AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Alright, let's go. There's nothing here except for one track of footsteps to a tree and back. I have a team coming through here to do a more thorough sweep."
Nolan lurches forward. "What if she was left here?"
That's a good fucking question; my anxiety skyrockets. Looking at Nol, I notice his pale face and sweaty brow. He picked up a bug somewhere but refuses to talk about it. The anxiety might just be manifesting more physically for him. I feel sick to my stomach half the time too.
"We would have seen more footprints and possibly a scuffle. That possibility is why I have another group coming to check it over." Smith's voice is firm and unwavering, allowing my shoulders to relax a bit.
We haven't always been on the best terms with him, with emotions running high and him calling all the shots, but I trust him. If he says that following the car tracks further down the path is the best course of action, then I will follow.
"Okay, let's go." I turn, knowing my brothers will follow, even if a bit reluctantly. Hopping into the driver's seat, I glance around at them again.
Korren is a stone wall beside me. Tight, black, long-sleeve and jeans, his body faces the window, all expression shuttered. Vigilant and level-headed, he keeps watching for anything out of the ordinary. He seems put-together, but his sleek black hair is the messiest I've ever seen it, and the tattoos on his hands and neck make him look scary as fuck. He's ready to tear down the world with his bare hands to get Eve back.
Ryan, murmuring in the backseat, looks fairly put-together too. His dark jeans and sweatshirt give him a rumpled, lazy look. Blue eyes pierce mine in the rearview mirror. He will tear each prickly bush from hell out of this forest until he uncovers our girl.
Next to him, Nolan probably looks the worst. His face is devoid of color again, listening to Ry with a sickly sheen of sweat coating his bare arms underneath his T-shirt. We are all wearing jeans in case we have to go on foot at some point. I worry that he's heating up in them. As if he can sense my gaze, he locks his gaze on mine behind a few stray curls. What I see has my breath catching; there's a fire raging in his eyes. I won't ask if he's okay anymore, he's not, but nothing will stop him from saving his best friend.
And me? I'm dressed similarly, with a layer of grime coating my ebony skin. I don't have to worry about my hair like the others, but my forehead is greasy from each stressful swipe of my hand. Catching my own eye in the mirror, I see a similar determination in my own that the rest of them have.
We may be a mess and completely terrified, but we will stop at nothing to get our Evie back.
With the car in drive, we continue through the night in hopes we can catch up to them. If his pattern holds up, Kyle will need his beauty sleep. I just fucking hope we make it before something happens.
Chapter 11
Ryan
A yawn splits my lips; none of us have gotten even a wink of sleep, each keeping our eyes on the passing forest around us. I don't think we would actually be able to sleep, though. Between the horrendous road and the anxiety of possibly finding Eve out here, relaxation isn't feasible.
As the night drones on, all my thoughts keep returning to my girl and everything she might be going through. Has she been eating and drinking water? Is she still in that dress from a week ago, or has he allowed her to change? Then that brings up a whole round of fear...does she have any clothes on? What has he done to her...? My stomach bottoms out and sours at the possibilities.
We know what happened to her the first time; what if that's happening again? Will she be able to come back from whatever treatment she's receiving?
Fuck.
Gulping, I grip Nolan's hand harder. I take comfort in having the guys close; I don't think I could do this alone. I can't believe young Nol went through this by himself. I know he had his parents, but now he has us, who completely understand the turmoil of losing the love of your life.
I press my forehead against the window and watch the world wake up with the early morning sunrise. Golden rays shine through the canopy of crazy ass trees; a mockery of the beauty the world has to offer. Yet here we are in a forest from hell, hoping like fuck that we will find her.
A crackle of the walkie-talkie has each of us sitting up straighter. My heart pounds, the unknown of what Smith must report weighing on my wariness.
"We are stopping. Stay silent."
Well, shit.
Amiri barely has the car stopped before Nol, Korren, and I leap out of the vehicle. Making eye contact with Korren on our side of the car, a silent energy passes between us, a hum of adrenaline. We give each other twin pats on the back and make our way to Smith and Brown.
Their hushed whispers can finally be heard the closer we get.
"They will follow either way," Dom's tone is firm. When he notices the four of us hovering with our arms crossed, he grinds his jaw.
"What are you talking about?" Kor rumbles next to me.
Smith's trademark sigh spikes my annoyance. We need fucking answers, and we better get them. Eve is out there waiting for us; meanwhile, we are still being treated like damn children.
"We are going on foot from here." His voice is hushed while staring ahead.
"Why?"
