Chapter 21
brIELLE
Part of me doesn’t want to leave. Part of me wants to stay here—to make this place my home with Emris, and maybe Carson, even though they both drive me nuts.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve started to feel comfortable here. Safe, almost.
And Emris. I hate how easily he gets under my skin. How he looks at me like he sees me… and how badly I want to believe that means something.
But I can’t stay. This isn’t my home. These aren’t my people. They are still the men who knocked me out, dragged me away from my life, and offered no explanation. It doesn’t matter if I feel safe here. It doesn’t matter if my heart keeps betraying me. None of it matters, because I’m leaving.
I sit on the floor with my back against the bed, waiting a little while longer before I take the car keys I stole and get the hell out of here.
I keep questioning whether I’d be leaving if I knew Susie was safe, but I can’t chance it.
I can’t live my life—as much as you can live it as a captive—knowing she could be chained up in someone’s basement or worse.
That’s why I’m leaving tonight. Every night that passes is another night she could be hurt or in trouble.
Susie helped me when I needed it, and the least I can do is return the favor if she needs someone now.
Carson says she was mixed up with bad people, but he’s never given me a reason to trust him.
Minutes pass by as I watch the clock. I have to leave late enough to ensure Emris is asleep and Carson is back in the guest house. He won’t be able to hear anything from up here—or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
The second the clock strikes two a.m., I jump up from the floor, keys already biting into my palm. I move on instinct toward the door, and the lock doesn’t fight me, but I already knew it wouldn’t. Emris decided I was trustworthy when it came to me trying to leave.
Poor judgment on his end.
I ease the doorknob open an inch at a time, holding my breath as the door creaks open.
Sticking my head out first, I look around to make sure the coast is clear before testing my weight with each step, but the silence is so loud.
I wince when the floor creaks below me, freezing mid-step as my heart hammers while I listen for any sign that Emris is awake.
I don’t wait long before I head for the front door.
The second I step outside, I shiver, wishing I had grabbed one of the jackets Emris had bought, but it didn’t feel right taking anything he paid for aside from the clothes I’m wearing.
Everything else I left. I grip the car keys in my hand as I go to the first red-and-white car parked in the driveway and attempt to unlock the door, but nothing happens.
There’s a total of three cars, and these keys have to be for one of them.
I try the SUV next, and the same shit happens.
My heart beats wildly as I step up to Emris’s black Mustang. I know how much he loves this car. I’ve heard him talk about it before, but I can’t let myself feel guilty now. After getting the car unlocked, I sit down in the driver’s seat. I hesitate as I bring the keys up to the ignition.
I need to leave.
I have to.
For Susie and for myself.
Before losing all my courage, I turn the key, and the car roars to life.
Fuck, it’s so loud.
As I go to put the car in drive, the weight of the situation crashes down.
I fucked up. My heart is going to pound out of my chest as I stare down at the gear shift and realize I have no idea how to drive a manual car.
Taking a deep breath, I press down on the clutch.
It’s way heavier than I expected as my fingers grip the steering wheel tightly.
The second I try to put the car in whatever gear it needs to be in, it sputters but moves. I can’t help but smile as I drive the car down the driveway slowly. My line of thinking is that if I can be quiet until I get a tad further away, the better chance I have of escaping.
When I can no longer see the house in the rearview mirror, the smile on my face grows as I guide myself down the dirt road. I did it. I fucking got away! Now I need a phone so I can call someone. Bexley, maybe? Susie? A wave of doubt washes through my mind at calling her.
Pressing down on the gas, the car kicks forward and then starts to slow down.
Oh fuck. I look down frantically, trying to figure out what the hell to do.
I take my foot off the pedal and move the gear shift, but nothing happens.
The feeling of freedom quickly fades the longer the car stalls, and before I can try to get the stupid-ass car moving again, faint lights shine through the rearview mirror.
“No. No. No!” I scream, my hands trembling uncontrollably.
It has to be either Carson or Emris, but regardless of whether I get out of here or not, I’m fucked. There’s no way Emris is going to play nice after this.
I press on the gas, and the car flies down the road, but then slows to a stop as it stalls again.
“Fuck!” I sob.
On the third try, the car moves, but not before the car behind me catches up.
I press the gas, and the car lurches forward again, but I can’t focus on the road in front of me as my eyes keep moving everywhere but straight.
The panic rising in me takes over, and I can’t catch my breath.
Black dots cloud my vision, my breathing coming in shallow pants.
I can’t fucking breathe.
My hands grip the wheel as the car swerves toward the side of the road.
The second the car behind me hits the bumper, I lose control of the steering wheel.
The front of the car collides with something hard, and my head swings forward, hitting the top of the steering wheel and making my vision blur even more.
I close my eyes as I try to control my breathing, my hands shaking as I try to get my seatbelt unbuckled.
Another sob leaves my mouth when shouting comes from somewhere close.
I scramble, finally wrenching myself free from the seatbelt and lunging toward the passenger side to escape before Emris can get to me.
Halfway over, something wet drips down my face. I touch my forehead, and my hand comes away covered with blood. It runs into my right eye, stinging and blurring my vision.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I whisper shakily. “This can’t be fucking happening right now.”
When I finally get over the middle console and into the passenger seat, Carson’s voice sounds from the spot I just left.
“Brielle, come on. What the fuck are you doing? Emris is absolutely pissed. You really fucked up this time,” he says, trying to reach for me.
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.
Just come with me. You’re hurt.” I’ll give him credit for wanting to help ease the pain of what’s to come, but Emris is going to be livid.
“No. I can’t, Carson! You don’t understand. I can’t.” Panic surges through me as the door finally gives, and I tumble to the ground. Before I can push myself up, a pair of arms wrap around me. “No!” I yell, trying to get away, but it’s no use. I’m not strong enough against him.
Emris presses his mouth to the shell of my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine. “He might not understand, baby. But I fucking do.”