Page 16 of Drama Queen

I’m literally in the middle of nowhere. My heart rate picks up as the fear starts to settle in my stomach. Adrenaline sparks in my veins creating a jarring contrast against the fear.

Maxim groans next to me, no doubt enjoying the sudden hike in the speed of my heart. His hand grabs the back of my neck,and he pulls me towards him, close enough that my nipples brush against the silk of his shirt.

“Run, pet. Run fast because if I catch you, I’m going to devour you.” He presses a soft, tender kiss against my temple and then pushes me towards the door. “Clock’s ticking, Echo.”

The band vibrates on my arm, and I see the five minutes displayed on the band start counting down. It kicks me into action, and I start to run.

The grass is soft beneath my feet as I take off towards the woods. My heart pumps furiously and I can hear my blood thundering through my ears. I sprint for as fast and as long as I can. Until the grass turns to undergrowth and slices the soles of my feet. Until my chest burns with every breath. And still I run, because I want to make this last. I want to reach the river just to wait for them because for the first time in my life, I’m choosing to be trapped.

Eight

ANGEL

The ground crunchesunder my feet as I track her through the woods. She was careless and tracking her is easy, even in the dark. But maybe that’s the point. Is she leading us into a trap?

Those first five minutes felt like the longest five minutes of my life. I might have been against this from the start, but there is something a little thrilling about chasing her. I was glad Max agreed to the rules. It wasn’t that I needed rules, but the illusion of safety settled my anxiety. Especially where the Quinn’s were concerned. Conor and Cillian had been great in bed, hands down, some of the best sex I’d ever had, but they were scary. Like, I’d rather die than stick around scary. They didn’t have rules and they didn’t have any morals to hold them back. They calculated odds and risks and did what they wanted without a care for anyone that might be caught in the crossfire.

Max was different. Yes, he was dangerous, but he at least felt empathy and guilt and I was pretty sure I was in love with the guy.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear.

Max:

Any sight of her?

Nikita:

Nope, angry face emoji.

I snort. Niki hasn’t been this obsessed over anything and I really hope he’s not the first one to find her.

Me:

I’m tracking her but not found her yet.

Max:

Keep your eyes peeled.

Nikita:

eyes emoji

The guy cracks me up. He barely uses any words to text, instead preferring emojis to communicate. Sometimes I just don’t think he likes words at all. He didn’t talk much before his run in with the hitman for the Caruso Family. In fact, I think the guy says more now with his hands than he ever did with his mouth.

A twig snaps to my left and my senses go on high alert. I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, not making a sound. A breeze passes by carrying a hint of lemon and a tang of blood.

She’s close.

I take off in her direction, my feet thudding on the ground, and I hear a gasp and the sound of leaves crunching as she starts to run.

“Found you,” I croon as I get closer. I spy a flash of red hair behind a tree and dart towards her. She’s fast and I’m havingto push to keep up. She weaves between the trees and then disappears.

Silence descends and I come to a stop next to a large oak tree. I close my eyes and take a moment to listen.

“Come out, come out wherever you are.”

I step forward slowly, moving in the direction I’d last seen her but she’s good at this. I can’t hear anything. No rustle of movement. No heaving breaths.

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