isn’t breaking Justin’s no scream rule, because duct tape on my mouth is seriously the last thing I want right now. “I don’t care about your stupid games.”
Then it all goes bloody dark as Harry straps a bandana over my eyes.
“This isn’t a game.” I start a little as Justin speaks in my ear. “We’re taking you, because the girls have something that belongs to us.”
And what would that be? No… Wait. “The flag?” I whisper-shout in utter incredulity. “You’re kidnapping me because they stole a stupid cloth on a stick?”
“Exactly.” His breath caresses my cheek, but my skin quickly turns cold when he leans away. “Now I suggest you be quiet. I would hate to seal those sexy lips of yours.” The spooky sound of duct tape being demonstratively ripped from a roll in front of my face makes me cringe in my darkened world. I close my mouth. “Good choice,” Justin agrees and then calls in a low voice, “Collin, come over here. You’ll lead her through the woods. Take care that she doesn’t fall.”
I feel a hand on my forearm that’s a lot gentler than Justin’s hold before. Almost timid. Collin must be shy about touching a counselor. He turns me around and starts to walk with me.
The rough path forces me to take baby steps. With my luck, I’m going to kiss a tree by accident or break an ankle before we reach the boys’ campsite tonight. If I do, Justin is going to need a thick skin, because I’ll pit my lawyer dad at his throat.
The sound of footsteps surrounds me on all sides as I’m sandwiched between Greyson and Collin. I only know that because the Monroe brothers have a whispered conversation about where to tie me up once we’re at the other side of the lake. They haven’t come to a decision yet when Justin’s thundering shout a short distance behind us makes me jump.
“Tigers!” he yells, from the sound if it, probably with his hands cupped around his mouth and still standing on the very spot where I ran into them. “We have your alpha cat! If you want her back, come to the other side of the lake before midnight! And bring our flag!”
Twigs break and leaves rustle on the path as he quickly catches up with us. “All right, boys. Let’s get the cat in the cage before they follow us,” he shouts, passing on my right.
“You heard him,” Greyson says to me, laying a hand on the small of my back in order to hustle me along faster. But with the many stones on the path, I can’t see that happening. I stumble every other step, Collin’s hand tightening around my arm each time in reflex.
“Any faster and I’ll break my legs,” I snap, turning my head in Greyson’s direction. “I can’t see a damn thing!”
Instantly, we stop, and when somebody’s breath feathers against my face, I understand why. The sound of ripping duct tape causes a shower of goosebumps to race over my skin. Two seconds later, a strip is pressed over my mouth. Justin smoothes it with his thumbs and then holds my face cupped in his hands. “I warned you, Red Riding Hood. Don’t play with the Wolf.”
Blindfolded. Shackled. And gagged. In stunned disbelief, all I can do is suck air in through my nose in a hitched rhythm. I’m caught in the middle of my personal nightmare, and Justin is taking the lead role. He’s going to regret this. The girls will come and rescue me. In no time, all of this will be over. And then I’m going to make him pay.
When Justin is gone, Greyson yanks me forward, and I stumble on between him and his brother. “Maybe someone should carry her?” Collin suggests after a few steps in which my life is in permanent danger—of tripping.
I don’t want to be carried. But to know that at least one person in this gang is concerned about my life warms me a little. I might spare Collin’s life when I come for retribution like Stephen King’s Carrie the moment they release me. And at some point they have to release me.
“That’s probably the best idea,” Greyson agrees
Then it all goes bloody dark as Harry straps a bandana over my eyes.
“This isn’t a game.” I start a little as Justin speaks in my ear. “We’re taking you, because the girls have something that belongs to us.”
And what would that be? No… Wait. “The flag?” I whisper-shout in utter incredulity. “You’re kidnapping me because they stole a stupid cloth on a stick?”
“Exactly.” His breath caresses my cheek, but my skin quickly turns cold when he leans away. “Now I suggest you be quiet. I would hate to seal those sexy lips of yours.” The spooky sound of duct tape being demonstratively ripped from a roll in front of my face makes me cringe in my darkened world. I close my mouth. “Good choice,” Justin agrees and then calls in a low voice, “Collin, come over here. You’ll lead her through the woods. Take care that she doesn’t fall.”
I feel a hand on my forearm that’s a lot gentler than Justin’s hold before. Almost timid. Collin must be shy about touching a counselor. He turns me around and starts to walk with me.
The rough path forces me to take baby steps. With my luck, I’m going to kiss a tree by accident or break an ankle before we reach the boys’ campsite tonight. If I do, Justin is going to need a thick skin, because I’ll pit my lawyer dad at his throat.
The sound of footsteps surrounds me on all sides as I’m sandwiched between Greyson and Collin. I only know that because the Monroe brothers have a whispered conversation about where to tie me up once we’re at the other side of the lake. They haven’t come to a decision yet when Justin’s thundering shout a short distance behind us makes me jump.
“Tigers!” he yells, from the sound if it, probably with his hands cupped around his mouth and still standing on the very spot where I ran into them. “We have your alpha cat! If you want her back, come to the other side of the lake before midnight! And bring our flag!”
Twigs break and leaves rustle on the path as he quickly catches up with us. “All right, boys. Let’s get the cat in the cage before they follow us,” he shouts, passing on my right.
“You heard him,” Greyson says to me, laying a hand on the small of my back in order to hustle me along faster. But with the many stones on the path, I can’t see that happening. I stumble every other step, Collin’s hand tightening around my arm each time in reflex.
“Any faster and I’ll break my legs,” I snap, turning my head in Greyson’s direction. “I can’t see a damn thing!”
Instantly, we stop, and when somebody’s breath feathers against my face, I understand why. The sound of ripping duct tape causes a shower of goosebumps to race over my skin. Two seconds later, a strip is pressed over my mouth. Justin smoothes it with his thumbs and then holds my face cupped in his hands. “I warned you, Red Riding Hood. Don’t play with the Wolf.”
Blindfolded. Shackled. And gagged. In stunned disbelief, all I can do is suck air in through my nose in a hitched rhythm. I’m caught in the middle of my personal nightmare, and Justin is taking the lead role. He’s going to regret this. The girls will come and rescue me. In no time, all of this will be over. And then I’m going to make him pay.
When Justin is gone, Greyson yanks me forward, and I stumble on between him and his brother. “Maybe someone should carry her?” Collin suggests after a few steps in which my life is in permanent danger—of tripping.
I don’t want to be carried. But to know that at least one person in this gang is concerned about my life warms me a little. I might spare Collin’s life when I come for retribution like Stephen King’s Carrie the moment they release me. And at some point they have to release me.
“That’s probably the best idea,” Greyson agrees
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