Page 234 of Malice and Surrender
I bolted away from the van and glanced back only once, and it only confirmed that there wasn’t another option out.
Slow your breathing.
I kept saying to myself as I reached the edge of the tall trees and veered to the path that looked like it was used for biking. Even though it would keep me in sight, I could move faster, and there was less chance I would trip over a vine and fall.
I was plunged into shadows, and the cool evening air made me shiver. The sound of a twig snapping off to my left had my head whipping in that direction. I couldn’t see anything, but the trembling in my body told me someone was out there. A yipping sound to my right spiked my heart rate, and when whoever was on my left answered, I knew I was being chased down.
My feet moved faster, and I whipped around a slight bend in the path.
“Get her,” the same mechanical voice growled.
“You have nowhere to go,” a second voice chimed in.
“I’m going to fuck you so hard,” the first one said.
Even though it was getting darker, I could see the gap in the trees. The voice had said if I made it to the other side, I would live—if I could trust that voice. Who knew what Frank really had waiting for me? I glanced around for anything I could use as a weapon, but there were no sticks or branches. I didn’t even see any rocks bigger than pebbles you’d skip at the beach.
“Whoop, whoop,” the voice to my left said. I looked over and almost screamed as I stared at a black and white devil’s face, such a contrast to the surroundings that it practically glowed. The crashing of the person on my right getting closer drew my attention. That person wore the same mask, but this one was black and red.
Fear gripped my throat, making breathing difficult, but I pumped my arms harder for the last few feet to my only hope of freedom. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw the masked men getting closer and knew they were toying with me. Even though I was terrified to run through this gap and find out what was on the other side, it was my only chance.
Holding up my arms to ward off a couple of dangling vines, I burst through the gap into the open grassy area.
“What the?” I gasped as I looked around at the massive backyard and the house I recognized. There was a fancy gazebo with lights hanging all along the edge and off the railings. It was easy to see the man leaning against the entryway with a blue and black mask, no shirt, and jeans.
My pace slowed as my brain tried to understand how I ended up at home. I screamed as arms gripped me around the waist. Instead of tackling me to the ground, the man swung me up into his arms. I reached back, ready to hit him, when all the tattoos on his chest, including my name, caught my eye.
“Kai?”
“Hey, Tink,” he said and chuckled.
“Are you kidding me right now?” I looked at the second guy laughing under his mask and knew it was Jace. “I’m going to kill all of you, I swear.”
“I did like the part where you wanted me to rip off the guy’s balls while he was still breathing,” Kai said, and I could feel him smiling at me. “You know me so well.”
“You three are unbelievable. I should lock you out of the house.”
Kai laughed hard. “You could, but I’d just have to ask Wilder for the key I’m sure he already has made.”
The corner of my mouth pulled up. Wilder and his crazy appearances had grown on me. He loved it when I made chocolate chip muffins and would sit and talk for hours, then suddenly disappear as if he’d never been there.
“That is true,” I said as we walked up the steps to meet the masked man in blue, who was definitely Avro.
“Okay, then tell me what the hell all this was about?” I held my hand out to the forest as Kai set me on my feet. “I thought I was dead, you bunch of jerks.” I was annoyed, but as they closed the screendoor, a different kind of tremor raced down my spine. No one could deny that they looked as sexy as any sinful fantasy. They stood shoulder to shoulder, shirtless with matching black jeans and those masks that promised dark desires.
“You’ve been having nightmares about being taken again,” Avro said.
“And you kept saying you wanted to get over it,” Jace said.
Kai stepped forward and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Now, when you think of being kidnapped, the dream will end with the three of us. We are your monsters tonight, ones you’ll never get out of your head.”
I licked my lips, I wasn’t sure this would be in any medical journal anywhere, but I couldn’t deny that this was definitely a better outcome to have floating around in my head. I looked over my shoulder to our new home and then around the large gazebo that could easily hold a party. I had no idea when they installed this without me seeing it, but a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. It screamed Avro with all the lights and a large bed with a million pillows. The pizza I was supposed to get was piled on the table, and there was a built-in brick oven and fridge. This was incredible, a small oasis away from the house.
“You did all this for me?” My eyes went to their jeans. No strip club anywhere could compete with this show.
“Yes. We would do anything to help you, but there are rules tonight,” Jace said. I watched as they finished stripping together, and I pulled at the shirt I was wearing, overheating from more than just the run.
“What kind of rules?” I crossed my arms but knew I would play whatever game they had in mind. They were way too tempting, and the surge of fear had left a lasting hangover effect of excitement that made me rub my thighs together.
