His Wicked Revenge (Wicked Duet #2)

Veronica

PROLOGUE

Thump. Thump. Thump.

There is a thunder pounding in my chest, and the roaring sound travels straight to my ears. Every time my feet dig into the soft Earth, it is on beat with my heart, creating the natural rhythm of a drum.

The loud alarms blaring from the asylum grow quieter as I rush through the forest. Tall trees whip past me, and I dodge low-hanging branches. Roots crawl up from the ground in hopes of tripping me, but I launch myself over them and push myself harder.

The warm June air sticks to my skin as I begin to sweat from the summer heat. It is making my hands slick and almost hard to hold onto the journal, but I grip it like my life depends on it.

Even though I carried out the plans written down in the small booklet, no one can find it. There are too many memories of Leo and me in here that are for my eyes only.

I keep darting through the woods at a speed I never knew I was capable of. I see a spot through the trees where the moon is shining fully, just like the place where I left Leo behind.

Sweet Leo.

A fool who trusted a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Running away by myself was the plan all along, so why does my stomach twist with agony? The same agony I’m sure he felt when I stabbed him. It was unfortunate timing for him, his mother dying and all, but him being that vulnerable was crucial.

I shove the thought of him out of my mind because I can’t lose focus. My mind isn’t allowed to wander to him while I’m running for my life.

Passing through more trees, I finally reach the opening and find that it’s an empty road. I glance left and then right, seeing nothing but a straightaway blanketed by the night sky and spotlighted by the moon.

Allowing my eyes to shut, I take this second to catch my breath and attempt to die down the cramp burning in my side.

Tires roll on the asphalt in the distance. The sudden noise causes my eyes to fly open, and my head quickly turns to the left. I see headlights. They come closer, and I don’t hesitate to raise my hand for them to stop.

It’s risky. The person driving this car could be someone from the asylum looking for me, but it is a risk I am willing to take.

The car slows down, and as it approaches, I realize it’s not a car but a van, which only adds to my nervousness. Panic consumes me at the make of the vehicle, and I think that maybe I should have dipped back into the forest instead of waving him down like a cab.

Images of being shoved into the van at the courthouse after my sentencing flutter through my mind. My mother and father’s faces as the door slammed shut, trapping me inside. I tilt my head to the side, dismissing the visualization and focusing on the person driving up to me.

When I have a good view of the van, it is not the same one that took me to Black Lake. This van has no writing on it. It is a deep brown with an orange stripe running horizontally through its side.

Slowing down until the passenger window is right in front of me, the young man looks over at me with a goofy smile.

“Need a ride?” he asks, and by the tone in his voice, I can tell he just got high.

“Yeah,” I answer slowly.

He gestures for me to get in, and I do. I don’t want to stand out in the middle of the open road while I’m being hunted down.

Sliding into the passenger seat and slamming the door shut, the stench of weed hits my nose like a wave. The smell doesn’t bother me because this guy being super high is probably the best outcome I could have had when being picked up.

He won’t know that I’m on the run or ask me any questions about why I was out here in the middle of the night.

“Where you heading?” The man asks as he presses on the gas pedal.

“Uh, where are you headed?” I turn the question on him since I don’t know where the hell I’m going.

“Bend, Oregon.” He grins widely. “Meeting some friends for some camping.”

“Crazy! That’s where I’m going,” I lie.

His head falls to the side, and he looks at me with glossy eyes. “What a coincidence!”

“Yeah.” I fake a smile, then ask, “Can I borrow your phone?”

“For sure.” He hands me his cell phone, and I dial a number that I memorized when I had first entered it into my phone.

It rings a few times, and then he answers despite the time of night. “Hello?”

“Hey. It’s…” I peek over at the driver to make sure he isn’t listening. I lower my voice and say, “It’s . I’m gonna need that favor now.”