Chapter Two
Brit
Throbbing pain pounded my head, over and over, until I opened my mouth, sucking in a deep breath. The ringing in my ears drowned out the muffled voices around me… until the pain in my body hit and my eyes shot open.
“Shit!” I exclaimed, trying to lift my arms to touch my leg.
Except, they were weighed down with bandages, pinning me to the bed.
Blinking, I glanced around the room in the medical center.
I hadn’t been in this place since I’d lost my grandmother, a year ago.
The memory of her pale face came into my mind’s eye and I pushed it out, glancing at the door as the nurse – who was actually a good friend of mine – came through it.
“Oh, Brit,” Kylie exclaimed, “you’re awake. Good.”
Bustling over, my friend of old lowered a bowl of water and washcloth on the small cabinet next to me. I tensed as she dragged a plastic chair closer, scraping the bare floor with its legs.
“You’re lucky you’re still alive.” Tucking a stray strand of her light hair behind her ear, she sat and sloshed the washcloth in the bowl. “Let’s clean up that pretty face of yours.”
Trying in vain to speak, my tongue stuck on the dry roof of my mouth, I gestured to the glass beside me. Kylie snapped into action, picking up the water and offering me the straw that was sat in it. I sipped as much as I could, closing my eyes in relief.
“Fred. Is he okay?” I asked as soon as my tongue could move freely.
Kylie wrung out the washcloth. “Yes, your bodyguard is fine. He saved you from the wreck.”
“He did?” I couldn’t imagine old Fred lifting me, even if he was heavyset.
Shrugging, Kylie leaned forward and wiped my face with the cold cloth. I winced, smiling awkwardly when she paused.
“He chased after the van and dragged you out before it set alight.” Kylie rinsed the bloodstained cloth before coming back to my face. “He thought the vehicle would explode with you inside.”
“And Nate?” My question was tentative.
I didn’t want anyone to think I was bothered whether he’d survived, but they all knew I was trying to gain favor with my father.
I’d worked hard to track the four men. It had taken many years, but I’d finally caught a trace of Moth’s phone – after stealing his mother’s old phone – I knew it was my time.
Except, it would all be ruined if my target died before I’d had the chance to claim my victory.
“I’m not sure.” Throwing the cloth into the bowl, Kylie screwed up her nose. “He was taken to that strange house deep in the woods and left there to die.”
“He was?” My heartbeat sped up. “I need to get up.”
Trying to swing my legs out of the bed, I shuddered. There were cuts and bruises all over me and my arms were sore but it was all superficial.
Kylie put a hand on my shoulder, preventing me from moving any further. “No, you need to rest. Why do you care about Nate anyway? What were you doing with him?”
Closing my eyes against the pain radiating in my body, I sat back. She wasn’t going to let me go anywhere, and if I’d learnt anything about my father’s people, you just did what they said.
“I’d prefer not to say.” I leant back, closed my eyes and pretended to fall asleep, only opening them a crack when she’d left.
I hadn’t wanted anyone to know about my plan but Fly’s actions had gone and ballsed that up. My bodyguard, Fred, would’ve gone straight to my father. There was only so much I could ask him to keep from his employer and leader.
Studying the room, I eyed the window, which was wide open to allow the air to circulate. It was a warm morning and the birds were singing loudly. I had to see Fly and make sure he stayed alive, just long enough to carry out my plan.
I carefully swung my legs out of the bed like a frail old woman.
My clothes were mucky and blood splattered, still stuck to my skin in places.
They hadn’t even bothered to get me undressed or cleaned up.
I pictured my father telling them to do the bare minimum as punishment.
I could have internal injuries, but he wouldn’t care, he would see it as karma.
Hobbling out of bed, I grabbed my jacket and my head as it spun. I steadied myself against the wall, checking my coat for my phone, which was still zipped in the hidden pocket. Good, at least he didn’t have my lifeline.
The bandages were heavy on my arms, but I ignored them, using what little energy I had to move to the window and swing one leg over the low threshold.
Luckily, they had built the windows floor to ceiling and several of them opened outwards from the top, allowing me to clamber out and onto the grass.
