Page 26 of Anton

We’d been given a head start. I wasn’t sure Elizabeth would keep her word and allow us the full two hours, but whatever time we had, we needed to make the most of it. Tugging her along behind me, I ignored the laughter and jeers of the men and concentrated on putting as much distance between them and us as possible. I’d deal with each one of them later. Right now, there was only one thing on my mind.

Protecting Marcie.

CHAPTER 11

MARCIE

THE SAME MORNING, SPAIN - DAY 1 – TIME TO RUN

“Time to run!”

The moment Elizabeth gave the signal, the men released us, and I was thrown forward into Anton’s arms. My mind struggled to catch up with what she’d just said. Were we actually going to be prey in their next sick hunt? Was this really happening?

“Run,” a guy shouted, the evil grin he wore spreading like oil over his face.

Oh fuck!

“Good luck!” Elizabeth’s mocking words rang out behind us, sharp as the crack of a whip.

Panic clawed at my throat, but I had no time to dwell on it.

“Come on, honey,” Anton said, already pulling me, his hand gripping mine as we took off. The sun was still high, its heat strong, baking the earth beneath our feet. Dust kicked up as we ran across the dry, uneven ground, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to keep pace with him.

But it was impossible.

My feet wobbled with every step, sending jolts of pain up my legs. These boots might look great, but they weren’t made for running. God, what I wouldn’t give for some running shoes rightnow. I tripped, stumbling forward, but Anton was there, holding me steady.

“I can’t—” I gasped, struggling to breathe as the harsh reality hit me. “I can’t run in these heels.”

He stopped just long enough to look at me, his eyes scanning my boots. Without a word, he dropped to one knee and grabbed my ankle.

“Anton, what are you doing?”

A sharp snap echoed in the air as he broke the heel off one boot, then the other.

“They’ll feel odd for a while but eventually the sole should flatten out and they’ll feel a bit better,” Anton assured me. I hoped he was right because otherwise, we wouldn’t get far.

I panted, trying to get my breathing under control, my eyes darting back over my shoulder to see if anyone was following us yet. They weren’t. Some were walking back toward the house, and others were simply standing, watching us run as though this were some everyday sport. For them, I supposed it was. Bile rose in my throat, and I gulped hard to keep it down. At least we were getting a head start. I’d thought that psychotic bitch had been lying, messing with our heads as another layer to her game.

“What are we going to do?” I asked, turning back to Anton, my voice cracking with unshed tears.

The worry of everything—Elizabeth’s twisted schemes, the fear of what was coming—pressed down on me, threatening to drown me in panic.

“I don’t know yet, honey, but I promise I’ll keep you safe.” Anton stood, his gaze soft as he took my face in his hands. “They’ll be coming soon,” he said quietly. “That psycho said we’d get a two hour start, but I doubt she’s one to keep her word. Still, let’s hope that they really want to make a game of this and give us a decent enough head start. That’s all we need—just enoughtime to put some distance between us until I can figure out our best way out of this mess.”

My lips quivered, and I trembled.

“Do you trust me?” he asked, his tone soft and steady despite the situation and I drew strength from that.

“Yes.” My voice hitched as I said the word, but it was true.

“Then believe me when I tell you that I’ll get us out of this. What’s ahead isn’t going to be easy, but we’ll get through it. Okay?”

“Okay,” I replied, the sound barely above a whisper, thick with emotion.

He smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to my forehead. Just a slight brush of his lips, but it grounded me, anchoring me in the middle of my spiralling fear.

Pulling back, he locked eyes with me. “We need to move. Now.” His tone was calm, deliberate, but the tension in his jaw betrayed the gravity of the moment.

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