I burst out laughing, and all the men stiffen. Maybe it’s my reaction to seeing a dead body and the shock is making memanic, but I can’t help it. Roman’s gaze doesn’t falter, but I swear to God I see the vein in his forehead protrude with ire.
“I don’t need you to stay at the farm. Jesus Christ, I’ll just leave. There’s a fucking dead guy in the water! The last thing I want is a bunch of ?psycho fucks ‘keeping me safe’ at the farm,” I shout, throwing my hands into the air.
Roman’s hand is over my mouth in a heartbeat. The men are dead silent. “Bensen, get us moving toward the far bank. Gale, sink the snake,” Roman says smoothly as he stares deep into my soul. “This man was going to kidnap you or kill you, Briar, because of all things, he was led to think that you’re important. Which means so do I. You’re not leaving Bane Falls.”
“First you wanted me to leave and now you want me to stay? Which is it, asshole?” I shove Roman and he grabs both of my wrists.
“Push me again and I’ll have to restrain you. You like that though, don’t you?” he says mockingly. “It’s whichever I say, Squirt. You all but belong to me—you just haven’t accepted it yet.” He tucks his hand into my pocket and tosses my phone into the lake.
That hits me like a brick, and I stare up at him in horror. It’s stupid that a phone means that much to me. But it just shut off all my communication to the world. And Ijustpaid for the prepaid plan too.Least of my worries right now honestly.
“Ah, there it is.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “Reality settling in sucks, doesn’t it?”
Gale pulls the big chains from the bottom of the boat and tosses them into the water, coiling them around the dead man a few times, and then the corpse sinks into the dark water as if he was never there.
Bensen moves in sync. The moment the corpse is out of sight, the boat is moving toward the vacant shore.
No one speaks until the bow hits the sand. Everyone gets out of the boat except me. My arms are wrapped around myself, and I’m staring at the spot where they just sunk the guy who supposedly was trying to kidnap me—although, I think I’m with the five men who actually are.
They gave me no evidence that the dead man was going to harm me. All they did was show me thattheyare no strangers to murder.
My gaze shifts in their direction. The group is huddled up and speaking in low, stressed voices. No one is watching me.
I carefully get out of the boat and step into the sand on the opposite side from them. They’re still having a heated conversation—about me, I’m presuming. I don’t even think about where I have to run to. I just know that anywhere is better than here. There has to be a cabin or fire trail somewhere nearby.
The forest’s underbrush isn’t too thick, so I’m able to slip into the forest without much noise.I know that path is around here somewhere.
I make it a decent ways away before I hear the guys start shouting. That’s my cue. I pump my legs as fast as I can and tear across the forest floor. It’s still hot out, and I’m sweating from traversing the steep incline.
Their voices are all over the place, so it’s safe to assume that they have no clue where I am. I slow down a little so I can be more strategic. I can’t outrun them all. I’ll have to hide.
After walking for what feels like a mile, I find a large grouping of boulders. There could be some adders in there?, but it’s the best hiding spot I’ve found and I don’t know how much longer I can walk. I’m dehydrated and my legs are trembling. I must be far into the woods…or I’ve been going in fucking circles. Once I lost view of the lake, I lost all sense of direction.
Their shouting eventually grows distant. By sunset, it’s entirely silent.
No one will be able to find me after nightfall. I’ll be able to get my bearings and then I’ll hike the trail all the way to the parking lot, follow the road to the highway, and hitchhike until I’m as far from here as I can get.
I’m in survival mode. These guys are going to get me killed one way or another.
I should’ve listened to Roman that first night and left. I press my palm against my temple before letting my head rest back against the boulder. Did hehaveto throw my phone into the lake? I brew on that for a while as I watch the sky slowly fade into richer colors and the hours drag on.
A cold breeze brushes over me, waking me up from my unintended nap, and I shiver.
It’s already pitch-black outside. Crap, how much time did I lose? I need to get moving.
My legs are stiff as I maneuver my way off the boulders. I fall a few feet and my knees buckle, sending me straight into the dirt.
A soft groan escapes my lips. The earthy scent fills the air around me, making me freeze with fear. The memories of Callum and how he pursued me after I escaped stir in my head. I hope Roman isn’t as committed to his cause as Callum was.
I’ve been through worse.
This is nothing, I tell myself over and over.
I furrow my brows and grit my teeth, standing and forcing myself to move.
But it doesn’t take long for me to realize that no matter how long I try to find my way back to the lake, I’m utterly lost. After aimlessly wandering for what feels like hours, I finally collapse and pull my knees to my chest. I’m covered in cuts and shiver like I’ve been dumped in ice water.
“Are you done?”
