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“It had better not happen again. These aren’t your average college students. They’ve seen and lived through a lot. They’re smart. Under no circumstances should anyone let their guard down around them. Understood?”
Psycho looked like a sad puppy that had been scolded. “Of course. It shouldn’t have happened. I’ll deal with him.”
“I’ll see you kids later. Try to stay out of trouble.” Mom laughed as she and Psycho strolled through the door as if it were perfectly normal to kidnap her children.
As soon as the lock clicked into place, Ari and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“That was close. If one of them had walked behind us, they might have noticed the ties.” Ari slipped out of the ropes, then untied her ankles.
“I’m glad they didn’t, but Mom took the fucking gun.” I ditched the restraints then unbound my ankles from the chair. Standing slowly, I tested my legs, but they felt almost normal.
“There’s an exit door across the hall. I saw it for sure this time.” Ari stared at me, hurried over, and threw her arms around my neck. “I’m sorry, baby. Both of your parents are crazy.”
I pulled her against me, holding her tight and nuzzling my nose in her hair. “It explains why I do the crap I do.”
Ari stepped away, her intense gaze connecting with mine. “You arenotyour parents. There’s zero comparison.”
“I wish that were true, but I killed Peter without blinking an eye. He wasn’t the first. I just pick my targets carefully. There have been plenty of times in my life I’ve questioned my sanity. My saving grace is you and football. It keeps me centered the majority of the time.”
I dipped my head and pressed a kiss to her mouth. “I love you. I’m sorry you got wrapped up in all this madness, but the other part of me is glad you’re by my side. We’re better together.” I realized I spoke the truth. I just wasn’t sure we would make it out alive.
“Yeah.” She pressed up on her toes and kissed me. “We need to get out of here. We don’t know where that door leads too. For all we know, we’re on a remote island with water for days.” Ari cringed as soon as the words left her mouth.
“I know. Similar thoughts have fucked with my head too. There’s only one way to find out, though.” I rubbed her back, imprinting this moment with her in my mind. It might be the last chance I had to tell her. “Ari, if we make it out of here in one piece—”
She placed her fingers against my mouth. “Whenwe get out of here.”
“When.” I inhaled a long, deep breath. “I want to propose and get our own place to live. I have no doubt that you’re the one for me. If you still love me after this is over, what do you think?”
Her smile lit up her face. “I can’t answer until there’s an actual proposal, but I would love to move in together. You’re always at my house anyway.”
“Now, victory over these sons of bitches will taste even sweeter.” I kissed her on her forehead, bracing myself to run for my life again. This time, I would have my girl with me instead of leaving her behind like I had after the fire.
My nerves pulsed with anxiety as I took Ari’s hand, and we crept to the door, listening for voices.
She tugged on my arm, reached into her back pocket, and produced the pliers. “This is what we have to work with. Are there any other tools we could use as weapons on the tray?”
“Shit. I almost forgot. There are some screwdrivers. They’ll do the trick if you jam them into the side of someone’s neck.” I rushed over and grabbed the two I’d seen earlier. Shoving them in my jeans pocket, I nodded. I lifted my head, my heart thundering as Ari’s gaze seared through me. “Ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She squeezed my hand.
With my pulse racing, I flipped the bolt and pushed the door open enough to peek out. “It’s empty,” I whispered to Ari. The exit door was only a few feet away, so we should make it as long as we were quiet.
I stepped into the hall, my chest tightening with anxiety. If anyone had told me I would be kidnapped and held hostage by my parents, I would have laughed so hard, I’d have pissed myself.
Ari and I crawled across the hall, counting to three under our breath. We pushed against the metal bar on the door and it opened with a groan. Wide-eyed and terrified that we’d alerted Psycho, we bolted out. Seconds later, a piercing alarm rang through the building.
“Run!”
Ari took the lead, zigzagging through the pine trees as if her life depended on it. It did. I pumped my arms, my shoulder giving me a big fuck you as voices started to close in behind us.
“Go, baby. Go. If you get away, bring help!” I motioned for her to run the opposite direction.
Ari tripped over a branch but gripped a smaller tree and managed to stay upright. “I’m not leaving you behind, Jagger. I can’t.”
“You can, Ari. Go. I’ll distract them.”
Ari looked over her shoulder, and several men were closing in fast. Ignoring my pleas, she grabbed my arm, and we ran through the woods. Thank fuck we were in both good shape or the terrain would have kicked our asses. A slope suddenly appeared, and Ari lost her footing. She busted her ass then tumbled down the hill.
