Page 128 of The Road Less Traveled By

A shiver shoots down my body when I hear him speak. I’m not cold, especially in my new satin pajama set, just disgusted with this person and everything he’s done to me.

He’s not making me a victim. Not again. Even if I have to fake it until I make it, I’m going to fight back.

“I haven't missed yours. Soon, I won’t have to hear it anymore since you’ll be behind bars again. I hope they saved your cell because once we find you, it’s over.”

“We, huh?”

I have to get Vince.He’s right downstairs, and I bet I can keep Ralph talking long enough for Nico to trace the call. I go to get up off my carpet, but Ralph’s voice makes me pause.

“If you go near that bodyguard of yours, I’ll blow his brains out right in front of you. Stay where you are, Bree.”

The low, malicious threat makes my heart race.He can see me. He’s watching me.“You’re bluffing.”

“I shot at you once, Bree. Do you think I won’t do it again? How about we test that theory, and I’ll paint the walls of his office with his brains? He looks like he’s asleep, so maybe I’ll fire a warning shot to wake him up.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

“Don’t you dare touch him,” I say as my head spins. “What the fuck do you want?”

He only chuckles over the line as if amused by the question. “Get in the closet, Bree. I’ll be up soon, and nobody is going to ruin it this time.”

“Good luck getting in here,” I say, trying to steady my shaky voice. “My place is surrounded. You’ll be dead the minute you step on my property.”

“If you don't do what I say, I’ll kill every last person you care about, Bree. And then when I take you, you’ll have to live with the knowledge that you could’ve stopped it. You’re making me threaten all this, Bree. Don’t you get that? Just do what I tell you like the sweet, innocent girl you are, so I can have my way with you how I know you want it!” His voice is low, almost like he himself is hiding, but I don’t know where. If he’s in my house, the alarm would’ve gone off, but it hasn't. Maybe he’s outside?

Fuck, I’m scared. Terrified. All the feelings from last time are coming back in full force, and I can’t do anything to stop them. “No.” My voice is barely a whisper, but I manage to get the word out.

“You can’t say no to me, sweetheart,” he says, and the phone pings a few seconds later.

Pictures come through—ones of Liv and Tristan at home, Teags outside on the tire swing at her mom’s house, another of Vince at his desk.

“One message to my guys, and all of them are gone, Bree. So get in the fucking closet, and wait,” he bites, and my head empties of anything else I have up my sleeve.

I could go get Vince.But what if he shoots him?

I could message them all a warning.But my phone isn't working.

Could I use the burner to message them?I doubt it, since Ralph bought it. He probably has some sort of bug in here that can view the messages I send.

I’m officially out of options. I can’t scream since Ralph will probably hear me. I can’t hang up because that will make it all worse, especially if he’s watching me.

Fuck!

“Don’t you dare fucking hurt them.”

“As long as you do what I want, they’ll be fine.”

I don’t believe you.

I lower the phone from my ear as I head to my closet and shut the door behind me. I try to look for any sort of shoe I can use as a weapon, but he’s much bigger than me. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’d get angrier and take it out on me if I didn't succeed in taking him down.

Fuck.My panic button is underneath my side table, and I didn’t fucking press it.

Maybe a hanger?No, that won’t work. They’re all soft and velvety.

Fucking hell, why didn’t I follow rule number five? If I had a knife, I could hurt him before I could make it downstairs. I’m sure a stab to the stomach would make him falter.

“I’m in thecloset.”

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