“The rocks,” Ashlyn said, watching as he thought that over for a moment before releasing a heavy sigh and shifting his focus back to the selection of knives spread out before him.
“I knew they’d lead to my downfall one day,” Caleb said with a self-deprecating shake of his head.
“You don’t sound all that concerned about your impending doom,” Ashlyn pointed out.
“Probably because by the time they find this room,” Caleb said only to pause to send her a pointed look as he added, “and your bodies, I’ll be long gone.”
“The rocks?” Ashlyn asked, watching as he slowly nodded.
“Is this the part where I share my nefarious plans and tell you all my secrets while you try to figure out a way to escape,or better yet, hope that you’re able to buy time so that someone can swoop in and save the day?” Caleb asked, chuckling as he grabbed a hunting knife and placed it on the metal table as he set to work checking the chains.
“Can you blame me?” Ashlyn asked as her gaze flickered to Shayne to find him taking in the women cowering in the corner before his gaze locked back on her.
“No, I don’t suppose I can,” he murmured absently.
“Then, you won’t mind answering my questions,” Ashlyn said, watching as Shayne began struggling to remain conscious as he kept his eyes locked on her.
“Ask away,” Caleb said as Ashlyn sat there, keeping her gaze locked on Shayne as she mouthed, “I love you.”
She watched his jaw clench and wondered if she was about to have him break her heart for the third time only to swallow hard when he said, “I love you more than anything, mo bheag mhuirnín.”
“Already saying your goodbyes?” Caleb asked, sounding amused.
“What really happened to Jillian?” Ashlyn asked, pulling on her cuffs as she glanced up to find her chain hooked to the wall.
“I saw her arguing with the asshole from the dining room windows and when I saw her run crying into the woods, I just couldn’t help myself,” Caleb admitted on a heavy sigh. “I almost got caught when the asshole came after her to apologize. It was a close call and the life lesson I needed.”
“Meaning...” Ashlyn asked as she glanced around the room, looking for something that they could use to get out of here.
“I realized that I needed rules,” Caleb explained as he finished checking the chains and turned around and leaned back against the table, his gaze flickering to Shayne, drawing her attention to find him slouched over, his hand limply by his side as the flow of blood slowed down, making her swallow hard and-
“He’s dying,” her mother said, making it difficult to breathe.
“You made me break my rules twice,” Caleb said as he considered her. “Once when you were a little girl and then, a few weeks ago.”
“How?” Ashlyn asked, watching as her mother placed her hand on Shayne’s shoulder and-
Nothing.
“I’m always looking for new recipes and the best equipment, so I decided to save time years ago and limit my hunts to those times when I decided to have a better look at the competition,” Caleb explained only to have his lips pull up into a sheepish smile as he added, “Then again, sometimes I just want to fucking kill in the moment and feel the adrenaline shoot up my spine, but I can’t do that and avoid the electric chair if I give into the urge to kill every time it hits.”
“So, I came up with a set of rules. I don’t kill anyone who sets foot in the tavern. I don’t grab women within fifty miles of the tavern and I only hunt my prey a hundred miles away from the tavern,” Caleb said as he slowly ran his eyes over her. “You should have been safe both times, and you would have been, until I saw you in that hotel lobby and then, well...I couldn’t help myself.”
“That doesn’t explain the rocks or why you always left eight of them,” Ashlyn pointed out as her terrified gaze shifted back to Shayne and-
He was fine, Ashlyn told herself as she forced herself to stay focused.
“No, it doesn’t, does it? I really can’t explain the rocks. I just like them and I’ve always been obsessed with the number eight,” Caleb said, shrugging it off like it didn’t matter.
“Now, if you’re done with the interrogation, I think it’s time to move on to the reason why we’re here,” Caleb said as hegrabbed the hunting knife off the table as he made his way towards her.
“Are you sure that you really want to do this?” Ashlyn asked, watching his lips pull up into a predatory smile.
“Positive,” Caleb said, pulling a small handcuff key out of his pocket as he knelt down in front of her, smoothly placing that knife at her throat to make sure that she behaved.
Keeping his eyes locked with hers, Caleb unlocked her cuffs, letting them drop to the floor before he said, “Stand up,” gently pushing the knife against her throat to make her move or risk having her throat slit.
Slowly exhaling, Ashlyn slowly stood up as she watched her mother try to grab Caleb to stop him only to have her hands go through him. But she didn’t give up, she kept trying to stop him, screamed at him, and when that didn’t work, she began begging for Ashlyn’s life all while Ashlyn forced herself to block her mother out and focus on the man standing in front of her.
