Page 85 of Brutal Savage

I shake my head, fear clawing at my chest. “Please don’t do this.”

He shrugs. “Yet here we are. So tell me, what will it be?”

My eyes scan the place. Maybe I can run. Maybe I can hit him and get away from the back door. But where will I go with nothing except my clothes?

He gets to his feet, turning on my bedside lamp.

Before I can think, I grab my phone and jump off the other side of the bed, running out as his growl echoes through the room.

“You really shouldn’t have done that.” His voice thunders behind me as I rush down the stairs toward the back door.

Pushing it open, I run barefoot across the grass, the world silent and dark around me. Only my heartbeats echo. My exhales piercing through the air.

I can get away.

I can hide until someone brings me my stuff. Then I’ll disappear.

I’ll call my forger friend, Derek, to set me up with a new identity. Tynan is resourceful, a lot smarter than Jerry was. I’ll be more careful this time.

Footfalls crunch behind me, a car roaring to life in the distance.

I’m only fooling myself, aren’t I?

“Fuck!” Something pierces the heel of my foot, and I groan in pain, but I don’t stop.

I can’t stop. I know he’s close behind.

Just keep running.

It’s one thing I know how to do.

I head toward the road I always take my runs on, knowing both sides are covered with woods. Maybe I can find somewhere to hide.

As soon as I make it toward the edge of the road, an arm wraps around me as I fight it. Fight to get away.

But I can’t.

He’s too strong.

“You’re making me do this.” His voice crawls down my body—a silky, yet deadly mix of all my worst nightmares. “I promise to make you happy, Elara.”

Before I can fight any more, he covers my nose and mouth with something.

My vision dims.

Then it all goes dark.

CHAPTER 19

TYNAN

I hated doing it. I didn’t want it this way, but what did I actually expect? For her to give herself to me without fighting it?

I was fooling myself into believing she would.

I warned her, though.

I gave her the option.

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