Page 32 of The Hunted

He grabs at his bleeding face with both hands. “Fuck! You fucking bitch!” He falls to the side.

I push myself up from the floor and race for the door.

I pass over the threshold, and a sharp pain sears my scalp as the ends of my hair are pulled, tugging me backward into the cottage. I yank forward as hard as I can, despite the agony of my hair being ripped from my scalp. I scream, but I don’t stop moving.

Don’t stop. You can’t stop.

I run. Fast. Hard. I’m utterly exhausted, and my head throbs, but I don’t stop until I make it back to the manor.

No one seems to care that I’m only in my panties. The few people I see just briefly glance at me as I pass by. I make my way to my suite and lock myself in.

* * *

RAVEN

(Present)

Fear is a powerful motivator.I look around for something to defend myself with as Lazzaro advances toward me.

“I love it when my women put up a fight.”

I step backward. Oh, God, give me a way out of this. Panic courses through my veins. My back hits the wall, and my breath hitches. I’m trapped.

Lazzaro reaches out his hand and brushes his finger down my cheek. I turn my head away from him and his alcohol scented breath.

“You are so fucking pretty, Raven. I’m surprised I was able to avoid this place as long as I did after our special hunt.”

The burn of tears stings my eyes, and they begin to fall. I press my back as far into the wall as I can, trying to escape. He wipes away my tear before he pulls his hand back.

“You remind me of her so much. So fucking much. Just like her, too good for the filth that surrounds you.” He inhales a deep breath and exhales it shakily. I don’t know who he’s talking about, but this time, when his eyes meet mine, I see his pain. It’s written all over his face. Something in him is broken, off, just wrong. A sense of sadness clouds his eyes, and he wears his shredded heart like a shadow, it’s there, lurking around him. I don’t know what happened to him to make him into the man he is today, but I can only imagine it was terrible. None of that excuses him from being a decent person though. That choice lies solely with him.

“Tell Knox I need to see him.”

He backs away a few steps before turning and heading toward the door.

“You should be careful who you let in.”

The door shuts behind him, and I run to it and throw the lock before sliding to the floor.

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