“He’s also not even a little funny,” Sam said.
I bit my lip. “I think he’s a little funny.”
“Maybe. But do not tell him that,” Sam said with a laugh.
“I wouldn’t think of it,” I said.
We laughed as we walked up the stairs. It was like we were back to normal.
Sam wasn’t someone that I could ever stay mad at. She never stayed mad at me for long either. Sam was more like a sister than my actual sister was.
Dorian was at the grill waving us over. “Let’s go! Let’s go! Looks like it might rain again.”
The sky was covered with gray clouds. I chewed my cheek as I scanned the area, hoping to spot Erik and Archer.
“I forgot something to drink,” Sam said, puffing out her lip.
“I need to get a clean plate,” Dorian said. “Want me to grab something for you?”
“That would be perfect,” Sam said, looking around. “Forgot the shotgun on the table.”
Dorian raised a brow and pointed at one of the lawn chairs. “I remembered.”
“Wow,” Sam said, raising her brows.
“I know, right? Who’s the man?” Dorian said, pounding a fist against his chest.
“Get the plate,” Sam said with a chuckle.
Dorian jogged to the house, taking several glances back over his shoulder. Sam scowled at the rectangles of pink meat.
“Am I supposed to flip these?” she asked. “What is this anyway? Pork?”
I shook my head, hugging myself as the wind picked up. The leaves overhead rustled, sounding like a distant crowd clapping their hands.
“Chilly,” Sam said.
“Yeah,” I said, turning at the sound of leaves crunching from behind.
I gasped as a man dressed in black sprinted toward us. He moved past me and grabbed the back of Sam’s head.
In one quick movement, he brought her to the ground and smashed her head against the ground.
30
After bashing Sam’s head two more times, the man pulled back his hoodie and grinned. “Hello, Mel. Long time no see.”
It hadn’t been my imagination—the truck at the restaurant… in the town—he’d been there.
Elijah had followed us.
My vision swirled, and my body swayed. It felt like I was on a boat in the lake, and the waves had complete control.
“No,” I said.
“So, how have you been?” Elijah said, glancing toward the house. “I don’t think we have much time.”
My eyes shot down to Sam. Her hair was splashed all over the ground. I wasn’t sure where her hair ended, and the blood started.
“What have you done to her?” I asked, sucking in a panic-filled breath.
“She’ll probably be fine,” Elijah said, his eyes popping out of his head. “Sam is resilient!”
I took a step toward the shotgun on the chair, but Elijah had anticipated the move and blocked me. My hands clenched.
“What do you want?” I screamed.
Elijah’s eyes filled with red rage. He slapped his hand over my mouth and twisted my shirted until it was tight around my neck.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he whispered into my ear as he picked up the shotgun off the chair.
I tried to call for Dorian, but my voice was muffled. He wouldn’t have heard me, and even if he had, Elijah would have used the shotgun.
My feet scraped across the ground as he dragged me away from Erik’s house. He moved quickly, crossing the road and into the trees where the thick foliage hid us from view.
Elijah had planned the route. He’d known exactly what he’d do if he ever got a chance to take me.
“You thought you’d leave town without telling me, huh?” Elijah said. “I told you it wasn’t over, and it’s not. This isn’t over until I say it is.”
I bit down on his hand as hard as I could. He jerked his hand back and shook it wildly.
“Let me go, you stupid fuck!” I shouted.
“Is that any way to talk to me?” Elijah said. “What happened to all that talk of marriage and kids?”
“That was before I realized you were a lunatic,” I said.
“Takes one to know one,” Elijah said mockingly.
He pressed his hand back down over my mouth harder. His head darted back toward Erik’s house before he walked faster.
The leaves whistled above us with an angry breeze. In the distance, I was almost certain I’d heard the sound of a boat.
Had Erik and Archer taken the boat to town? Would they see me from the road?
I tried to open my mouth to bite Elijah again, but he pushed down hard. So hard, it felt like my jaw was going to snap.
We’d walked for a long time before he threw me to the ground. I rolled to a stop with the end of the shotgun half an inch from my nose.
“Don’t make a sound,” Elijah said. “I don’t want to have to blow your pretty little head off.”
“Where are you taking me?” I asked.
“Home,” Elijah said, pushing the barrel against my nose. “But it’s going to take forever if I have to drag you there.” He jerked his chin. “Get up. Keep your mouth shut, or I will shoot you.”
I shook my head. “Shoot me then.”
He pressed the barrel harder into the side of my nose. The pain was so unbearable my eye started to water.
“Okay, okay,” I said.
“See,” Elijah said, grinning widely. “Everything is going to be fine.”
I led the way. My feet moved slowly as I prayed to God Erik and Archer would see me.
“Did you follow us the whole way?” I asked, breaking the silence.
Maybe our voices would carry on the wind, and someone would hear my voice. Perhaps that was just wishful thinking.
“Suppose there is no harm in telling you now. I’ve been tracking you for months,” Elijah said proudly. “There is so much cool gear out there you wouldn’t believe it.”
“But why? Why
