Chapter 4

Gazing at the sinking sun slipping behind the cypress trees surrounding the nearby swamp, I try to calm my ragged breathing. This could be my last glimpse of the day’s light. If I do what my heart is telling me and follow those two thugs into that cave they both just entered, my chances of getting out alive are probably non-existent. Inhaling deeply, I check the Springfield XD-S pistol I retrieved from my car’s glove box, making sure the safety is disabled. Then I pat my thigh where my trusty blade sits. It’s become almost a nervous tic of mine. Ian handed it to me the night I lost everything. To help me feel safe. A sweet gesture from a man I barely knew.

I followed blue eyes and monster tattoo back to this place, being careful to keep my distance so they couldn’t work out they were being tailed, which got harder as we left the busy town centre, and the houses grew farther apart. Spacious estates taking over where the neat suburban homes once stood. They took me past fences sprawling over rolling lawns, the kind with gates and security cameras, the kind where the rich and influential people lived. Before the paved road gradually turned to packed dirt and potholes, with fields of wild grass stretching endlessly.

The closer we got to the marshlands, the thicker the air became with the scent of damp earth and rotting vegetation. And then their car stopped. That’s when I shut off my engine and carefully got out of my car to creep my way over and see what exactly the two of them were up to.

Eventually, I found what looked like a large hole in the ground—a cave entrance maybe. Half-hidden by tangled vines, the entrance to the dark underground cavern sent a chill down my back. What the hell kind of place is this?

Moving stealthily from my position behind a large trunk, I peer through the Spanish moss dancing slightly in the evening breeze, watching the brawny guard the two of them passed not ten minutes ago. A twig snaps under my heavy boot as I move closer toward him, and I duck behind a rotted-out tree stump, an earthy, slightly pungent aroma hitting my nostrils, so strong it makes me gag.

The guard glances my way briefly before his attention shifts back to his phone. His attention seems divided, as though he’s immersed in playing a game on his device. It’s not surprising he doesn’t think there’s a threat around, since this place is buried in the marshlands surrounded by overgrown vegetation. My gaze travels up the rocky cliff face, but all I can see is the shadowy outline of sheer rock. His biggest threat would most likely be the alligators that I’m now really wishing I hadn’t reminded myself also live here. Why they even have some guys manning the cave entry is beyond me. I guess maybe our house isn’t the only one they have robbed then torched. This must be where they store all the stuff they steal. That’s the only sense I can make of it .

Silently, I push closer, my footsteps muffled by the heavy undergrowth of ferns and decaying leaf litter. The damp earth clings to my boots as I approach, each step careful and calculated. With practiced precision, I spring upwards, my arm coiling around the guard's neck from behind, his muscles tensing in resistance. The musty scent of his sweat fills my nostrils as he forcefully thrusts me against the rough cave wall, stealing the breath from my lungs. A surge of pain courses through me, but I push it aside, finding a strength I didn’t know I had in me. Struggling against his grip, I tighten my hold, interlocking my hands around my choking arm, ensuring his escape is impossible. He tries to grab at me, his arms flailing about in a desperate attempt to break free. But I hold strong. I don’t have a lot of time, and while I have practiced this move in the gym a thousand times before, I’ve never had to put it into action properly.

Sweat drips down my spine as I apply pressure to the sides of his neck. A wave of adrenaline courses through him, his nails digging into the flesh of my arms, his desperate gasps for air growing fainter with each passing moment. This guy is big, probably every bit as muscular as Ian, but I can feel the pulse beneath my fingers slowing, the blood flow to his brain gradually diminishing. With one final, feeble attempt to break free, the guard’s movements falter, his body going limp in my grasp. He’s out, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

With a soft thud, he collapses to the ground, unconsciousness claiming him. The forest falls silent once more, the only sound the steady rhythm of my breathing as I survey the scene before me. Part of me is not able to believe I’m really going through with this, but what other choice do I have? I can’t keep hiding out forever, scared they will find me. Dragging his body aside and into the bushes, so he’s out of view of the cave, I make my way inside.

This place is rank, perfect for the rats who inhabit it. The narrow tunnels twist and turn, and as I venture deeper, the walls become jagged and slick with moisture and layers of moss. A powerful scent of earth and a faint smell of decay hang in the air. I slip through the dark and find shelter in a dug-out corner of the cave, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dim light. Droplets of water drip from the murky ceiling above me, splashing on my cheek, but I don’t dare move until my eyes adjust.

Slowly, I remove my knife from its holster. Drip. Drip .

Not sure what I’m about to walk into, I creep quietly, taking slow measured steps so I can slip in and take them out before any other men even know I’m here. I spot a beam of light from another guy’s flashlight, prompting me to head in his direction. He spins on the spot and comes rushing toward me without warning. In a panic I find my knife and thrust it toward him, connecting with his chest. Sickness washes over me with the disturbing slice of flesh and muscle, but I don’t hang around to find out how badly I’ve wounded him. Pulling my knife free, I run. I should feel some remorse. The girl I used to be would have, but all that died along with my family. Now I feel nothing but hate and the need for revenge.

