34. Chapter 34
Atlas
My wrists burn as I yank against the zip ties again. The pain flares as the plastic cuts deeper, the dried bark of the tree grinding against the raw skin on my forearms.
No use. Can’t get free.
Fuck.
Every muscle vibrates—my legs, arms, torso, even my jaw shakes against the fucking blood-soaked gag. And no matter what I do, it won’t stop. No clench is strong enough, no breath steadying, even screaming at myself to fucking stop fails.
And I am trying. I'm trying so hard my abs cramp from bracing.
A sound rips out of my chest. The gag mutes it, turning it wet and broken and useless.
If Cody were here, he’d hear me. He’d lose his goddamn mind and fight every single one of these assholes.
Except he can’t fight anyone right now.
Because I crashed into him.
My vision blurs, and the shaking worsens. Can’t even swallow right. Every time I try, my throat pulls tight. And I can’t breathe through my nose fast enough to keep up with whatever the fuck my chest is doing.
I broke him.
I took his legs. His future. Toronto.
Everything.
My stomach heaves, but nothing comes up.
“You up for good now, or you gonna pass out again?”
A chill zips down my spine and every hair on the back of my neck stands up. Five years later and that voice still makes my body want to crawl out of its skin. I lift my gaze only to meet the dark eyes of Hunter’s uncle.
A man behind him snickers. Like this is a fucking joke. A game.
My heart races, my temples pound, and I squeeze my eyes shut. Between the drugs, Hunter punching my head, and every other fucked-up thing happening, my skull feels like it’s about to explode.
“Easy, Bambi. You’ll tear yourself open before we even start.” Wade steps closer, laughing when I kick out at him. “Those legs won’t do you much good tied up.”
Still, I try, kicking out again and again.
Wade just steps to the side, crouching down until he’s eye level. He grabs my chin when I try to turn away, his fingers digging into the joints of my jaw so hard the ache alone forces me to give in.
“Look at you. All grown up.” Wade’s thumb presses into the bruise under my swollen eye as he leans in. White-hot pain explodes. “Bigger, sure. But still such a scared thing. And you came apart just as easy as you did at fifteen. Cried the same too. Not sure what my nephew sees in you.”
Nothing anymore.
Tears streak down my cheeks as I try to imagine myself somewhere other than here. But the stench of liquor and his hot breath on my cheek keep me grounded in the present.
Wade sinks back, and I catch the glint of a knife as he pulls it from his pocket.
He drags the tip along one of the wet paths on my face.
“Spent a lot of time thinking about what I’d do when I got out.
” His head tilts to the side, eyes dropping to where his knife continues to trail along my skin.
“Harlan had other plans that night. Was just going to kill you to punish his son.”
The blade presses in, enough to break skin, and I flinch.
He chuckles. “But now I get to choose. And skinning’s always been my favorite.” His eyes flick to mine. “I like taking my time. Like listening to the screams that turn into whimpers until there’s nothing left but quiet.”
Bile surges up my throat. It hits the gag and burns behind my tongue. I choke, body trying to force it out, but nothing gets past the cloth.
Fuck.
Wade yanks the gag down and everything spills onto my lap. “Jesus Christ. You’re such a mess.”
I spit, gasping, dragging air through a throat that feels too narrow, too raw, too fucking bruised.
“He better not be the one we’re hunting. Not with what I paid.” The second guy watching the tree line glares at Wade. “You promised a real challenge. That bitch is about to piss himself.”
My gaze moves to the man sharpening his knife on a nearby log. Still don’t know how Wade got out of prison. Or what the hell is going on?
Wade stands, wipes his knife, then sheaths it. “This one’s just the bait.”
Hunter.
No. No. No.
Garrett stalks over to his uncle. “What are you talking about?”
My teeth clench, lips pressing tight, even as my body continues to shake. How could Hunter have been so fucking stupid? How could he let that piece of shit back in?
Wade straightens, shoulders pulled back. “Mind your business. You text your brother? He on his way?”
