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One thing had been perfectly clear. I’d become a possession to be used and nothing more.
Now I wondered if I could resurrect my dream of being a veterinarian. At this point, it would take a miracle. I wouldn’t be able to finish school while keeping my earned credits unless I used my real name. That would be a red flag flashing on my father’s screen within seconds.
I shook it off, taking another deep breath. Montana was a world away from Chicago.
As I trudged through the snow, my breathing more labored than I was used to, I felt exhilarated for the first time in months. Years. This was what pure freedom was all about and I planned on taking full advantage of it.
There were so many splendid aspects of nature that I’d never seen before, this part of the country dazzling in color even in the cold early spring months. I took a chance, moving further up the mountainside, resting only a few times. I hadn’t bothered to pay attention to what time I’d started, but at least an hour had passed, maybe more. When I headed into another clearing, I realized there was no sun in the sky, the clouds thickening.
I couldn’t stop, fascinated by everything around me, the sounds of nature echoing in my ears. From somewhere, I heard the flow of water. When I found the source, a gorgeous river tumbling over rocks, my breath was taken away.
I’d taken at least sixty photographs and I was eager to see how they’d turned out. When I rested against a massive oak, I was finally able to smile. Maybe my life had taken a turn for the better.
Seconds later, I heard a noise, a crackling sound. Instantly, hairs raised on the back of my neck, terror racing through, chilling me to the core. Oh, God. What if I’d already been found? With the kind of people who worked for Giovanni, I knew they could track almost anyone down.
Stop it. Breathe. Think of the chances of anything finding you.
At least my rational side was making some sense.
Gasping, I closed my eyes, trying to control my breathing. There was no way possible that I’d been found. Neither Giovanni nor Carmine would have any idea where to look. I’d been very careful not to tell anyone about what I’d suspected over the years, learning early on that my father was a slug. He’d put listening devices in my room, which I’d found prior to leaving for undergraduate school.
The source of the noise had to be from something else, a natural occurrence. Crouching lower, I moved through the trees, trying to keep from making any noise. When I found the reason, I held my breath. There were six deer, all of them attempting to find nourishment through the fallen snow. I hunkered down, taking several photographs, leaving them undisturbed. They were incredible animals, the buck watching carefully over his family, the two fawns so tiny that I wondered when they’d been born.
When the buck finally noticed me, there was no reaction at first, more curiosity than anything. Sadly, only seconds later he shooed his family away from harm, the creatures bounding deeper into the woods. Perhaps against my better judgment, I followed, able to capture a few more pictures before they faded into the distance.
That’s when I realized I had no idea where I was. Disorientation flooded my mind, my throat threatening to close. What was wrong with me? I knew better than to get off track. I moved in a full circle, another rush of adrenaline prickling my skin. I was shivering, but only partially from the cold. Even worse, snow had started to fall.
As I tried to figure out which direction I’d come from, I shut down the emotions, concentrating on the area around me. Then I started walking. Nothing seemed familiar and I couldn’t see any footsteps in the snow. This was bad, so very bad.
I walked another hundred yards, shifting directions as panic rushed to the surface. Terrible visions of what could happen filtered into my mind. This had been a ridiculous idea. I had no business hiking let alone in the middle of a storm. Trudging through the mean streets of Chicago in the middle of a snowstorm was entirely different.
As the snowfall picked up in intensity, I yanked my coat around me, unable to stop shivering. Then I heard another noise, louder this time. As I turned slowly, I could swear there was someone only yards away, a man. Was it possible? I almost screamed for help, but my instinct told me otherwise. I moved closer, cautious in my steps. Then my first fears came to realization.
There was a man carrying a gun, acting as if he was searching for something or someone in the woods. Oh, God. Oh, God. No. By instinct, I took several photographs of him, zooming in to get as close up of a photograph as I could. Then I thought about how much danger I could be in. This couldn’t happen. I turned and raced in the opposite direction, jumping over fallen limbs, sidestepping debris while praying I could get away. If I could just make it back to the truck everything would be okay.
How could it be alright? I had no weapon, no way of defending myself. This was crazy. I was going to die. Die. Die!
Breathe. Don’t panic. Don’t you dare panic.
Something broke inside of me, my survival instinct kicking in and I kept going, fueled by anger and petrified at the thought of losing my life to not one monster but two. I’d found a way out. I’d risked everything to escape.
And I’d done it.
Now I was going to be captured in the mountains? No one would hear me scream. No one would come to my rescue.
I threw a look over my shoulder, unable to see anything in the haze of snow as it blanketed the area. When I jerked back toward where I was going, my foot caught something. As I was pitched into the air, all I could think about was the bastard was right behind me. I began to fall and my entire life flashed in front of my eyes. I’d never believed the theory, all those people on the verge of death reliving every moment of their past, but they’d been right.
Yet sadly, the vivid images floating through my mind were all filled with violence and bloodshed.
“No!” I screamed as he wrapped his hand around my throat, slamming me against the wall. As he lowered his head, baring his teeth, he dug his fingers into my neck.
“You belong to me, my beautiful bride. Don’t you dare forget that. I bought you. Remember?”
When I didn’t say anything, just continued to stare at him with defiant eyes, he backhanded me with his other hand. The sting was harsh, but I refused to allow the bastard to see me cry. I was finished with accepting his rage, cowering as if I had no self-worth. He’d made me this way, but I’d grown stronger.
“Fuck you. One day I’ll escape but I’ll return so I can cut out your heart,” I hissed, ignoring the anguish as he tightened his grip.
A flash of fury sparked in his eyes, and he tightened his hold until I could no longer breathe. “Go ahead and try but know this. I will hunt you down. Then the fun will really begin.”
