AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I made it around the edge safely and headed for the road.
The direct route would have been quicker, but opening the big iron gates wouldn't have gone unnoticed. Especially with everyone on edge after I was followed home from work the other night. The guys had increased security at the house, but now I wondered if it was to protect me or them. If they'd kill, then what else would they do? Killing seemed like a game to Ice. Like something he enjoyed doing. That was as twisted as fuck.
In the distance, someone shouted.
I startled and ducked behind a tree.
It wasn't much of a tree, just one trying to live its best life on the side of a cliff next to the ocean. It was all I had for now.
I waited, frozen in place. Crouched down as low as I could. My heart thundered harder than high tide smashed on the rocks during a storm. I couldn't stop a soft whimper from escaping my lips. Little mouse, Ice called me that night. I felt like one now. A tiny creature running, scared, waiting for the trap to snap around me at any moment. Hapless, helpless prey.
No one came running. No alarms sounded.
I managed to slow my pulse and racing mind.Chill,Kennedy.
Whatever or whoever they were shouting at or about, it probably had nothing to do with me. I doubted they even noticed I was gone yet.
Before I stood again, I pulled out my phone and shot off a text.
The answer was almost immediate.
I replied, then put my phone back and kept moving slowly. If I stood on my toes, I could see the road past the long grass. Grass that was tall, but not thick enough.
I trotted to a tree only slightly better than the last one. I grasped the lowest branch and pulled myself up. Sweat slid down my back. It coated my palms, making them slick. They slipped on the next bough, but I climbed higher, to where the leaves were thicker, the branches more solid. I chose one that didn't bend so violently under my weight.
A hand on the trunk, I crouched down and waited.
I didn't have to wait long. A small, faded red hatchback appeared around the bend. It slowed as it neared the gates. It slid past and came to a stop about a hundred metres from the driveway that led to the house.
I dropped out of the tree and landed with a soft thud on the leafy ground. My knees bent to absorb the impact, almost giving out and dumping me hard on my ass. The ground was no gymnastics mat.
I straightened and ran through the grass, hoping like hell I didn't step on a snake along the way. That wouldn't end well for either of us, especially if it was a brown snake or a death adder. Hard pass.
I reached the road and bolted to the car. I took one, quick look inside and wrenched open the passenger door. I threw myself in and dragged the door behind me.
Charlie pulled the car away from the side of the road. "You're as white as a sheet. Did something happen?"
"Kinda. Thanks for coming. I know you must have been busy but…" I didn't know who else to call. Everyone I cared about, or thought I cared about, was back at the house getting ready for the wedding.
"Your text sounded frantic," he said. "You look like you've seen a ghost. What did those guys do?" Of course he would assume it was them. They had a history of animosity towards him because we worked together. Mannix, in particular, was possessive, and hated the idea of anyone touching me. Which Charlie had, but only in his capacity as gymnastics coach. Mannix hadn't seen it that way.
"I… I'm not really sure." I wasn't ready to talk about it. How did you explain something like that? How did I explain not coming forward and telling the police? What if they killed someone else because I stood by and didn’t say anything?
I could have a metric, if figurative, shit ton of blood on my hands.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was all so complicated and ugly, and terrifying. I shouldn't have dragged Charlie into this. As soon as we got to town, I'd figure something out. I'd go to the bank, take out all my money, and disappear.
What was Mum going to think? I skipped out on her wedding day. Of all the days.
Should I have stuck around until after that? I could have waited till everyone got drunk and slipped away. Should I ask Charlie to take me back?
Even if I tried, I couldn't get my mouth to say those words. The idea made my blood cold with fear.
I needed time to think and process everything. Around the guys, I was vulnerable, not only to them killing me, but to their touch. The way I felt when Ice kissed me was proof of that. I was scared as hell of him, but at this same time, I wanted to let him touch me and taste me all over. I wanted to feel him sink his cock into my body.
Maybe I was the one who was all kinds of fucked up.
"You don't have to tell me until you're ready," Charlie said. "I'll be the model employee and drive you wherever you need to go. Let's start with my place. You can get your thoughts together there."
