Martin and Peter, the other guard, are on their feet. Their guns are raised, but they can see there’s nothing they can do without harming me.
This was one hell of a plan.
The bastard just needed to get close to me without anyone near enough to protect me. He planned this perfectly.
“She’s going to come with me!” Reece shouts at Martin. “If you follow, I will shoot the barista over there and the little boy next to her.”
The barista had been serving the little boy. I glance at them out the corner of my eyes. The boy is no older than ten. And the barista looks like a kid herself.
Jesus. Reece is pure evil. Being in prison seems to have made him more deranged.
As I look at him, I know he’s serious. Hewillkill those people.
Terror swallows me whole, but I look at Martin and force my mouth to move. “I’m gonna go with him.” My voice sounds dead.
Martin looks furious. But fury can’t help me now.
“Move,” Reece orders, gesturing for me to go forward.
I do, and he hooks his arm around me, making my position so much worse.
He guides me out the door and toward the rear exit of the building.
We walk through, and the cool evening air hits. A black SUV waits near the curb with the engine running.
I gasp and try to pull back, but Reece’s grip tightens painfully around my waist.
“Don’t,” he says softly. “You remember what happens when you run.”
My stomach drops.
The woods.
The dark.
My ankle giving out beneath me.
Him carrying me back while I screamed.
My knees nearly buckle.
Reece shoves me harder toward the SUV.
“You’re going to come with me and do as you’re told.”
My heart is pounding so violently I can barely breathe.
“You need to let me go and leave me alone.”
“Ridiculous. You know I love you. I have always loved you.”
I’m going to throw up. “You psycho. You ruined my life. You don’t know what love is.”
“This is love, Piper. I’m fighting for you.” He holds the gun at my throat. “Things will be different between us, baby. We’ll leave the country and start fresh.”
He forces me closer to the car.
Then—