Taking in a calming breath, I stood and headed straight towards the tree line behind the building. I knew exactly where they were keeping Nate, and if I managed to get into the woods without anyone seeing me, I’d be free to carry out my plan.
“What!” I exclaimed as the sound of voices echoed behind me.
Using all of my remaining energy, I dove into the woods and hid behind a tree.
If anyone had gone into my room, they might have seen me escaping. I really hoped they didn’t. Wow, I never imagined that I’d use the word escape when it came to my father. And yet, I wasn’t sure how long I could play pretend, even to myself.
No, I had to stay resolute and focused on my path so that I could be free from the constrictions of the leader. I wanted the man to be my father, not the godly being that he’d ordained himself to be.
Steadying myself, I trod lightly, glancing over my shoulder to check the density behind me. If it had been Winter, I wouldn’t have been able to stay hidden from the building, but the brush was thick and I took advantage, albeit slowly, by pushing through the trees.
I’d grown up in these woods, playing and hiding for years, just to pass the time…
until I came of age. As my mind wandered, I almost tripped, only managing to steady myself by grabbing a tree.
The roughness of the bark grounded me and I paused, inhaling the woody scent.
I had to keep calm and focused, despite my spinning head.
I’d obviously hit my skull in the accident, but it didn’t matter, I had to get to Nate.
Pushing on, I traipsed through the woods, winding my way through the trees. I followed the sun as it guided me, always keeping it to my right. The house that Kylie had spoken about was buried deep in the woods. It was a high security luxurious pad where my father locked people up for… punishment.
My father hated the men who’d managed to escape, but he had been so entrenched in his nefarious lifestyle, he’d not wanted to waste resources in finding them. I, on the other hand, knew what they knew and wanted to stop them from blowing my world – my inheritance – apart.
I shuddered as I got nearer to the house, spotting its roof in front of me. It had been several years since I’d visited it and I’d never wanted to come back. And yet, here I was.
Getting out my phone, I checked the perimeter with the heat detector. No human heat source outside of the building, which meant that my father hadn’t even instructed Fred to keep an eye on Nate. Good. It meant I could get inside and check if he was still alive.
Striding to the front door, I took out my master key and unlocked it. The sound of my blood rushing echoed in my ears as I creaked it open and peeked inside, searching the living room. There was no sign of life, not on the couches or by the kitchen at the back of the room, tucked behind a wall.
I kept my breathing shallow to listen to the upstairs of the house; silence. Stepping inside, I slowly closed the door and locked it behind me. If Nate was somehow still alive, and ready to fight me, I would have to find another way to escape.
The silence stretched out as I stepped across the wooden floor and to the staircase on the left.
There was a corridor that led off under the stairs to the study and utility room.
Up the stairs, it curved to disappear on the landing above.
There were three bedrooms and bathrooms on the next floor and another set of stairs that led into an attic.
I remembered the layout perfectly, even knowing what wooden stair to avoid because of its creak.
I would've assumed that Fred would dump Nate on a couch rather than lug him up the stairs.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I heard the tiniest of sounds coming from upstairs.
Straining, I listened, trying to hear the sound again, but it didn't come.
Shit, I'd probably imagined it. I searched the living area for something I could use to defend myself.
A smile blossomed when my gaze landed on the fireplace and the fire poker beside it.
My footsteps were slow and steady as I trod over the rug and to the weapon, which hung on a hook attached to the stone wall.
My father liked hunting lodges so most of his buildings were modelled on them, except this one had big windows on the far side of the room and cameras everywhere. I just hoped I had enough time to check on Fly before the cavalry arrived.
As swift as a ninja, I picked up the poker and turned, tiptoeing back to the stairs. I listened once more, only ascending when it was completely quiet.
My breath was heavy in my lungs as I shallow breathed, using all my senses to climb the stairs like a tracker. I'd trained to hunt my prey, and yes, I'd been bottom of the class, but I'd still passed it... barely.
Memories of running through the woods with the boys slammed into my mind and I paused, squeezing the hard poker. It would be so satisfying to hurt them, one by one.
Pushing the thoughts away, I carried on up the stairs until I got to the top. A long corridor ran to the right, all the way to the other side of the house, where there was a window in the wall, looking out to the woods.