Where are blue eyes and monster tattoo? I fade into the darkness, searching for them. The air is heavy with the scent of fear and desperation—mine. My hands tremble as I wipe the slippery blood from them.

Whispers echo off the walls, secrets I’m not meant to hear. Something about a shipment. A truckload of it, whatever it is. Their deep, menacing voices make my skin prickle. One. Two. Three. There are definitely more than just the two of them back here, but I’ve come too far to back out now .

This section of the cave is dimly lit, but I can still make out some details. Two men stand guard, one smoking a cigarette. Blue eyes and monster tattoo. A pain aches in my chest when I see them, a deep-seated need to avenge my family’s deaths. I can’t bring them back, but I can take the lives of the men who stole theirs. For six months, revenge has been the only thing keeping me going. Now I get to have it. A tingle runs through my body as I aim my gun at blue eyes. I have trained for this. I’m a perfect shot. Two quick consecutive shots and they will be gone before they even know what hit them.

As I pull the trigger, I hear a third voice. One I think I recognize but can’t quite place in the echo of the caves. As the bullet whizzes by, my heart starts pounding so hard I hear the erratic beat. Fuck, how did I miss, I never miss. I dart back into the shadows as he comes for me. Fuck, fuck, fuck. How did I miss him? I take off sprinting down a long corridor, trying to remember the way I came. The cave walls blur as I rush past, and I slip in the mud, just catching myself before I go over. My heart races out of my chest because I know I’m screwed.

Heavy footsteps hammer right at my heels, and it’s too dark down here for me to see where I’m going. Blindly, I take a shot behind me, hoping to hell it will take him out. But as I do, he grabs hold of me and I scream a blood-curdling shriek that vibrates off the walls. He was closer than I expected.

“Got you,” comes his deep gravelly voice as he pulls me up by my long, high ponytail. My feet dangle off the ground like a rag doll in his enormous arms. Any breath I had left in my lungs after running like hell is stolen in an instant.

Attempting to wriggle free from his strong hold, I bring my boot up, aiming for his junk, but he’s too agile for me. He twists my hair around his fist, forcing me to stare up at him, panting like a crazed animal .

“Who do we have here?” My eyes prickle with tears from his tight hold on my hair. I can only make out the outline of his features in the dark, but I know exactly who this guy is. Blue eyes. His towering stature easily eclipses my own. Amidst the musty caves, his scent, both fresh and masculine, floods the air around me, sending a wash of nostalgia scattering over me.

Crystal-clear blue eyes glower back at me, his brows narrowed as he scrutinizes every inch of my face. “Thought you could shoot at me and get away with it. Think again, sweetheart.” His lips twist in a menacing smile as his other hand wraps around my middle, knocking the gun from my grip.

Our eyes meet with a sense of familiarity that sends shivers down my spine. Suddenly, something washes over him as well. Like he’s just registered exactly who I am. But surely not. I was no one to him that night, just as I am now. Just a helpless little girl, silenced so I was out of their way while they tore my home and family apart.

I raise my chin in rebellion, refusing to show him any signs of weakness. I’m not scared of him anymore. “What are you waiting for, then? Kill me,” I snarl, meeting his eyes with the same intensity. I mean every word. I have nothing left to live for. I failed. All I wanted to do was eliminate him and his fucked-up friend, just like they did my family.

He chuckles darkly, sending a vibration right through me with his proximity. He’s not murderous like he should be after capturing a trespasser. His lips twitch with a hint of a psychotic smile. “Why would I kill you when you’re so much more useful to me alive?”

My heart races wildly. I wasn’t scared when I thought he was going to kill me, but now I can’t hide the tremble racking through me. He must be able to feel my fear because his smile increases to an all-out motherfucking grin. “B-because if you don’t, I promise you will regret it,” I spit back, trying to hide the swirl of anxiety washing over me.

“Why?” he asks, humoring me.

I narrow my eyes in on him. Looking this motherfucker in the eyes after seeing him in my nightmares for months is surprisingly satisfying. I needed to face my fears head-on. “If you don’t do it while you have the chance, I’ll kill you,” I throw back at him as a warning. Nothing about this situation is funny. I want him dead.

Once again, he chuckles, the heat of his breath dusting my face, a stark contrast to the cold, damp surroundings. “Adorable,” he muses.

Adorable? Fuck this guy. This isn’t some game. This is my life, and he stole it from me. I’m a dead girl because of him. With all my might, I sink my teeth into his forearm and bite down hard. The metallic tang of his blood touches my tongue. We have danced this dance before, and last time it worked out well for me.

“Little bitch,” he curses, his grip on me loosening. I use all the force I have to shove off him and land on his foot with my heeled boots. Then I take off running as fast as my legs will take me in my one-size-too-small waitress uniform.

I search for a hint of outside light, knowing there’s an exit here somewhere. It gets closer the faster I run, but his heavy footsteps clomp through the muck right behind me. He’s so fast, his shadow engulfing my slight frame seconds later. Just as I make it to the opening, he barrels me over, bumping me to the ground and landing right on top of me. His heavy body knocks the air from my lungs. I’m trapped on the grimy cave floor.

