Page 48 of Fourteen Years

“Go, baby.” Trevor urged, speaking quietly below me.

Groaning, I pulled myself up the rest of the way and stood shakily. I couldn’t help it. I glanced back and down through the window to see Trevor glaring at me.

“Monica,” he growled threateningly.

I spun on my heel and ran.

“What the hell was that?”

I froze and ducked behind a huge tree, knowing it was wide enough to hide my frame as I heard the gruff voice. It was one of the men who had been in the trees by the trailer. I held my breath, heart racing. Praying they wouldn’t come around the side of the house to see the window.

Glancing around, it looked like the trees went on for some time. With it not being fully autumn yet, the summer growth provided foliage to better cover me. I tilted my head, thinking the area looked familiar. In my panic I hadn’t paid attention to the outside of the house, when my body froze.

Peeking back around the trunk of the tree, I glanced back at the house and covered my mouth to prevent my audible gasp from being heard.

The old Paxton farmhouse.

The place where Becks had been taken.

The place where Paul had been killed.

Was I going to lose both of the loves of my life on the same cursed property?

It wasn’t far from where Flinton had always parked his trailer and I was sure emergency services had responded quickly to that phone call. Especially with how panicked Lucas had sounded before I’d lost consciousness. I bit my lower lip, considering my options. I’d promised Trevor that I would get out and run.

But I was stubborn. I wasn’t going to lose the two men I loved on the same property. I wasn’t going to run. I was going to fight back.

Jogging carefully back to the side of the dilapidated house, I made sure to avoid the broken window I’d escaped from. My sides and lower stomach hurt and I was definitely bleeding from lacerations. Adrenaline was keeping me upright and the pain was minimal. Pretty positive it was shock and riding that high, I listened until I heard voices.

It sounded like Richard’s men were on the front porch. Slowly creeping down the side of the house, I peered around the back to see if I could use anything to my advantage. One of them had left their vehicle back here. It was now or never. I knew they were at the front of the house and this may be the only chance I got.

Working my way over to the beat up pickup truck, I lifted the door handle, praying.

It was unlocked.

Opening the door slowly, I cringed as it creaked loudly and paused, tilting my head to listen. I didn’t think anyone had heard it but I wasn’t going to risk waiting. Sliding behind the wheel, cussing when I realized they hadn’t left the keys in the ignition, I sighed, leaning over and opening the glove compartment.

Two handguns and some bullets greeted me, and I smiled.

“I guess those shooting lessons are going to pay off.” I whispered, knowing Paul was always with me, sure that he was listening and watching. Paul would probably be somewhere between fiercely proud I was going to make a stand and absolutely livid I was risking it.

Checking both guns’ chambers, I made sure they were loaded before exiting the vehicle. I didn’t bother shutting the door, not wanting the men out front to hear me.

Tucking one gun in the back waistband of my leggings, I held the other carefully, moving back to the other side of the large farmhouse. There were two of them and one of me.

I had to make the first shot debilitating or fatal because the other one would be after me. I was trembling, trying to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth to calm my body.

Peering around the side of the house I saw both men facing away from me. Both were grungy, with oily hair and ill-fitting clothing that had seen better days. They could pass for brothers, the only difference from the back being height. I looked closer, the one on the right was taller, broader.

I had a better chance if I took him out and was left with the smaller one. Gritting my teeth, I drew a calming breath in through my lungs. It was against everything in my nature to be violent. But these men had come for me. They had come for Trevor. They would keep coming and target my girls.

I knew they were attached to Larry and Clark in some way and those monsters had taken Paul away from me and nearly stolen my best friend.

Raising my arms, I sighted the bigger man, and fired.

Chapter 29

Iwatched Monica disappear, knowing it went against her nature. Drawing deep calming breaths I listened for any noises. Anything to tell me they’d figured it out and were following her.

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