Page 14 of UnWholly Angels
“Did you hear that?” one of them asked.
“Yeah, it sounded like it came from the other room.”
After a few heaving breaths, I shot up and sprinted toward the front door. The branch swung loosely, and I was ready to pounce on anyone who got in my way. My heart beat erratically as I rounded the corner and suddenly crashed into a hard body. The impact sent me flying to the floor with a sharp pain that rippled through my body. The branch fell from my hand, and I turned on my belly, sliding across the floor to reach it.
The smell of leather engulfed my nostrils as shiny black shoes approached my line of sight. “The boss requests your presence, Maya, and I wouldn’t keep him waiting. I’m really hoping you’ll come willingly,” a voice sounded from above me.
Carson had worked with Rocco for the last three years, but always looked out for me when he could. Kneeling to my level, he held out his hand, urging me to go with him. I could feel the empathy radiating from him, and his eyes held mine remorsefully. In that moment, I had to make a decision, and I finally chose myself.
Please forgive me.
“I’m so sorry, Carson.”
His face twisted in confusion, andmy fist closed around the splintered wood before jabbing it into the right side of his neck. Using the pure will of survival, I dragged it across his neck to the other side. He gurgled while trying to hold the wound closed, and I sobbed as his blood spilled on my silk nightgown. Copper permeated my nostrils, and the taste of blood lit up my taste buds. Determined to get to safety, a jacket was the last thing on my mind as I jumped to my feet. Grabbing my untouched bag, I burst through the door and took off running into the snowy night.
My bare feet burned as I ran on the frozen ground, the howling wind pelting my face. This wasn't just running to Riley. This was a point of no return, a fight for the freedom I'd always wanted. I knew I would need help, and even though Chloe would be at tonight’s game, the least I could do was try to call. Pulling my phone from my bag, I quickly pulled up her number and held the phone to my ear. Within seconds, her chipper voicemail message began to play. “Hey, this is Chloe. Leave a message and I’ll call you back.” Choking back a sob, I hung up and pulled open our texts. My frozen, tingling hands tried to type, but I couldn’t form a coherent message. Instead of continuing to waste time, I held my phone as tightly as my body would allow and took off again.
The sound of tires screeching to a halt behind me sent my senses into overdrive. I immediately deviated, taking off into the forest that separated the line of houses from the local river.Everything was hazy; I had no idea how long I ran for, but I found myself at the riverbank, trudging through rocks and ice. I could tell the ground was cutting my feet, but I’d lost any feeling when I tried to call Chloe. Stopping to catch my breath, I heard a low chuckle in the distance. If there was any color left in my face, it was long gone now.
I ducked behind a tree and placed my hand over my face, trying to calm my ragged breathing. Rocco’s footsteps crunched heavily into the snow for some time before coming to an abrupt stop at my left.
“Gotcha.”
I bolted, listening to his low chuckles fade as I moved quickly through the trees. Rocco’s screaming could be heard in the distance as I ran, refusing to stop until it was safe.
“You think this is a game? Wait until I get my hands on you. He’s dead, Maya! And you? Death will be the least of your worries when I drag you back!” he threatened with malice. I knew if he ever got ahold of me again, he would make good on that promise. If Rocco Vitale was anything, he was a man of his word.
I glanced at my surroundings; at this point, I wanted to give up, but I couldn’t. I had to keep going. Chloe’s house was at least a fifteen-minute walk in the summer, and I was already hurting. Tears streamed down my face, the mix of pain and fear immediately freezing against my cheeks. My muscles were rigid from the cold, and my teeth chattered so hard I swore they would break at any minute.
After what seemed like hours, a laugh forced its way through my frozen lips as the quaint home came into view. I finally climbed the steps and reached a frozen, shaky hand for the door before twisting the knob slowly. It was locked.It was fucking locked. Anger and defeat raged through me as I slid down thedoor with a screech. Maybe dying would be a good thing; it’s safe and warm.
Suddenly, a flash of bright white LED lights crept along the driveway. My eyes burned, fear gripping my throat at the thought of being followed. Rocco must have known where I would run to; he had always sworn to find me if I tried to leave. But I refused to surrender. They’d have to take me back like this, half-dead with no fight left in me. My eyelids were heavy, drooping as I stared at the approaching car.
Please let me make it.
I’m not ready to die yet.
Chapter Six
Riley
The fragile sheet of ice cracked beneath the weight of my car as I pulled into Nick and Chloe’s driveway. The hairs on the back of my neck stood as I watched a slow-moving silhouette on the porch, my eyes widening at the sight. Chloe and the kids were driving behind us, so who could possibly be lying there? My question was answered when Nick’s chest began to rise and fall rapidly as he reached for the door handle.
“Who is that?” I asked with concern. The temperature tonight was below freezing, and I couldn’t imagine anyone would survive in this for too long.
“No, no, no…shit! Let me out now,” Nick demanded, yanking hard at the door handle. I grimaced as he threw himself from the car, even though I was still driving. “Who knows how long Maya’s been out here!”
Maya?
It couldn’t be.
“Wait,” I called after him, frozen in my own state of shock. When I realized Nick wasn’t stopping, I pulled as close to the porch as possible and slammed the car into park. Ripping the keys from the ignition, I ran as fast as I could to meet him without slipping. His panicked whispers could be heard over the shrieking wind, and my brows furrowed. Disbelief crossed my features as I stared at the half-dead woman in front of me. Nick had no idea what he was talking about; Maya was dead. Through the blood and grime on her body, I recognized my cam girl as the person before us. I wondered what could have caused her to go from the smartass woman I met a few days ago to this. But I couldn't ignore the twinge of familiarity as I knelt to examine her. “What did you call her? Answer me, Nicholas,” I snapped.
“It doesn’t matter right now,” he insisted. “Her lips are blue, and she's covered in blood. I don’t think all of it is hers, though. Help me get her inside before she loses a limb.”
Nick was in pain tonight after taking a few good hits into the boards, so I took the lead. Scooping her into my arms, I quickly made my way into the house and raced upstairs to the guest room. This girl needed to warm up fast, or she was going to die. I hoped that she didn't have frostbite, or she would need to be taken to the hospital.
Tired footsteps followed us down the hallway, stopping abruptly behind me as Nick wordlessly threw a few thick wool blankets on the bed. I laughed to myself and shrugged. At least I'd be nice and itchy. Laying the woman down gently, I placed each thick comforter over her softly. Rage coursed through my veins, and I wanted to know who did this and why.
