Page 24 of Better Run

“I just saw you naked. It’s a little late for that.”

“Leave!” Tears fill my eyes, and I blink them away in anger.

He pauses for a second, then leaves.

I quickly dress and then take a deep breath. I stalk out of the bathroom and up the stairs, holding it together until I shut my door. My room still smells of sex.

I thought I’d cry, but when I get into bed, all my emotions shut down. I stare blankly at the wall, not feeling anything.

I stare like that for a while then lay down and close my eyes. I’m not sure when I fall asleep.

CHAPTER TEN

Jayden

Watching her suck Cole off was a heaven I didn’t know existed. Her pretty lips stretched around him, the tears streaming down her face, the noises she made when she came. How she had my friend in ecstasy. The dual hatred and surrender in her eyes.

Intoxicating. I’m obsessed. If I wasn’t already.

I can still make it work with my plan. But now I’m keeping her.

She belongs to us.

And I don’t think I’ll ever let her go.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Cole

The hot water pounds over my body, and I lean my forehead against the tile of the shower. I stare at the familiar tiles with their light brown speckles.

Hot breath and grunting fills the room. “What a good boy. Make daddy feel good.”

My mouth feels salty. I spit and squeeze my eyes shut, hitting my forehead on the wet tile. That’s not real. Not anymore. I’m at the cabin.

Why didn’t I think to grab my knife? My skin itches with the need to draw blood. See the pretty red beads well up and erase everything else.

I don’t know how long I stand there, but when the door opens, the water is cold.

“Fuck,” Jayden says. The water turns off, and he grabs me a towel.

“Fuck off, dude.” I shake the water from my hair and yank the towel out of his hand.

He just stands there. It’s been a long time since he’s found me like this. I can’t look at him. I cover up the scars on my back that I know damn well he has too, and brush past him to my room.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Mary Jo

I’m trying not to think about what happened last night. The shame of coming for people who kidnapped me. Of loving it and their words.

If anything, it makes me hate them more.

I need to get out of here. The problem is, there are two of them. I need to get rid of one of them if I’m to even have any hope of overpowering the other. I have my sights set on Cole’s whittling knife and the car keys. I haven’t seen where they keep the keys or even heard them take them out of their pockets. I’m guessing they’re in the garage. Cole must keep his knife downstairs when it isn’t on him.

I also need shoes. It’s cold as fuck outside, and my cut keeps slowing me down.

“Did you ever get that ATV fixed?” I’m in the kitchen making pancakes. Jayden looks at me from perusing the fridge.