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I should be happy that he stopped chasing me, but it irritates me further. Picking up a stump that is used for sitting, I use all of my might and throw it at the screen door. It rips the metal mesh, landing at Romeo’s feet.
My breathing is hard as we stand, glaring at each other.
“I’m giving you three seconds before I catch you.” His words are slow and deliberate. I look back at the dog, not wanting to be torn to pieces. Romeo does a whistle, and the dog leaves the bottom of the stairs and lazily walks into the shade to lie down.
“One, Mississippi,” he counts, and I take off.
My heart is beating frantically as I search for a place to hide. There are no neighbors for miles. No one will hear if I scream. Romeo continues to count, his voice still at the house. Each step is uneven as I head closer to the pigs.
My eyes dart in every direction. I toss my shoe into one of the pens, the pigs completely giving away where I am with all the racket they’re starting. I keep on running. I go behind the pens, closer toward where Max goes.
As quietly as I can, I sneak around the butcher shop. The thought has a shiver rolling down me. Prickles sting my foot with no shoe, but I keep going, trying to place it on softer ground. There’s a distinct bleach smell wafting in the air. I crouch on the balls of my feet, looking at the area before me. Romeo is long done counting. But I can hear his whistle. It taunts me with its tune.
It’s then I see a small shed off to the side. It’s camouflaged in the trees, making it hard to notice. I keep myself close to the ground and head closer to it. The lock unlatches. Romeo’s whistling stops, and I pause, keeping my air in my lungs. It lasts only about three seconds but seems like three minutes. His tune carries into the wind, and it sounds like he’s at the pigpen.
I open the door enough for my body to slip inside. The floor is clean, and it smells fresh. Unlike every other part of this farm. My feet shuffle me into a corner, and I hug my knees, trying to think of my next action.
The silence is deafening. I can hear each of my heartbeats. My breathing sounds like soft drums pinging my location. Slowly, my eyes adjust to the darkness of the area. Chains hang from the middle of the roof. Hooks are placed in two areas on the walls. Nothing good happens in this room.
Light pours into the room. My head snaps up, and Romeo is staring at me with amusement in his eyes. His smirk is cocky as hell. “Hello, Gia.”
I gulp, knowing I’ve been caught. I don’t stand; my legs probably wouldn’t hold my weight anyway.
Part of his hair falls into his eyes, and he tosses his head back to move the unwanted hair. He’s wearing shorts and a red shirt. All I can think is that the red will hide my blood if it gets on him.
“I think it’s time we’re honest with each other.” His voice is low and gravelly. He hasn’t moved from the doorway, watching me with interest. “Get up,” he demands.
His look conveys he will not accept any of my attitude. On shaky limbs, I stand. My head tilts, trying to fake my confidence.
“Now, tell me again, what has your panties in a knot?” He comes closer, and I shuffle down the wall farther from him.
This is a new side of Romeo I’ve never seen before. It’s intense, demanding, and controlling.
“If you’re going to kill me, do it now. Get it over with.”
His smile grows larger. His thumb swipes across his bottom lip. “Gia, my plan is better than killing you.” His eyes roam my body, causing goose bumps to scatter across my skin. “Let’s get back to what has you so upset.”
He’s calm, coming ever so closer to me. I feel everything but calm. My feet continue moving inch by inch as we play this cat-and-mouse game. For every small step I take, he does the same.
“Who writes a list of why they hate someone? I would expect something less childish from you.”
His eyes dance as they light up.
“It just shows you’re still a boy trying to be a man.” I shouldn’t taunt him. What he thinks shouldn’t affect me. He means nothing to me. But the hurt I felt is still there, digging its way deeper into me.
He takes two large steps, and I take one baby step. My feet stick to the ground. He tsks, stepping closer once again. “Is that what you’re searching for? A man? I have no problem showing you just how much of a man I am.”
I blink, and he’s in front of me. His crisp, woodsy scent wraps around me. It’s familiar, which makes me inhale deeper. My lungs welcome the intake like the traitor it is. His eyes hold mine. It’s impossible to look away.
Romeo picks me up by my underarms. A small yelp escapes just as he wraps duct tape around my wrists. Severing our connection, my eyes fly down to look at what he’s done. He’s moving my hands above my head and latching them onto a hook.
He keeps his grasp on my waist. My feet dangle off the ground. I can’t look at him, knowing the end is near. I look everywhere but at him. What is this place?
“I made that list you found to remind myself you’re off-limits.”
I turn to look at him once again, trying to gauge if he’s lying.
“Every time I tried to get your attention in high school, it was like I was a ghost. You looked past me each time. People are normally afraid of me or want my attention. But not you.”
My mouth opens at his confession. My heart speeds up once again, but not in fear this time. We’re both breathing hard.
“So yes, there was a part of me that wanted to watch you suffer in pain. But when I had to witness it because of that fucker Alfonso, I hated every second.”
