Grabbing the railing, she swung her legs over the metal and then stood on the outer cement ledge of the balcony. A blast of wind lifted the strands of her hair. Moisture hung heavy in the air, and the scent of rain rolled in off the ocean. She swiveled her gaze to the side of the house.
A TV droned through an open window. Blinds prevented her from seeing inside.
She looked down. The grassy land below sloped slightly away from the house. Trees and foliage hugged the property. Unease rocked her confidence. If she broke her leg, she’d?—
“Get the woman ready,” Willy said, his voice drifting through the window. “I want to try her out myself before I get any money for her,” he added with a laugh.
Terror circulated from her head to her cold toes. She didn’t have time. Any minute and they’d discover her gone.
“You can each have a turn with her if you hurry.”
She crouched down as much as she could, grasped the bars tightly, and let her legs drop over the edge. Her shoulders screamed and her fingers burned as she hung there.
She didn’t want to die. Not like this. If she shattered her legs, she’d drag herself somewhere before she’d let them find her. Sucking in a sharp breath, she closed her eyes and let go.
A drop of faith.
Wham! The air barked from her lungs as she slammed onto her side. She flopped to her back.
Her head spun and her chest ached. Rolling into a sitting position, she took rapid stock of her body: her legs hadn’t hit first, no pain there. Her ribs burned with each breath, but nothing she couldn’t tolerate.
As she pushed to her feet, her body howled in protest.
“She’s gone!” a voice cried from above.
Shit. She darted for the nearest tree and hid behind it, pressing her back to its large trunk. She peeked around the bark and spotted one of the men on the balcony, his hands braced on the railing. With a menacing scowl, he searched the trees.
She returned to position, her heart galloping. Her legs burned. The urge to run scorched the soles of her bare feet. She wet her lips and inched away from the tree to edge further into the dense jungle.
The ocean wasn’t far. The gentle swishing of the waves called her down the slope. She needed to get as far from the house as possible and find a place to hide. A few drops of rain landed with a splat on her cheeks and head.
A stream snaked downward and she moved quickly alongside it. Stepping from rock to rock, she continued her descent.
“Find her!” Willy’s order cut through the jungle noises.
She gulped, picking up the pace. She weaved through trees, not slowing to catch her breath. The foliage started to thin and the rocks seemed to multiply. Then she saw it: the glittering black ocean.
She reached the edge of a low bluff and lowered to her knees on top of a large rock that jutted out toward the ocean. Glancing over her shoulder, she could just see the house through the trees on top of the cliff. Flashlights bobbed over the property.
She needed to hurry and find shelter. Shimmying onto her belly, she dropped off the edge of the rock feetfirst. The drop was much shorter than the one from the balcony, and she landed on her feet, then toppled backward onto her butt.
Pepples soaked in wet sand softened her fall. Water rushed in around her ankles, as if to pull her into its safety.
Not yet. She didn’t want to attempt to swim if she could hide until help came.
“Search the shore!” one of the men hollered.
Horror flooded her.
She needed to hide. Now.
Atlas rolled his hand into a fist on his lap as Viper drove down the main strip near Molly’s apartment. He knew of a popular café in the area. Best to check there first—even though common sense told him she wouldn’t be there.
People came and went from the coffee shop. “Park across the street.”
“Roger that.” Viper steered into a spot that had just been vacated and shifted into park.
Atlas hopped out and crossed the road with his friend. He scoured the scene for signs of Molly.
