Crouching down in front of the hearth, I inspect the remains of last night’s fire. There’s old ash there, so I’ll need to clear it out before I can build a proper fire. The bed creaks as Saint shiftspositions. She might just be trying to adjust herself, or worse, trying to escape.
Either way, I don’t like it.
“Saint! I told you to stay put.” I growl without looking back at her.
“I’m just trying to get comfortable.”
Sure, you are.
I reach for the kindling I stacked beside the stove one of the other times I stayed out here, keeping my attention split between the task and Saint’s presence behind me. It’s stupid. I should’ve started the fire first, then uncuffed her. Good thing I thought of that now, huh?
The metal frame of the bed creaks again.
“Saint.” My voice carries a warning.
“I’m just?—”
The rush of movement comes faster than I expect and catches me off guard. I turn around just in time to witness her launch off the bed and bolt for the front door.Fuck.Surging to my feet, my body is already moving before my brain can fully catch up. Damn, she’s fast, faster than I expected her to be. Her bare feet are silent as they move across the floor.
Her hand hits the doorknob.
“Saint, don’t?—”
The door flies open, and she’s through it, disappearing into the twilight. Cold air rushes in, bringing the scent of pine and the approaching night.
Goddammit.
I’m out the door in a flash, my boots pounding against the porch boards. She’s already off the porch, running for the tree line. The girl can move when she’s motivated. I’ll give her that. But she’s wearing nothing but my shirt and her underwear, her feet are bare, and she has no idea where she is or where she’s going.
She won’t make it far, not that I’m going to let her try.
I close the distance in long, powerful strides. She glances back at me over her shoulder. Her honey-blond hair blows in the wind, and her blue eyes widen with terror when she sees how close I am. She stumbles, tripping over a root, and I’m on her before she can recover.
I wrap my arms around her waist from behind and haul her off her feet. A scream rips from her throat. Her sound of pure panic and rage tears through the quiet forest. My ears are ringing from the noise, and then she starts to fight.
“Stop!” I growl, trying to control her thrashing body. “Stop fighting me!”
She doesn’t listen. Her elbow connects with my ribs, a lucky shot that actually hurts. Maybe I had been mistaken. She isn’t as meek or innocent as I thought. She interrupts my thoughts by sinking her nails into my forearm and raking them across the skin. Blood beads against the scratches. She’s all wild desperation, fighting like her life depends on it.
Maybe it does.
I hook a leg around hers and send us both toward the ground. At the last second, I twist my body to take the brunt of the fall. We hit the ground hard, pine needles and dirt cushioning the impact. She writhes in my grip, trying to claw her way free.
“Saint—fuck—stop!”
“Let me go!” She bucks against me, her heel connecting with my shin. “Let me go, let me go, let mego!”
I roll, pinning her beneath me, using my weight to immobilize her. Her chest heaves against mine, and we’re both breathing hard now. Tears are falling from her eyes steadily, and they mix with the dirt smudged on her cheeks.
“There’s nowhere to go,” I tell her, my voice rough. “We’re miles from anyone that could help you, and even if you got away, you’ll likely die before you reach someone.”
“I don’t care!” She tries to knee me, but I shift my hips to block it. “I’d rather die out there than stay here with you!”
The words shouldn’t sting, but fuck me, they do.
“Well, you don’t get that choice.” I catch both her wrists in one hand, pinning them above her head. She’s so small like this, so breakable beneath me. It’s hard to stay angry with her when her reaction is relatable. She’s afraid and confused. I get that, but I also told her to do something, and she didn’t listen. “I told you not to run. I fucking told you. That’s all you had to do, Saint. Stay put.”
“You’re a monster!” She spits the words at me literally—saliva hits my cheek. “A murderer! I hate you! I hate you!” Her voice cracks on the last word before dissolving into a sob. Beneath me, her body goes rigid, every muscle locked tight with terror and rage and despair.
