Page 85 of A Vineyard for Two

‘The internet isn’t working. I was at Brookes’ when I was doing my work. Everything is backed up to the cloud. I can’t do anything without an internet connection.’

‘You’re lying.’

She saw Brookes’ lips turn to a slight curve. He knew exactly what she was doing. If they could get out of here, and to Brookes’ property, they stood a chance of getting out of this alive. She’d actually been working at Mathers Vineyard but David didn’t have to know that detail.

‘Look.’ She flipped the laptop to show him there was no internet signal.

The silence that followed felt as it was going on forever before David spoke, ‘Get up slowly. Move towards the door. You,’ he touched the barrel of the gun to Brookes’ shoulder. ‘You can drive. Harper, you get in the back. He does anything stupid, and you get a bullet.’

‘I’ll kill you if you do anything to her.’

‘Empty threats. Move.’

She shut the laptop and stood up, each movement slow and calculated. She didn’t want to take her eyes off him. It was the only sense of control she could retain.

The house felt cold and threatening. She worried about Leo and hoped that he was okay. There was nothing she could do to help him right now but get out of there. She was just glad that Zoe had gone to see Georgia and was out of harm’s way, at least for now.

In the car, she sat in the backseat as instructed. The gun jabbed her side. Brookes sat in the driver’s seat and started the car. As they pulled out of the driveway, she realised David’s mistake. They had taken his car. Brookes’ car would remain, and if Zoe came home, she’d notice the car parked in the drive, but neither her nor Brookes or Leo anywhere. She’d walk the property and find Leo, then they could contact the authorities. Of course, she was dreaming. It was possible that her brother was already dead. The thought brought tears to her eyes. No, she couldn’t think that way. She had to stay positive; it was the only way to get through this.

Brookes’ hands gripped the steering wheel, his jaw rigid, teeth clenched. Her gaze stayed on him. The drive to his property felt like forever. She wanted to shift away from David, but each time she moved he pressed the gun harder against her thigh. Harper’s stomach turned as they slowed towards Brookes’ property.

A muffled bark echoed from the direction of the house.

Rover.

The gun against her leg moved towards her stomach.

‘Lock that dog up or I will shoot it.’

Brookes didn’t respond. She knew, though, that he would do exactly what David said. Rover may have been a dog, but he was family, and if this monster did something to him, Brookes wouldn’t forgive himself or her.

She considered opening the door and running, but where would she go? He had the upper hand with the gun. If he didn’t shoot her in the back, he would shoot Brookes.

He shifted the gun towards Brookes.

‘Open the door slowly. Get out and stand by the car. I will not hesitate to shoot him if you do anything hasty.’

Harper did what she was told.

‘Now it’s your turn,’ David said. ‘Leave one hand on the steering wheel. Open the door with your right, then slowly step out.’

Harper watched Brookes follow the same instructions. To do anything else was too dangerous.

Brookes considered his options, but each one ended up with someone being shot. He couldn’t take that sort of risk, and if David pulled the trigger on either of them right now, Harper would be hurt, or worse, dead. That wasn’t a risk he could take. The only option was to follow instructions until the right opportunity came.

Rover’s barks grew louder as they approached the house. If he sensed danger, there was a chance that he wouldn’t listen to instructions. He would go into protective mode and do whatever it took to help his master. Brookes couldn’t let that happen, not yet.

‘Let me go inside first. I’ll put him in another room,’ Brookes said through gritted teeth, then watched as David put the barrel of the gun to Harper’s head.

‘You know what will happen if you cross me.’

He nodded and went to open the front door.

‘It’s okay, boy,’ he said pushing the door open. He knelt and scratched Rover behind the ears as the dog growled. Grabbing him by the collar, he walked him into the bedroom. He was in full view of the front door and there was nothing that he could do that David wouldn’t see.

A few moments later, Rover was locked in the room. Only then did David shove Harper inside the house.

Here, Brookes should have had the upper hand, but right now, he had to bide his time. His only concern was Harper.

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