Page 45 of Hunt Me

My entire life could be destroyed because I’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

So I did the unthinkable.

Using my shirt, I wiped the handle of the knife before I had a chance to think the act through. Startled by my horrific actions, I jerked back onto my butt, fighting tears.

Hating my actions.

Hating my life.

Still shaking, I knew I had to call the police. What the hell was I going to say now?

Voices. There was no doubt I heard voices coming from the other room. More than one. And the sound wasn’t coming from the television. Wait a minute. Oh, God. No. No. No. This was not happening.

I slapped my other hand across my mouth to keep from screaming as I struggled to my feet. He was dead. He’d been killed.No, idiot. He was murdered.

When I jerked backward, I was closer to the doorway leading into a large room. The loud voices caught my attention againand I lifted my head, shaking like a leaf. The darkness was like a tunnel, the bright light in the background highlighting another moment of horror.

There were two men dressed in dark clothing from head to toe. Both wearing masks.

Both carrying guns.

When one of the men turned toward where I was standing, I shrank back into the shadows. They were in full face ski masks, but his was pulled up to his scalp, allowing me to see his face. And the darkness in his eyes.

I could swear he was looking right at me. With my breath held I waited in silence, my nerves frazzled and terror sweeping through me. They’d killed Mr. Pavel in cold blood.

With my eyes pinned on the two men, I did everything I could not to fall apart. I had to get out of the house. If they caught me, I’d be dead. Finally, the assailant looking in my direction turned away, more animated than before.

I backed away and toward the door, being very careful not to knock anything over. With the pizza on the floor, it wouldn’t take them long to figure out what had happened. And eventually how to find the person who’d delivered the order. My sister. I had to risk grabbing the box. I refuse to put her life in jeopardy.

Oh, this was so bad.

I was forced to step over the body, carefully pulling the box into my hand. Another sound drew my attention. Footsteps.

While the fear was almost crippling, I slipped to the door and outside. As soon as I was, I took off running down the driveway. I threw my head over my shoulder only once. While I saw noone, it was only a matter of seconds before the goons realized someone had stumbled on the scene.

My hands were slippery and only when I reached the car did I realize the reason. I held one hand into the light, whimpering softly. My fingers and palm were covered in blood, the coppery stench filling my nostrils. Stars floated in front of my eyes.

I heard their voices again, only this time they were coming from outside. Jerked back to reality, I managed to concentrate as I jerked the key fob into my hand, unlocking the door.

The extra push caused the lights to flash. I jumped in, trying not to think or look toward the house as I shoved the key into the ignition. I purposely turned off the automatic lights and rolled down the street.

With my hands clenching the steering wheel, I finally glanced into the rearview mirror.

And could swear I noticed two figures rushing into the road.

CHAPTER 12

Mikhail

“We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be.”

Patrick Rothfuss

There was no such thing as being able to hide from the truth, even when wearing a mask. As I walked through Ecstasy, the quote came to mind, something my father had said more than once.

Usually while standing over the dead body of a traitor.

I’d learned the truth the hard way over the years. In the early days, I’d been forced to participate in several heinous acts of brutality that weren’t for the faint of heart. I’d been considered a monster to those who’d dared breathe an ill thought about the Dmitriyev name.