“Jesus, it’s freezing,” Austin grumbled. “What took you so long?”
“I parked on Fenton and came in the back way,” Belinda puffed, a little out of breath.
The front door slammed shut and I strained to hear the rest of the conversation.
“It’s a bit further,” Belinda continued, sounding more muffled. “But the trail is clear and nobody uses that road, especially in this weather. Did you pass anything on your way up?”
“Nah.” The back door opened. “As far as I can tell, we’re the only ones here.” Something was dragged across the back seat, the door closed, and the conversation drifted out of earshot. There was nothing to do but wait it out. A few minutes later, the trunk popped open and a gun was pressed against my temple.
“Make a sound and you’re history,” Belinda warned. “A disappearance and suicide would be more convincing but if I have to shoot you, I will.” She caught sight of the gag around my neck and flicked her gun from Austin to me. “Fix that. And you should’ve packed them the other way around. Now we have to get him out as well.”
“Sorry.” Austin came forward to fix the gag, the crunch of plastic sounding under his feet. He’d changed into a wetsuit atsome point, which only made what they were about to do a fuckton more certain.
“That’ll do.” Belinda interrupted Austin fussing with the gag. “Let’s get this over before anyone decides to search the place. Get him out.”
Austin wasted no time rolling me to the edge of the trunk and letting me fall from there to the tarp. A muffled cry burst from my lungs as my shoulder took the brunt of the impact and pain arced through my body, the stony shoreline of the lake flickering like an old black-and-white movie.
“Cut his ankle ties,” Belinda ordered. “He’s not going anywhere, and he’s a dead weight for you and me to try and get back in.”
Austin scowled. “Yeah, my ribs?—”
“Will you shut up about your damn ribs and just do it,” Belinda snapped, throwing him an exasperated look.
Austin glared back. He looked about to say something before changing his mind and starting on my ankle bindings.
My gaze flicked between them. This was good. Austin was getting annoyed with Belinda’s bossiness. If it kept up, it would work in my favour.
While Austin freed my feet, I tried to get my bearings. I was lying on the edge of a car park. A large body of water unfurled from a stony shoreline in front of me, vertical cliffs rising on both sides like an amphitheatre. A couple of picnic tables sat to one side, with a toilet block behind them. A sign warning of sudden drop-offs and cold water had a life preserver hanging under it and I almost laughed. Talk about the universe spitting in your face. Fog blocked the full extent of the lake’s size, barely a ripple moving across its black surface, and an eerie calm hovered over the dismal scene like a bad horror movie.
Any hope I had of getting us out of there seemed sorely misplaced and I couldn’t afford to wait. The second my feet werefree, I slammed a boot into Austin’s knee, catching him side-on and sending him crashing to the tarp with a sickening scream. I was on my knees, getting ready to run, when cold metal pushed against the back of my neck.
“You are such a fucking pain in my neck.” Belinda slammed the butt of the gun into my head and I crashed back to the ground, head spinning. She hit me again and blood spewed in a red arc over the grey tarp.
My vision greyed and a loud ringing echoed through my brain.
Blood filled my mouth, the bitter metallic tang choking on the back of my throat as I tried to suck in a breath.
Panic gripped my chest.
I was running out of time.
The luck that had stuck by my side for so long had vanished.
I’d wagered on a miracle, and I was about to lose everything.
My mother. Mads. My life.
I should never have followed Austin into that bush alone.
I should’ve gone to the nearest property and called Mads from there.
Got some backup.
Let them know where I was.
There had always been more than two choices.
I just didn’t want to see them.
