Chapter 9 #3
John and Gale look away. It’s Taylor who replies, “Because today is about you, sweet little Briar.” His smile is innocent enough, but I don’t like how ominous it sounds.
Bensen steers the boat using the motor in the back.
The men seem particularly focused on the shores on both sides.
They don’t let their guards down, and it starts to give me the feeling that we aren’t alone out here.
The water sprays up at the edges of the boat and prickles me with cold drops.
If I close my eyes, it feels like I’m back on the coast, the moisture in the air on my skin giving me a sense of nostalgia.
When we’re about mid-lake, Roman lifts his left hand and Bensen cuts the engine. I look up at them, but no one is paying attention to me except the king asshole himself.
“Why did we stop?” I ask. Dread seeps into my chest at how quiet they’re being. God, this really couldn’t be any creepier.
Roman offers me his hand. I take it and stand on uneasy legs as he nods over the edge of the boat. I hesitate. I mean, is it really that irrational to think that he might toss me overboard?
I swallow my fear and my grip on his hand tightens as I lean over the edge, looking down as he is.
An abrupt gasp tears out of my lungs.
There’s a dead man three feet under the surface.
It’s out of sight unless you knew exactly where he was.
His eyes are open and staring up at me. His mouth gaping as if he’s trapped mid-scream.
His neck has a two-inch puncture wound that has long since stopped bleeding.
A large chain is wrapped around his torso and legs, leading down as far as I can see.
I cover my mouth with my hand and try not to gag.
“Recognize him?” Roman’s voice is low in a whisper, drawing chills across my neck.
He’s the man I saw Grahm speaking with at the party. I know he saw me watching them because he looked right at me. He was at the farm last week? The blood drains from my face, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Roman pulls me away from the edge as I start to feel lightheaded. His hand is still tightly clasped with mine. It feels like an anchor, even if it’s to a horrendous man.
“Why?” I manage to mutter.
“Why did I kill him? Or why was he at your farm?” Roman asks indifferently. John breaks his focus from the shoreline and spares me a quick, concerned look.
I glance down at Roman’s side and spot the very combat knife he probably used. Another wave of nausea runs through me. He literally had that at my neck the first night we met. “Both, I guess.”
“I confirmed that you’re a target for them.
He didn’t seem sure whether or not his little club was going to kill you or kidnap you, but either way, I’m not one for letting innocent women die…
sometimes. Anyway, I needed you to see that this is real so that you won’t fight me on this next part.
” He must be lying. I refuse to believe that Roman would do anything in the name of someone being innocent.
He fucking terrorizes me every time I see him.
Wait, next part? I frown. There’s more?
“We’ll be staying at the farm to protect you.”
I burst out laughing, and all the men stiffen. Maybe it’s my reaction to seeing a dead body and the shock is making me manic, but I can’t help it. Roman’s gaze doesn’t falter, but I swear to God I see the vein in his forehead protrude with ire.
“I don’t need you to stay at the farm. Jesus Christ, I’ll just leave. There’s a fucking dead guy in the water! The last thing I want is a bunch of psycho fucks ‘keeping me safe’ at the farm,” I shout, throwing my hands into the air.
Roman’s hand is over my mouth in a heartbeat.
The men are dead silent. “Bensen, get us moving toward the far bank. Gale, sink the snake,” Roman says smoothly as he stares deep into my soul.
“This man was going to kidnap you or kill you, Briar, because of all things, he was led to think that you’re important.
Which means so do I. You’re not leaving Bane Falls. ”
“First you wanted me to leave and now you want me to stay? Which is it, asshole?” I shove Roman and he grabs both of my wrists.
“Push me again and I’ll have to restrain you. You like that though, don’t you?” he says mockingly. “It’s whichever I say, Squirt. You all but belong to me—you just haven’t accepted it yet.” He tucks his hand into my pocket and tosses my phone into the lake.
That hits me like a brick, and I stare up at him in horror. It’s stupid that a phone means that much to me. But it just shut off all my communication to the world. And I just paid for the prepaid plan too. Least of my worries right now honestly.
“Ah, there it is.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “Reality settling in sucks, doesn’t it?”
Gale pulls the big chains from the bottom of the boat and tosses them into the water, coiling them around the dead man a few times, and then the corpse sinks into the dark water as if he was never there.
