“Not until you tell me what you’re planning to do.”
Thomas crouches down and leans in closer until our noses are inches apart. I’m instantly more uncomfortable than I ever thought possible. The differences in him are alarming. His eyes are ice cold, and every move he makes is calculated. His gaze stays on me like he’s absorbing everything I’m thinking. It’s hard to believe he’s the same person who tried to befriend me just a few short weeks ago. I realize now just how naive I’ve been. No matter how many times I tried to convince myself that I’d rather face Thomas than run—that was a lie. This is so much worse than I ever thought it would be.
“The very nasty people who pay me to do very nasty things were not pleased when I allowed you to live. It was the first time I did not fulfill a contract. I assured them you would not cause a problem, but you have proven me wrong.” He runs a finger down the side of my face. I try to back away from him but he grabs the front of my shirt and hauls me back in.
I slap my hand over my mouth, praying I won’t throw up again. He doesn’t blink. Or move. His eyes bore into me and I know I’m looking at a monster. He flings me back and I land hard on the ground for a second time.
Thomas stands quickly and whistles. Within seconds another person emerges from the woods. The light is fading and I can’t tell until he gets closer that he’s wearing a black ski mask. I can barely make out his eyes from the tiny openings. He’s wearing all black clothes and black combat boots. I can’t quit staring at him. Is he one of the suits who Agent Williams thinks is the mole—Agent X?
He looks nervous, eyes darting back and forth between me and Thomas.
“Pick him up,” Thomas says to the masked man.
“No.” I stumble forward, trying to get to Ethan before the other man does. I can’t even think about what Thomas has planned for him. My fingers dig into the rough ground as I claw my way back to him. Ethan’s warm breath hits the cool night air and I take comfort in the fact he is still breathing. I cover Ethan’s body with mine, offering him any protection I can. I’m praying one of the dads will appear, shotgun in hand, but so far it’s just us out here. Even if our families hear something, they probably won’t come looking since they think Ethan is teaching me how to shoot a gun.
The masked man stands over us but doesn’t move toward Ethan. He looks back at Thomas as if asking how he’s supposed to pick Ethan up since I’m draped over his chest.
Thomas pulls me off of Ethan, restraining my arms. As much as I struggle, I can’t move an inch. “If you continue to fight me, your boyfriend will pay the consequence,” he growls.
I stop moving instantly.
The masked man struggles lifting Ethan until he finally gets him over his shoulder.
“You don’t need him! Take me! Leave him here!” I shout.
Thomas squeezes my arms so tight behind me I think they’re going to pop out of the sockets.
“Be quiet. This isn’t just about you anymore,” he whispers in my ear.
Thomas pushes me in the back and we follow Ethan and the masked man into the darkening forest.
“Where are you taking us?”
“Those nasty bosses of mine…they’ve hired my replacement to finish the job,” Thomas sneers.
I suck in a deep breath and stumble over a small log.
He steadies me before pushing me again to keep me moving.
“What does that mean?” As afraid as I am for him to answer this question, I have to know what we’re up against.
“That means,” he grits out in a harsh tone, “not only are there contracts out for you and your boyfriend, but for my friend and me as well. My boss decided the best way to clean up this entire mess is to get rid of all of us.”
I crumple to the ground. Oh. My. God.
Thomas jerks me back up and pushes me forward.
“But I don’t understand. Why are you here? Are you turning us over to them?” My mind is racing and I can’t seem to get a grip on what’s happening.
He ignores my questions completely.
It only takes a few more minutes until we reach an all-terrain vehicle similar to what Ethan uses on the farm.
“Where did you get that?”
“We borrowed it from one of the camps last night.”
Last night? How did they get here? Or know we were here to begin with?
