Page 57 of Secret Revenge

I glanced around. I was alone but for the wire fence and the sprawling, empty fields beyond. I advanced with caution, my footsteps sounding far too loud as my shoes crunched on the dirt.

I could hear voices drifting out through the window the closer I got, and I swallowed hard.

Travis was here. I knew it. His muffled yells filtered through the window, tinged with desperation and anger. “Blackwell, you will have hell to pay if harm comes to her. I promise you,” Travis snarled.

I peered in through the window, lifting my head and scanning the room. I made out Travis easily. He sat in front of an evil-looking older man, and he was tied to a chair. The older man was playing with a dagger. My heart almost stopped.

That had to be Bryce Blackwell.At least three other men were in the room with Travis, each one with their weapons drawn, all trained on him.

Shit shit shit…

How was I supposed to save him from that? The air in the room was so tense, I had the sense that even a strong breeze could trigger a firefight. With Travis in the middle of it.

Bryce Blackwell laughed scornfully and shook his head. “You don’t get to make such threats, boy. Not when you’re going to be dying right alongside your lady love.”

My eyes widened.

They weren’t going to keep him alive for ransom?

If that wasn’t Blackwell’s motive, this was much, much worse than I’d feared. .

Suddenly, the inner door swung open and a man in a black jacket rushed into the room, his eyes wide with shock.

“What?” Bryce Blackwell roared, turning towards the sudden disturbance.

“Sorry… er, boss. It’s Jonathan, sir. I was on the phone with him and I heard a loud noise. I got suspicious and went to check things out. The door was locked and we had to force our way in. I found him unconscious, sir, and the girl was missing.”

Bryce Blackwell rushed to his feet, and his face turned a deep crimson. He looked as if he would explode where he stood. “What the hell? Can’t I trust you buffoons with the simplest of tasks? Move, fool!”

He rushed out of the room and the men emptied out behind him, to my surprise and relief. I waited a few seconds and when I was sure that no one was returning, I opened the window as gently as I could.

My escape had bought us a little time, but only just. In a few minutes, they would return for Travis and begin a manhunt for me. I had to move quickly.

He turned in his seat as I landed in the room, but he couldn’t see me with the bonds restraining him.

“Shh,” I hissed, as softly as I could. Then my hands were at his wrists with Jonathan’s knife, sawing at the ropes that bound his wrists.

His eyes widened when he saw me, and then his face melted into a frown. “What the hell are you doing here?” he whispered. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Hush!”

“Emily!” he was still trying to be noble. “You escaped! Why did you come back for me? You should haveran. These men are dangerous?—”

“Not leaving without you,” I shot back at him. “Didn’t you hear them? They’re going to kill you!”

Travis groaned softly. “You don’t understand. This is dangerous. This is not a joke. You should leave.Now!Leave and get help.”

“Or you could leavewithme.”

The ropes were thick, but Jonathan’s knife was sharp. After what felt like an eternity the ropes fell away and Travis leaped out of his seat, rubbing his chafed wrists.

We rushed back to the window together just as footsteps sounded outside the room. Travis already had one leg out of the window before the door swung open.

In the doorway stood Kurt Blackwell, his gun aimed with a disturbing calmness, a haunted look in his eyes. I heard Travis curse as he landed outside the window, ducking low. I froze as I watched Kurt. There was no way I could get out in time to avoid his bullet. The blood drained from my body and my legs felt like rubber.

Slowly, he raised his arm and pointed his gun at me. He had a blank look on his face, and I shriveled from the fear I felt. My throat squeezed shut and I closed my eyes, waiting for the piercing pain of the bullet.

I heard a loud bang and felt the world fall away around me. An arm tugged me backwards, pulling me back to reality. I opened my eyes and looked at Kurt. His gun was still smoking, but I was completely unharmed.