Cass cried out and dropped, and the second she hit the ground, Addie pushed up. For the second time, the world tilted, dizziness trying to press her back down. She refused to let it and forced herself to her feet.
“You fucking bitch,” Cass growled as she jumped up.
Addie had just straightened when a kick caught her in the stomach. She cried out and fell to the ground.
“You really thought you could get away with murder?” Cass growled.
Addie tried to suck in air. “What are you talking about?”
“Hetoldme what you did to Rhett. You slept with him, and when he cut things off, you lost it and killed him. You’re crazy! He even told me how you made all that shit up about a stalker to gain sympathy.”
Another kick caught her in the ribs. She gasped for air as pain cut into her airways.
“I don’t know who told you those things,” Addie gasped. “But they’re lies!”
“You think I’d believeyouover him?”
“Himwho?”
Cass pulled her leg back to kick Addie again, but when she flung it forward, Addie grabbed her ankle and rolled, pulling the other woman to the ground. Cass’s head slammed into the asphalt with a thud.
Addie didn’t give her a chance to recover before she turned and kicked, getting Cass right in the face.
The crunch of Cass’s nose was loud, but her scream was louder as she grabbed her face.
Addie didn’t stick around to see what happened next. She shot to her feet and ran. She wanted to jump into Cass’s car and drive, but there was no guarantee the key was in the car and not on Cass, and then Addie would be cornered.
And what if the second person showed up and blocked her leaving? She’d be outnumbered, and there was every chance that person would have a gun.
Addie ran straight to the cabin, but not to the door. She lifted a rock and threw it through the window. The glass shattered,but she didn’t attempt to get inside. Because again, she’d be cornered. Instead, she cut into the trees behind the cabin.
The broken window would have set off the silent alarm, alerting Noah and Colt. Which meant someone would come. She just had to hide until they did.
She rounded trees and jumped over roots. Jules’s food truck came into view ahead. She was just reaching it when a shout sounded behind her.
“I’m going to kill you, Addie! And I know these woods far better than you! You can’t hide from me.”
Too slow. She was moving too slowly. But with the rippling pain in her ribs combined with the pounding of her head, she couldn’t run any faster.
Suddenly, she tripped over a rock and hit the ground hard. Her ribs cried out in pain and when she tried to push up, the pounding in her head swayed the world around her.
“You really think you can outrun me?”
Oh, Jesus… Cass was so close.
Quickly, Addie crawled toward the vehicle, but instead of hiding behind it, she crawled beneath it. There was barely any space, and she just fit. It was a risky hiding spot. If Cass checked there, then she was as good as dead.
The pounding footsteps grew closer. When they stopped at the front tire, Addie covered her mouth to silence any sounds trying to escape. Then she watched Cass’s boots circle the tires.
Don’t look underneath.The quiet words whispered in Addie’s head.
Cass cursed and started jogging away.
Addie was just breathing a sigh of relief when a new voice sounded.
“Cass!”
Addie’s heart stopped. She knew that voice.
