AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A woman’s voice whispers something to him and he starts to cry. I want to free my hands so I can yank him away from her.
What the hell happened?
“Looks like this is where we abandon ship,” a familiar voice grunts, slapping the side of the truck. “Best to hide the truck and get a move on.”
Logan.
Unable to stop myself, I jerk my head over my shoulder, seeking him out. He’ll help us.
“Logan?” I rasp out. “Help.”
The tailgate whips down and I fall with it. A thud followed by crying tells me the kid who’d been thrust in my lap just got a rude awakening. Strong hands drag me off the tailgate, depositing me roughly to the ground. I moan in pain, my shoulder smarting from the impact. With my hands still bound, there was no way to brace myself for the fall. I’m lucky I didn’t face-plant. The same two hands haul me back to my feet. Logan’s face comes into view as he leans in.
“You’ll be okay.” He smiles at me. “Stick with me and you’ll be fine.”
Despite the friendliness in his tone, his eyes flash in a disturbing way that sends chills down my spine. I can’t feel my fingers or my feet.
“I’m going to need you to stand, and soon, walk.” Logan grips my chin, tilting my head to the left and then to the right. “Who did this to you?”
I blink at him in confusion. “I, uh, don’t know.”
CJ playfully punches him in the ribs. “You’re welcome. I did what I had to do.”
“You could have killed him,” Logan growls, shooting his cousin a nasty glare. “Leave my things alone, CJ. You’re lucky I don’t break yours out of spite.”
CJ mutters an apology before storming off. I nearly whimper when Logan gently runs his thumb over the goose egg on my forehead.
“You really will be fine,” Logan assures me, but then his tone turns threatening. “I expect you to behave and do as you’re told. You hear?”
I nod because I’m afraid of what’ll happen if I don’t. I can’t afford to take another whack to the head. Not now. Not when I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on around here and what’s happened to my family.
Logan leaves me, barely standing on my own two feet, as he makes his way to the cab of the truck. I’m too frozen in fear to move. Not that I would run away. I could never leave Kota and whoever else is here. Something tells me it’s not just the two of us.
Slowly, children, adults, and supplies are unloaded from the back of the truck. A big man I recognize as Tom carries a woman over his shoulder, arms locked around her jean-clad thighs. She bounces as he walks, dark hair flinging back and forth.
Another woman is roughly escorted over to me. It takes a second for my eyes to adjust when she’s near enough. Kristen. Her face is swollen and bruised, a reminder of the asshole Logan truly is. She steps closer as though I can protect her from him. I feel like shit because I can’t even protect myself.
“What happened?” I whisper, searching her bloodshot eyes for answers.
She grimaces. “I tried to warn you.”
Blood turns to ice in my veins, chilling me to my soul. She’d tried and we didn’t listen. These people are bad. Very, very bad.
“I can’t see,” I murmur. “I can’t tell if my family is here or not.”
Kristen slowly turns her head and I can hear her muttering under her breath. Finally, she turns back to me, her busted bottom lip jutting out. “Declan and Kota.”
Declan’s name is a punch to my gut.
Not just Kota, but Deck, too. Fuck.
“Is that all?” I ask, hope needling its way through me.
Her head drops and she gives it a slight shake. “Those girls too. Sadie and Destiny.”
Two more proverbial kicks to my stomach.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
