Page 11 of Brutal Savage

“I’m fine. Sorry,” I mutter. “I have to go, though. Have to get this food to my grandma before she sends a search party.”

“Of course. Just be careful,” she says softly.

I should go before the devil finds a way to unravel me more than he already has.

CHAPTER 4

ELARA

“I brought you breakfast, Gran.” I knock on her door, waiting for her to answer.

Yet my mind is still on the mystery man.

I have to keep my distance from him. Being attracted to a man who might be in the Mafia is one of the worst things I could possibly do, especially if said man is somehow connected to my past.

“Coming, dear!” She shuffles around from behind the door before it opens. Her gray hair is in a short ponytail, her floral dress reminding me of a spring day. “You’re so good to me.”

Her arms come around me in the warmest hug before she takes the brown paper bag and coffee cup. “Do you wanna come in? We can watch some Family Feud like we did when you were little.”

“Not right now, Gran. I wanna get my run in before we go see Grandpa.”

“Of course, sweetheart. I understand.” Her pale blue eyes shine brightly.

“I’ll come pick you up in about an hour. Love you, Gran.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.” She smiles before closing the door behind her.

I slip my earbuds in and turn on some music.

Starting to jog, I head toward my usual spot: an open road, forests and mountains in the distance. It’s scenic and peaceful, not too many cars passing by.

I like running. It helps clear my mind, like my own form of therapy. I try going whenever I can. On the weekends. After work. Sometimes more than once a day.

A mile into my run, and my mind is back on that awfully attractive stranger. No matter how hard I try to push him out of my head, he storms right back in.

His dark and dangerous aura commands my thoughts. But when he smirks, my heart grows weak. It’s like I can still see him. Right in front of me.

Then, with a sudden shift, it’s Jerry’s hand around my throat…squeezing.

Tighter.

And tighter.

My breaths lurch out of me, my chest burning with every inhale.

“Fuck,” I grit. “Get out of my head!”

It’s then I see them together, prowling toward me. The stranger and the man my father sold me to.

I blink past the tears and fight them. Fight the pain and anger. Fight the reasons I’m still being hunted.

I focus on the present. On the fact that I’m still alive. On my job. The kids. On Brody. Sweet Brody, who always makes me happy even when he doesn’t say a word.

Those things help me stay grounded. Because amidst the chaos, there’s still a lot to be grateful for.

Once I hit three miles, I start heading back to town so I can get my grandma.

But suddenly, I feel something behind me. It’s like my body knows someone’s there before my mind does.

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