Page 1 of Slaughter

PROLOGUE

PRESLEIGH

Fifteen years old . . .

“FIVE …”

I run down the stairs, looking over my shoulder to see if he’s following me. With every step I take, my loud feet give my location away in the large and silent house.

When I hit the landing, I grip the brown wooden banister and use it to spin myself around. I drop to my knees, my jeans allowing me to slide on the tile and yank open the little door that isn’t visible to the naked eye. You have to know it’s there.

“Four …”

I quickly crawl inside the small space and pull the door closed. Placing my back against the interior wall, I pull my knees to my chest. It’s dark in the small, confined space. I clamp my hand over my mouth to quiet my heavy breathing as my heart races.

He’ll find me. The question is how long before he does?

“Three …”

His voice booms through the thick walls, and I have a moment of panic. I should have run outside. At least then I could have kept running. Now I’m trapped.

“Two …”

My knees start to shake, and my heart pounds. My head snaps up when I hear his footsteps on the stairs I’m hiding underneath. His aren’t rushed like mine were, though. He’s taking his time, drawing it out.

He chuckles. “You’re terrible at hiding, Bunny. You know I always find you.”

He’s right. You would think after years of practice, I’d be a little better. Smarter. But then again, maybe I want to be found.

I hear his shoes hit the tile and then silence. I look straight ahead at where I know the trap door is. I can’t see it, but I can almost hear him breathing on the other side.

“One …” The door is yanked open, and a set of blue eyes stare into mine as he kneels in front of my hideout. “I found you, Bunny.”

I drop my hands and stretch out my legs. “That’s not fair,” I whine.

“What’s not fair? You always hide in the same spot.” He gives me his winning smile. The one I’m in love with.

When he reaches his hand in, I take it, and Avery pulls me out. “Plus, you’re getting a little too big to fit in there.”

I gasp at that statement and shove him. He grabs my wrists and pulls me against his chest. His right hand caresses my cheek, and it makes me blush. “I found you, Bunny. You know what that means?”

I smile shyly and drop my head. My heart pounds just as hard as it did when I was hiding from him. Only for a different reason now.

His fingers grip my chin gently, and he raises my head, forcing me to look up at him. “You’re not playing fair,” I say, nervousness starting to bubble up in my stomach.

“I never do.”

His lips come down on mine and give me a sweet kiss. I open my lips for him to deepen it when he pulls away from me quickly, leaving me disappointed.

“Get out of here, Vaughn!” he barks.

I look over to see his older brother standing at the other end of the hall. He’s holding a video camera, recording us.

“Go ahead, Avery,” he taunts. “Show me what you were going to do to her.” He pulls the camera away from his face and winks at me.

Avery stiffens. “Go upstairs, Bunny. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“But—”

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