Bensen moves in sync. The moment the corpse is out of sight, the boat is moving toward the vacant shore.
No one speaks until the bow hits the sand. Everyone gets out of the boat except me. My arms are wrapped around myself, and I’m staring at the spot where they just sunk the guy who supposedly was trying to kidnap me—although, I think I’m with the five men who actually are.
They gave me no evidence that the dead man was going to harm me. All they did was show me that they are no strangers to murder.
My gaze shifts in their direction. The group is huddled up and speaking in low, stressed voices. No one is watching me.
I carefully get out of the boat and step into the sand on the opposite side from them.
They’re still having a heated conversation—about me, I’m presuming.
I don’t even think about where I have to run to.
I just know that anywhere is better than here.
There has to be a cabin or fire trail somewhere nearby.
The forest’s underbrush isn’t too thick, so I’m able to slip into the forest without much noise. I know that path is around here somewhere.
I make it a decent ways away before I hear the guys start shouting. That’s my cue. I pump my legs as fast as I can and tear across the forest floor. It’s still hot out, and I’m sweating from traversing the steep incline.
Their voices are all over the place, so it’s safe to assume that they have no clue where I am. I slow down a little so I can be more strategic. I can’t outrun them all. I’ll have to hide.
After walking for what feels like a mile, I find a large grouping of boulders.
There could be some adders in there, but it’s the best hiding spot I’ve found and I don’t know how much longer I can walk.
I’m dehydrated and my legs are trembling.
I must be far into the woods…or I’ve been going in fucking circles.
Once I lost view of the lake, I lost all sense of direction.
Their shouting eventually grows distant. By sunset, it’s entirely silent.
No one will be able to find me after nightfall. I’ll be able to get my bearings and then I’ll hike the trail all the way to the parking lot, follow the road to the highway, and hitchhike until I’m as far from here as I can get.
I’m in survival mode. These guys are going to get me killed one way or another.
I should’ve listened to Roman that first night and left. I press my palm against my temple before letting my head rest back against the boulder. Did he have to throw my phone into the lake? I brew on that for a while as I watch the sky slowly fade into richer colors and the hours drag on.
A cold breeze brushes over me, waking me up from my unintended nap, and I shiver.
It’s already pitch-black outside. Crap, how much time did I lose? I need to get moving.
My legs are stiff as I maneuver my way off the boulders. I fall a few feet and my knees buckle, sending me straight into the dirt.
A soft groan escapes my lips. The earthy scent fills the air around me, making me freeze with fear. The memories of Callum and how he pursued me after I escaped stir in my head. I hope Roman isn’t as committed to his cause as Callum was.
I’ve been through worse.
This is nothing, I tell myself over and over.
I furrow my brows and grit my teeth, standing and forcing myself to move.
But it doesn’t take long for me to realize that no matter how long I try to find my way back to the lake, I’m utterly lost. After aimlessly wandering for what feels like hours, I finally collapse and pull my knees to my chest. I’m covered in cuts and shiver like I’ve been dumped in ice water.
“Are you done?”
My body jerks in response to hearing Roman’s voice.
I slowly lift my head and meet his icy gaze. “Are you done?” he repeats calmly. Weird, I thought he’d be pissed at me. I narrow my eyes suspiciously—or is this how calm he is when he’s ready to end someone?
How long has he been stalking me in the dark?
“Why did you w-wait this long?” I stutter, shivering and rubbing my bare arms.
Roman crouches before me, studying my features as usual but perhaps with a bit more curiosity this time. “Because you needed to wear yourself out. You’re more sensible when you’re exhausted, or maybe I just like to watch you exert yourself, Squirt.” Really? Sarcasm?
I can’t even muster the energy to glare at him.
“I don’t want you guys in my house. I’m fucking l-leaving, even if I have to walk to the next t-town.”
He blows out an annoyed breath. “I’m getting tired of this. I’m not letting you go anywhere. You had your chance and you blew it. Besides, the guys are already making the place cozy for us. You know, since you suck at cleaning.”
“What?” I say with a little more emotion before a wave of exhaustion has me trembling once more.
“Tonight it’ll be just me. But tomorrow we’ll all be outposted there.” He stands and offers me his hand.
I swat him away and struggle to my feet. The direction I start walking in feels right.
Roman grabs my hand. “Wrong way.”