That had her squirming, trying to get free and trying to do something to help herself, to help Seth.
How would he live with another death he couldn’t prevent? She couldn’t let it happen.
The door opened again, and the man touched her face, holding her head down on the ground, no matter how hard she tried to move away from his touch.
He ripped the gag from her mouth, causing her to cry out.
He laughed. “That’s it. Scream for help. Call for the asshole. The scene is set, and it’s time for him to pay.”
Mara sucked in deep breaths, but tried to stay quiet. She didn’t want Seth to watch her die. Well, she didn’t want to die at all, but she wasn’t calling Seth and getting him to watch for this asshole’s entertainment.
The clouds thinned enough to see the man’s outline above her. Big, strong. Somehow, that was worse than wondering. It was real. This was no dream or aftereffect of being drugged with chloroform.
She forced her gaze away from him and to her surroundings, while the clouds weren’t blocking everything out. She was definitely inside Chick Inn Time. Could she use something in here to help her?
They’d made it safe for the birds, so there wouldn’t be any helpful knives or sharp edges to help her escape.
With a horrid laugh, the man kicked her in the knee. She saw it coming, but wasn’t able to evade it.
She whimpered at the pain, but tried to keep the noise to herself.
“Trying to be brave for the asshole? Won’t matter. He’s going to come, and he’s going to watch you die. Then it’ll be his turn.”
With another kick, he walked out of the enclosure and out of her sight.
Which should have made her feel better, but it didn’t. She had a bomb strapped to her. This man wanted Seth to suffer, and she was the bait.
Her only weapon was her voice, but other than calling out a warning, that was useless, too.
She knew Seth would ignore her warning to stay away and approach, anyway. He was an incredible man, and he wouldn’t leave her to suffer.
Maybe she could tell him she loved him before the bomb went off. Would that make it worse if she died?
No. Love made everything better. Just like in her favorite musicals, she was holding onto hope. She wanted her happy ending.
Seth kept his senses wide open. He’d silenced his phone when he’d been studying the photos earlier. He could feel it vibrating in his pocket, but he didn’t bother checking it.
His friends would want him to wait for them. He couldn’t.
Not with Mara suffering. Suffering because of him.
He slowed as he approached Chick Inn Time. Thanks to his training, his breathing remained in control, and his senses automatically took in his surroundings.
The moon was playing peekaboo behind the heavy cloud cover, and he wished for some night-vision goggles.
Still, he moved off the path and into the trees and bushes near the chicken enclosure. The birds were quiet, roosting in their coop most likely. Hopefully, the asshole hadn’t hurt them.
He imagined Blake had chosen this area for a few reasons. It was away from the crowds, but close enough for him to carry an unconscious woman. Or had he followed her here? Maybe he’d tracked her whenever she was alone, waiting for an opportunity.
As Seth eased through the trees, he avoided the areas lit by the motion-sensor lights. They were there to deter predators, but they hadn’t deterred Blake. He might have broken the bulbs, but Seth wouldn’t take the chance of alerting the man to his presence or lighting himself up as a target unless it would save Mara.
When he had a clear view, Seth took in the scene. The enclosure would have appeared empty if he weren’t searching for her.
But she was there, a dark shadow lying on the ground beside the monkey bars she’d built.
Anger and fear tried to take over, but his training shut them down. She couldn’t afford for him to lose control.
He searched the area until he spotted a shadow where one shouldn’t be. Off to his left. Next to a large maple tree.
