Page 55 of Tone Deaf

Well, that’s new. I have never before heard my first name come out of that man’s mouth. If there’s truth behind what he and the fed are saying, then there’s a chance the killer is after me—and that sends my worry factor into the stratosphere.The band—especially Callum, and Pen… Everyone’s lives are in danger. I need to get the hell out of here and call Tobias and Dean.

Chapter Twenty-One

Callum

“Where’s Pen?” I interrupt Jordan as he and Joel are talking to another one of Dean’s men in the driveway.

“Last I saw him, he was running toward the trails,” Jordan says, pointing in the direction of the woods. “Do you need me to radio him to come back?”

“No. I’ll go find him.”

“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea, you walking alone in the woods. Let one of us go with you,” Jordan says.

“I don’t need a babysitter while I’m here, do I?” I ask, doubtful that I need a bodyguard. Pen can’t be that far off.

“Yes, you do. I promised Pen I’d keep an eye on you and I’m not going back on my word. I’m coming with you.”

“Fine,” I huff and begin walking toward the narrow trail up ahead. “But if Pen and I need space to talk, then you’re gone.”

“Got it,” Jordan salutes and follows behind me.

Even though I’m anxious while looking for Pen, the walk through the woods is refreshing. Spring is in full bloom, but the air still has a little bite to it—it’s like a sweet Honeycrisp apple.Buying property similar to this has been at the back of my mind since we got here, and the farther I walk through the California wilderness, the idea begins to feel more like my new reality.

“Where the heck is he?” I ask over my shoulder to Jordan—except he’s not there. I turn back around and scan the area. “Jordan,” I shout, but I don’t see or even hear him.

Then all the hairs on the back of my neck rise, and my skin becomes gooseflesh. My instinct is telling me to run like the devil is chasing me, but in which direction? Back to where I came from? Or do I keep moving ahead and shout for Pen? And am I healed enough to even run very far?

I check my pockets. “Damn it.” I forgot my cell phone on the kitchen table.

A crack of what I think is a branch being stepped on has me freezing in place. Then I hear another. I take off in the direction I was walking, but I haven’t been on this path before and soon realize that it doesn’t lead to the other side of the lake. No—it leads to a small open field.

I’m exposed, and panic seizes my brain. I can’t think. Then I hear my name being called. “Callum.”

Overcome with relief, I’m about to respond… except that the relief allows me to think again. There is a creep factor to the man’s tone that has fear gripping my chest to the point that I’m losing my breath.

“Callum.” The lyrical tone triggers a memory. A memory that dredges up terror. All the air leaves my lungs, because I know exactly who this is.

Oh god. It’s him.

I blindly take off toward the security of dense trees on the opposite side of the clearing. Low branches scratch at my face and arms as I run through them. Stinging pain along my cheeks doesn’t deter me from racing away from that bastard. Neitherdoes the pain in my arm after I smack my splint on a sapling when I stumble against it.

As I pass through a more heavily wooded area, my hair feels like its being pulled. I swear the trees are alive and grabbing for me.

Just keep running, I can hear Granddad say in my head. Or am I becoming delusional?

“Callum!”

I hear my name again, but this time, my heart eases back from the terror. “Pen!”

“Keep calling for me, Callum,” I hear him shout from a distance.

I pause for a moment, trying to calm my racing heart. The pounding in my ears is making it impossible to gauge which direction Pen is shouting from. “Pen!”

“I’m here,” he responds back, his voice getting louder. “Don’t move. Just call my name.”

“Pen,” I shout again. As I keep scanning my surroundings, I am filled with an eerie certainty that someone is watching me. And was I hearing Pen calling my name from afar? Or was it my attacker?

“Callum.” Pen’s close, I can hear him up ahead. As I start to walk in that direction, pain explodes from the back of my head and my vision goes dark.