Page 2 of Coercion

The freezing grass makes every step I take treacherous. My feet slip and slide as I pummel my hands to force my body to go faster.

I can hear yells. Shouts behind us.

I already know in my heart that we’ve been spotted but if we can make it to the treeline, I’m certain we can get away.

Jett is way ahead of me. His legs are so much longer than mine. I guess it helps that he’s got seven years on me and he spends most of his days in the gym, working out, building muscles like he’s planning on competing in the Olympics.

I keep my eyes focused on his back. I keep my legs pounding one after another. As long as I can see him, I know I’ll be safe, I know I’ll make it.

But just as that thought manifests in my head, something heavy collides with me, and I land hard on the ground with a scream.

Jett turns, his eyes widening, as he realises I’ve been caught. He’s at the treeline. He’s made it while I’ve barely gotten halfway.

“Run,” I scream at him.

He pauses, like he’s going to come back, like he’s going to risk his life for me and I can’t have that. If they’ve come for my parents then we’re just as much of a target as they are. I have to save my brother, I have to be the hero here.

“Run,” I scream louder as I’m dragged up to my feet. A hand wraps around me, pulling my body against the awful strength of someone twice my size.

Jett turns, running further into the woods and all the men around me pick up their guns and start shooting.

I scream, I jerk, I try to get free, and the man holding me laughs as he tosses me over his shoulder before carrying me back to the house, while I pummel his back with my fists.

I’m dumpedonto the floor of my father’s office. My knees slam hard into the marble and I let out a cry that no one bats an eye to.

I’m not allowed in this part of the house. Daddy always made that abundantly clear. That this part was for him and his men, that this was so off limits even my mother’s access was restricted.

The room looks ransacked. It’s complete and utter carnage. His great leather chair is upturned on its side. Paper is strewn about the floor like confetti.

“And the boy?” An only too-familiar voice asks.

“He’s in the woods but we’ll get him.” Someone behind me says.

I blink, forcing myself to look, forcing myself to meet my uncle’s glare. He tilts his head, stepping closer to me.

“Where is your mother?” He asks in a voice so cold I shiver.

I shake my head but as I do, I register what else is in the room, or ratherwhoelse. My father is there, on the floor, lying face down like he simply tripped up and forgot to get back to his feet.

Only his head is wrong.

His face is wrong.

I blink rapidly as my mind refuses to register exactly what I’m seeing.

And then it hits me. Why there’s a dark stain spreading around him. Why he isn’t moving. Isn’t even breathing.

Why half his face is gone.

“Daddy,” I scream, crawling on my hands and knees but my uncle grabs me by my hair, yanking me back.

“Where is your mother?” He asks again, hauling me to my feet to face him.

“I don’t know,” I whimper.

He lets out a snarl, dropping me onto the floor and I land in the pool of my father’s blood, beside his horrifically still body.

Maybe it’s my shock, maybe it’s something else entirely but I can’t believe he’s dead. I just can’t. I shake him harder, willing him to get up, to start barking orders, to protect me the way he always has. Afterall, I was his princess, his favourite.