Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
As I made my way toward the second floor, I heard what sounded like a muffled scream. Was someone watching a television? I hadn’t come across another human since Ms. Hottel had taken me through the house, going over what was expected. I paused and thought about going to investigate, then decided against it. Being nosy was a bad idea if I was going to keep this job. My foot hit the first step just before a cloth was shoved in my mouth from behind, muffling the scream that tore from my throat.
My heart slammed into my chest as the reality of what was happening hit me. Whoever was behind me grabbed my wrists and tied them so tightly that I cried out in pain.
“Where is the fucker?” a deep voice demanded near my ear.
What fucker?
I shook my head, panicking. I had to do something. I glanced around and tried to turn to see who it was that had me when my body was slammed against the wall. The side of my face pressed against the stucco, and I closed my eyes for a moment, wondering if I would cry now.
Was this enough to provoke my tears? My own death?
“Take me to the fucker.” The threat in his voice was clear.
If I didn’t do what he wanted, I wasn’t going to live. Problem with this was, I had no idea who the fucker was or where the fucker was.
“Motherfucker,” another male voice growled.
Suddenly, I wasn’t being pressed against a wall. I didn’t move though. I stayed still, afraid to breathe.
“What the hell?” the first man snarled.
“Not that one.” The other man’s deep voice made me shiver.
I closed my eyes, amazed that they were still dry. I was possibly in my last few moments of my life, and I still couldn’t cry.
“Jesus, Huck,” he said.
Then, I watched as a man climbed the stairs without looking back. The gun in his hand made me whimper. He was going to kill someone. Possibly me.
A large hand wrapped around my arm, and I winced as I was pulled away from the wall.
“Easy, Trinity,” he said, close to my ear.
He knew my name. How did he know my name? I turned my head slowly until my eyes locked with the most unique color I’d ever seen. Was that what people referred to as cornflower blue? Why was I even thinking about this man’s eye color at a time like this?
“Do you remember me?” his deep voice asked.
I blinked, then let my gaze take in the rest of his features. The strong jawline, defined angles, the … oh my God. Huck. The other guy had called him Huck. It had been six months since the day in the church when Hayes’s brother had walked into the prayer room and stood up to Tabitha.
I swallowed nervously and nodded my head.
“Don’t fight me,” he warned. “You’ve got to get out of this house. I’m going to get you to safety, but I need you to trust me.”
Trust him? I was gagged, and my hands were tied behind my back.
Hayes had never spoken of a brother. That had bothered me. I was now beginning to understand why he hadn’t mentioned Huck.
Huck was a criminal.
I nodded, not because I trusted him, but because I knew I had no other choice. The other man with him had no reason to help me. However, the determined look in Huck’s eyes gave me a shred of security. I’d been his brother’s fiancée. Was that enough for him to keep me alive?
He took my arm with one of his hands, and in his other hand was a gun. I followed him as we walked back through the house. There was no sign of life.
Where was Ms. Hottel? Had they killed her? My stomach twisted in a sick knot.
I had to almost run to keep up with Huck as he maneuvered through the hallways until he came to a door I hadn’t been through. We stopped, and he listened before opening it and stepping out into the sunlight. I saw movement in my peripheral vision. Turning my head, I watched as a bullet went into a man’s head, and he dropped to the ground.
I screamed into the cloth muffling me. Huck began moving again and followed, but my gaze was on the gun in his hand. The one he’d just killed a man with.
Why the hell was I not crying? Was I truly this broken? I had just watched a man get shot in the head.
A black SUV came around the corner, and I started to duck. In the movies, this always appeared right before the gunfire erupted. It came to a screeching halt in front of us, and Huck jerked the door open and threw me inside. I scrambled to sit up, but Huck shoved me back down.