Spitting out a mouthful of dirt, I focus on my breaths to steady my racing heart. Now’s not the time to panic. I can escape him. I have to .

He flips me over, pinning my hands above my head. His grin widens as he peers down at me, helpless below him. “That wasn’t very smart, Harley.”

I swallow my gasp, trying not to show my shock. How the hell does he know my name? I’m no one to them. Just the girl who was forced to hide in her closet. He held me there with his powerful arms while the rest of them destroyed my family home and took the most important people in my life away from me.

“Alex will be pleased to see you.” He drags me up to my feet by my wrists, dust flying up around us. A dull throb thumps through my head from the way he knocked me down, but that’s the least of my worries. Who the hell is Alex? The hulk guy? I honestly don’t want to find out. If he knows who I am, I could be wrong about this whole situation.

Using his height to his advantage, he towers over me, the top of my head not even reaching his shoulders. It makes me feel so powerless against him. His piercing blue eyes fill every inch of me with fear. Every move he makes exudes a condescending power. He thinks I’m weak because I’m small. That’s his first mistake.

What’s more dreadful than being shot dead by one of these guys for trespassing? Being taken alive for him to do with as he pleases. Sickness washes over me, and I struggle against him. I’m not going to let him take me easily.

He chuckles as he slings me over his shoulder like I’m a backpack, the air squashing out of my lungs as my face lands way too close to his ass. Tears well in my eyes, but I won’t let them overcome me. With that thought, I struggle against his tight grip, pushing my feet off the side of the cave as he strides away. As I do, I also extend my hand toward my knife, wrapping my fingers around the cold handle .

With a forceful push, he corners me against the rocky wall, and my knife slips from my hand. I wince in pain as my wrist throbs. With his sheer force, he pins me against the rough rock wall, keeping me airborne. “If you’re smart, you’ll quit resisting me, baby doll.”

An icy shiver runs down my spine. That’s what he called me that night. Baby doll . You’re safe, baby doll . He kept chanting it, a mantra, trying to shield me from the awfulness that was taking place outside my bedroom. While he may not have been the person responsible for their deaths, he still played his role. He poses the same level of threat as the rest.

“Or what? What will you do to me if I keep fighting you?” I challenge him.

“I’ll shoot you,” he says back cooly. And I believe him. He would. He wouldn’t think twice about it. But what he doesn’t know is, I want to die. I want to be with the rest of my family and out of this hell of an existence.

“Do it,” I spit back at him. “Kill me like you did my family.”

Our eyes lock, and he gazes intensely at me while a shadow casts over his handsome face, his expression turning grave. His strong fingers dig into my skin with such force I can feel the bruises bleeding to the surface already. For a second, it’s as if time stands still. It’s just him and me locked in a war of wills. He threatens to kill me, but the way he looks at me tells me he won’t.

With that knowledge, I swallow down my fear and get a wave of fresh determination. Using my legs, I kick off the wall, knowing all too well I’m pushing the devil himself, but I’m not going back into the caves with him. So, he’s going to need to end this now and put me out of my misery. Let me be with my family or allow me to run the hell away from him like last time .

Like Ian taught me, I bring my knee up and connect with his gut. He grunts out a complaint but holds me strong, using his body to pin me to the wall. With just one hand, he grips my arm, his long fingers digging into my flesh. Using his other hand, he retrieves his gun from behind his back in a warning.

Like the smartass I am, I respond by lifting my knees and kicking him with all the force I have, causing him to lose his balance. His fingers loosen their grip long enough for me to drop to the ground. I don’t wait for him to catch me again. I get the hell out of there and run as fast as my legs will take me.

“Fuck,” he growls, his curse vibrating off the cave walls. “Harley, stop!” he shouts, and I can feel him right behind me.

Last time I was too quick for him, I can outrun him again. After the sound of shooting stopped, he tried to drag me out of my room. Tried to convince me I was safe with him, that I just had to trust him, he was going to take care of me. I wasn’t having a bar of that bullshit. I kissed him and took off before he could react. I had already climbed out of my bedroom window and down the drainpipe before he knew what was happening, and knowing that I was running for my life, I kept sprinting up the road without turning back. I wasn’t going to be one of those silly bitches from the horror movies who looks over their shoulders for a split second too long. No fucking way.

And tonight will be no different, running for the light of the cave entrance as fast as my legs will take me. Until another man steps into the space, and I stop dead in my tracks, my heart racing like crazy. It’s the guard I choked out, his face murderous, with a gun aimed right at me. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Don’t shoot her!” blue eyes shouts from behind me, his voice booming off the cave walls in a warning .

I’m caught like a deer in the headlights with nowhere to go. Panic races through my body so fiercely I can hear the blood whooshing in my ears. If I move, I know I’m done for. But if I don’t, blue eyes will take me back inside the cave with him. I glance toward the light, and without another thought, move toward the opening in a rush. Choosing freedom.

Without hesitation, the guard fires.