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Cameron

Tirescrunchedovergravel.My head pounded like a bitch. I opened my heavy lids and squinted when glaring sunlight flooded through the window of a car.

What the fuck?

Why was I lying across the backseat of a pickup? I checked my aching wrists and found them bound firm with a zip tie.Shit!I tried to free them, but it was no use.

No, no, no!A scream threatened to escape my lips, but I wasn’t ready to face my captor and didn’t want him to know I was awake yet.

I glanced at the driver and blood drained from my face. It was the asshole who’d broken into my house and attacked me. A baseball cap sat low on his brow, obscuring his facial features except for a clenched jaw. The black T-shirt he wore strained against large biceps. One huge hand gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.

Despite my terror, anger flared through me.Damn you, Justin. For once, my brother had been telling the truth.

The car lurched as it traveled over bumps and dips. Where was he taking me? The plastic cover on the seat crinkled and clung to my skin. My breath caught in my throat and my heart rate surged. Jesus, if he was being careful to keep my DNA contained, it told me two things: he planned on killing me, and he’d probably done this before.

Hold it together, Cam. I bit my lip hard to stop myself from tumbling into a full-blown panic.

I had to try something, anything, to get away. Doing nothing was a death sentence. I didn’t care if he was hulk sized. I wasn’t going down without a fight.

The vehicle slowed, then stopped. A moment later, the engine shut down. I kept my eyes closed and remained still. The man exited the car, slamming the door. The sound of his footfalls quieted with each step.

I sat up to peer out the window and took in my surroundings. As I dreaded, we were in the middle of nowhere. In front of me was a log cabin set on a hill with a free-standing workshop on the right. Behind me, the ground sloped away to the woods below. All around was a multi-hued forest in the full grip of fall.

My kidnapper strode toward the cabin and up a set of timber stairs, a large brown roan dog following close on his heels. He unlocked the door, and the pair continued inside.

There wasn’t time to think about it. I had to get the hell away from him. I tossed off the blanket covering my waist and legs.Crap!I had no shoes or pants. Modesty would have to go screw itself.

I pulled on the door handle. No luck.Must have the child lock on. Clambering over the center console, I landed in the front passenger seat.Bingo!The door opened, and I bolted downhill toward the woods without a backward glance.

Adrenaline filled my veins. Every footstep was loud as I sprinted deeper into the forest. My feet stung as they trod on sticks and nuts. I held my bound hands in front of me to stop branches from whipping my face. My heart pumped so hard I thought it might explode. Each wheezing breath of frigid air became more painful than the last.

Don’t think about how much it hurts. Move!

A dog barked.No!I needed to run faster, but I was still woozy from the sedative. My feet kept slipping on the bed of moist leaves that covered the steep descent.

Footsteps thumped behind me and branches snapped. Birds squawked and took flight when my enraged kidnapper’s curses echoed through the forest. He and the dog were closing in fast. I had to keep going, but my lungs burned and my legs were heavy and clumsy.

I tripped, hit the ground hard, and rolled before stopping at the base of a large tree. Winded and gasping for air, I curled onto my side. A searing pain stabbed at my ankle. I spat out dirt and felt something warm and sticky trickle over my brow.

The hound came into view first, followed by the man who slid to a halt before me.

My eyes traveled up and connected with an icy stare. Jesus, he was tall, and built like an NFL linebacker. The cool, damp ground sent a shiver through my bones, or perhaps it was from his shadow looming over me.

“Shit,” he grumbled, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

I sat up and tried to stand, but fire shot through my ankle. With a groan, I fell back.

I picked up a fist-sized rock, the only weapon within arm’s reach, and aimed it at him. “Get away from me!” I shouted between gasping breaths.

He held his palms out. “Calm down.”

The asshole had told me the same thing last night. I didn’t buy it then, and I hadn’t changed my mind. I pitched the rock at him with all my strength.

He dodged. The projectile missed his head but still hit his shoulder hard.

Rubbing the impact site and wearing a pissed-off frown, he took a step closer. “That damn well hurt. Are you done yet?”