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My heart kickstarts again, thumping out of my ribs at the recognition.
“Go,” he rasps again, gesturing for me to turn the knob.
It’s either he’s going to grab me the moment I take off.
Or he wants me to go out there in the pouring rain.
So, I weigh my options. I either get caught by the big man with familiar ocean eyes and a voice I can’t place. Or I get soaked in the rain storm while I hide behind the trees with no way to contact anyone for help.
I choose the rain.
And life.
Okay. So, maybe the rain wasn't a good idea. Especially this rain. It's coming in sideways, upside down, and whatever else Forrest Gump experienced, pelting me in the damn face. I blow out a breath, swiping the water from my cheeks when I settle under a large tree. A burn spears across my chest from the exertion.
God, I hate running.
The wind blows hard, nearly knocking me over and out of my hiding place. I'm soaked to the damn bones and shivering as I stand behind a massive tree in the middle of their property. Who the hell knew their place was so big? I thought their mansion needed a map to find all the hiding places inside. Well, so does the outside.
So far, it's been massive row of trees after massive row of trees all around the house. Of course, it's so dark I can barely see my hand in front of my face. Pretty sure I bounced my face off a few trees in the process of getting here to safety.
Rough bark rubs against my skin as I lean my back against the tree, catching my breath. I peek around the large trunk, searching the darkness for the large masked man. If Ocean Eyes is here, then the rest might not be too far behind.
When I came home, the last thing I ever expected was to run into a stranger standing in their kitchen. All I wanted was to search for my shit after stuffing my face and relaxing. And this is the consolation prize I won. I huff. If this is some shitty prank the guys are pulling, I'm going to stab them for scaring the shit out of me.
My monster prepared me for a lot. Spying, torturing traitors, stealing files from lawyers, but not this. Not a masked man chasing me around, for God knows why. This has to be a game they’re playing. Probably for running away. Or maybe for stealing that car. It seemed important. Since it was under a tarp and all.
Shit. I squeeze my eyes shut as thought after thought jumbles in my mind, bringing me back to the night I had with the three masked men at the party. They saw my face. They said my name. Meaning, they know exactly who I am.
And I…
My eyes fly open. I’m such a dumbass. If Ocean Eyes is here. The same man from the party. Then, Light Gray eyes and Brown eyes have to be here, too.
And that means…
Holy fucking shit balls. I lightly tap the back of my head against the tree. I’m an idiot. A fucking dumbass.
It’s them.
Of course. I should have known by the color of their eyes and the sound of their voices. You’d think I was a strong, competent woman, but I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. Besides, the masked men had deeper tones, and my eyes were covered the entire time we got down and dirty. Then, I woke up a groggy mess barely remembering who I was.
Let alone what their eyes looked like or what their voices truly sounded like. Maybe that’s my excuse for not putting two and two together. Or maybe, I’m just too preoccupied to realize the men were in front of me all along.
Or—and hear me out—I’m just an oblivious dumbass.
I should face my fears like a big girl, march up to the house, and grab the giant that has to be Shepp by the balls, demanding he tell me their plan. But that's how girls die in horror movies. They’re unstable as hell. So, I'll stay here and stay alive, thanks. But shit. If there was one masked man, are Jericho and Arrow out here, too, in the middle of the storm?
Probably.
I clutch the knife in my hands, ready to stab anyone who dares to come near me. No matter who they are, they’re meeting the end of my knife. Especially if they’re trying to scare me. It’s what they deserve. My eyes roam the distance, watching the shadows sway with the storm. Luckily, this huge tree offers me some shelter from the crazy rain, so I'm not in the constant downpour.
I swallow hard, contemplating my options. I could run. Or I could stay here forever until they get bored. I like the staying put part. If I move, I take the chance of them finding me and doing God knows what with me. But I’m also a sitting duck ready for the slaughter.
The storm rages on like nothing I've ever seen before. Deep thunder vibrates the damn earth, and lightning flashes overhead, lighting up the darkened world.
And that's when my breath stalls.
My heart pounds in my ears. I clutch the knife harder, pressing my back further into the tree. A buzz encases my flesh when my heart pounds rapidly against my ribs. Heady adrenaline pours through my veins like a wildfire.
