malachi. Just put the gun down, okay? You can still get out of this. All you have to do is let us go.”
He bent at the waist, letting out a maniacal laugh that sent a chill down my spine. “Let you go? Are you fuckin’ kidding?”
“Please, listen to me,” I pleaded on a whisper. “You don’t want to do this. You don’t—”
“Shut up!” he shouted, grabbing his hair with his free hand. “Just shut the fuck up and let me think! I just need to think.”
He had no plan, he was completely out of his mind, and he had a gun.
A gun he’d already used on one person today.
I wasn’t sure how long Marco would take to get to us, or if he even knew I was missing yet, but I was beginning to think we were running out of time.
This man was strung dangerously tight, and he could snap at any moment.
He began pacing and mumbling distractedly, occasionally lifting the gun and banging it against his temple as he ranted to himself.
I took in where we were for the first time since arriving.
From what I could see, it was a small, abandoned hunting cabin.
The windows were boarded up, the wood planks beneath me were soft with rot, and the furniture was all moth-eaten.
The house wasn’t in ruins, but it was obvious the place hadn’t been used in quite some time if the thick layers of dust and grime coating every surface was anything to go on.
I had no clue where we were thanks to the blindfold, I had no idea how long I’d been with Malachi, but I would rather try my luck running through the woods than stay here and wait for help that might not arrive in time.
There was a broken chair laying on the floor, one of its legs just a couple feet away. If I could get to it and move fast enough, maybe I could give McKenna a chance to get out of the house.
“Mac,” I whispered under my breath. “Mac, honey, can you move?”
“Y-yes,” she said so quietly I had to strain to hear.
“Listen to me. I’m gonna try and distract him. When I do, I need you to make a run for it, okay? Don’t hesitate, don’t look back. Just run.”
“I’m not leaving you,” she said, panic coating her words.
“There’s no time to argue.” My heart was pounding against my breast like a sledgehammer. Adrenaline was coursing through my blood, making me feel like I could run an entire marathon at a full sprint. “You need to get out of here and get help.”
“Gypsy, no.”
“Just go.” I urged. Inching forward, I reached out for the table leg. My body shook with terror, but I pushed it down. “On the count of three, McKenna. One. Two. Three.”
I shot forward, grabbed the table leg and ran at Malachi with it raised over my head. He spun just in time to widen his eyes in shock. With a shriek, I brought it down on his arm as hard as I possibly could.
He let out a howl of pain as the old, rotten piece of wood splintered.
“You fucking bitch!” I went to swing again but wasn’t fast enough.
The hand holding the gun shot out, cracking me in the side of the head hard enough to take me to the floor and make stars burst in front of my eyes. “I’ll kill you!”
His foot reared back, ready to kick me in the ribs with that thick-soled motorcycle boot, but before it could make contact McKenna let out a scream and ran forward clawing and punching at his face.
I managed to get to my feet just as he backhanded McKenna and sent her slamming into the table.
I ran as he aimed the gun at her, wrapping my fingers around his wrists and using all my strength to shove his arm to the side.
The gun went off, firing high and wide several times as I dug my nails into his flesh.
Malachi’s free hand tangled in my hair and he used his grip to wrench my head back, but I refused to let go. “McKenna! Run!” I screamed as he and I struggled for control of the gun.
She ran, but not for the door like I told her. Bending at the waist, she threw herself at Malachi, driving her shoulder into his stomach so hard it took all of us down.
We grappled across the floor, all three of us punching and scratching and kicking. I bit down on the hand that was holding the gun so hard the acrid, metallic taste of blood filled my mouth and made me gag.
With a strangled bellow of pain, he dropped the gun. Unfortunately, that freed up both of his hands, and he didn’t hesitate to ball up his fist and punch me right in the cheek.
I fell to my back, and Malachi climbing over me to land one blow after another on my face as McKenna jumped on his back, ripping at his hair and raking her nails down his face.
The instinct to survive kept me moving in spite of the pain, and I lifted my hands, digging my thumbs into his eyes as I yelled out my rage and fear at the top of my lungs.
We were in the fight of our lives, and we weren’t giving up no matter what. I’d fight tooth and nail, I’d push my body past all pain and exhaustion if it meant staying alive and getting back to my family.
Those were the only thoughts running through my mind when an arm wrapped around my waist, hauling me off Malachi. I struggled against the hold, screaming and thrashing, my hatred for this man and the adrenaline rushing through my blood fueling me on.
“Calm, girasol. I got you. It’s all over now.” I heard Marco’s voice, felt his strong arms, smelled his heavenly scent, and the fight instantly drained out of me. I was safe now. It was over. Marco was here just like I knew he would be.
And as I clung to the man I knew would always protect me, I broke down and sobbed in relief.