Garrett’s fists curl at his sides. “What did he pay for, Uncle Wade?”
The guy with the knife snickers. “A hunt. Your uncle promised us a real treat. Paid five thousand.” He points his knife at me as he looks at Wade. “But that isn’t what I paid for, so you better give me a refund.”
Wade huffs. “The real one is on his way. But like I said, you might not make it out. He’s skilled. Dangerous. A lion.” Wade jerks his head at me. “That’s his bitch. And he’ll tear anyone apart to protect him.”
I swallow, tugging at the zip ties once again. “He won’t come. Not for me. Not now.”
Garrett closes the distance between us, then kicks my thigh. “Shut the fuck up. This is your fault. You took him away. You were supposed to die. Everything was supposed to go back to normal.”
I spit at him. “And you’re fucking delusional.”
He kicks me again. And again. Each time throwing more of his weight into it.
“Enough.” Wade’s voice booms through the trees. “Don’t make me put you down too.”
Garrett whirls on his uncle. “The plan was to get Hunter back. He’s one of us. Why—”
“He was never supposed to be one of us, you dumb shit.” Wade shakes his head.
“Both of you were supposed to die with the other children. But then he grew, got bigger, stronger. Your father saw the potential to turn him into a perfect predator. One who would be a real challenge to hunt. You were just another way to train him. Otherwise, we would’ve put you down a long time ago. ”
My stomach twists again, heart trying to pound its way out of my chest. Always hate hearing about Hunter’s uncle and father, about what they did—who they were.
Hunter would never hurt a child. And I did everything I could to curb him killing for sport. Made sure our targets deserved it because I promised myself I would never let Hunter turn into them.
But this? What they did to my best friend was on purpose?
And Hunter went and fucking let Garrett back in like he forgot his brother hadn’t opened the door and pointed monsters at us out of jealousy. He got us both caught back up into their psycho shit. And for what?
My molars grind, fingers curling so tight my nails bite into my palms.
Fuck Hunter.
Fuck Garrett.
Fuck Wade.
And fuck my life because things were supposed to get better. Instead, they’ve gotten worse.
The vein in Garrett’s forehead pulses. “No, Hunter isn’t supposed to—”
Wade draws a handgun from his waistband and aims it at Garrett. “Don’t make me end you right here, boy.”
Garrett steps back, eyes wide, then turns to me and spits. “This is all your fucking fault.”
Except Hunter isn’t going to die because he’s not coming. Not after what happened with Cody. And even if he might consider it, he’s probably at the hospital. Might not even have gotten the text message.
At least I hope that’s the case.
Because I can’t be the reason he dies. Cody needs him. Hunter will take care of our little Titan. Not hurt him the way I did.
The man sitting on the log checks his phone. “Been an hour. You sure your nephew’s coming?”
“Told you he’s not.” I glare at the man. “He’ll let me die, so might as well get your money back.”
Wade turns toward me, arms crossed. “Well, if not you, we do have a backup.”
My throat tightens, every muscle tensing.
A backup?
“I know all about how much my nephew hates us taking children.” Wade smiles, stepping closer, and holds his phone out. “This one won’t stand a chance. Probably will be dead within ten minutes. Don’t you think?”
My gaze locks on the screen, lungs seizing, body going cold.
Davis.
No. No. No.
I thrash against the tree, kicking out. Gotta get free. I won’t let them hurt Davis. Not while I’m still breathing.
Wade laughs. “Got some life back in you, eh Bambi?”
I stop thrashing, eyes narrowing as they meet Wade’s, and I don’t look away. Not this time. Not after they just threatened the sweetest kid I fucking know.
These dumb fucks think I’m some scared deer. And maybe I was before. But now they get to meet the other side of me. The monster created in the woods five years ago.
I’m going to take them apart, one at a time, starting with the piece of shit who made Davis a target.
My gaze flicks from Wade to Garrett. “You’re mine, motherfucker.”