Something about Cameron’s inflection has my heartbeat bursting like the crackle of thunder. Tears form behind my eyes at the impact. He stands at the edge of the bed next to me, and I glance up at him, allowing the first tear to fall.
Because they know. They somehow know I just picked up everything and moved to a town where nobody knows me.
They recognize I’m alone.
Helpless.
And I’m starting to understand that their knowledge of my situation and who I am is greater than they’re leading on. But the question is,how?
“You need to eat and drink something,” Brennan says, motioning toward the bowl of fruit and glass of water on my dresser that’s been there since I woke up the first time to this nightmare. “It will help with the nausea.”
I glare at him. “How do I know you aren’t trying to poison me? You did roofie me—”
Cameron silences me by stretching for the bowl. His fingertips reach into the blend of strawberries, sliced apples, green grapes, and kiwi. He pulls out a sliced strawberry and slips it between his lips, crunching through the flesh and into the fruit. The juices glisten on his mouth as his tongue darts out, swiping the sweetness away.
I swallow, wetting my dry mouth. “I’ll run. I’m quite good at it.”
“Please try. Cam and I have always found pleasure in…” Brennan’s gaze trails over my body. “…hunting.”
Cameron lifts his hand to his mouth, running his thumb over his bottom lip in thought. “I’ll make you a deal.” My breathing stops. “If you decide to try and run and happen to make it over the fence that surrounds the entire property, we won’t chase you. We’ll let you go.”
Brennan raises a brow at his brother.
“But,” Cameron continues, making my heart plummet into my gut, “if we catch you before you reach the property line, we get to punish you using whatever method we want.”
Brennan smirks, liking the idea.
Cameron leans over me. His hot breath skims the shell of my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “Even if you did run,” he whispers, “this property is eight miles of orchard and forest. Every way you turn looks exactly like the direction you justcame, and Bren, Colt, and I have memorized every inch of this property. We’ll see you before you see us.”
I remain silent and motionless at the thought of the punishment they would choose. I try to stop it, but I can’t keep the heat from rushing between my legs. I attempt to shove the thought away, ignoring my sick mind, but the more my mangled brain contemplates their threat, the more curious I get.
Brennan stares at me inquisitively. “Do you consent?”
Oh, God. But it’s a chance to escape without them coming after me.I should be grateful, yet the dread churns in my gut like a swarm of angry hornets.
Challenge accepted.
I inhale a breath, giving an unsteady nod to agree.
“We need a verbal confirmation, Taryn,” Brennan commands.
“Yes—” I choke out. “I’ll take the deal.”
Cameron backs away from me and smiles maliciously at Brennan. His head tilts. “I hope you understand what you’re agreeing to.” I don’t. I have no idea what I’m agreeing to, but if it’s a chance to escape, why wouldn’t I? “We’ll check on you in a little while.”
I snatch the pillow behind my back and chuck it across the room, hitting Brennan’s thigh. He arcs a brow at my attempt. “What if I need the bathroom?”
Brennan shrugs. “There’s a half-bath at the base of the stairs to the left. The main door is the one that will be locked.”
My blood boils. “You can’t just lock me in here all day!”
They start to head down the stairway, going down far enough so that I can’t see them but can hear their voices. “You need to calm down! We don’t want you to frighten them,” one of them shouts, but I haven’t been around them long enough to tell whose voice it is.
Them?
And then my brain ruptures when it remembers something. “My dog!” I screech. Wet, hot tears pour down my face now at the thought of Rossco alone. “Just please bring me my dog,” I whimper. But the sound of the door cuts me off, and I release a sob.
Rossco has been home all night by himself in the backyard. He must be hungry. Concerned.
