Page 120 of Corrupting Ivy

With his finger never leaving the trigger guard, he removed my hand from his arm and pointed at the tree I leaned against. “Stay put.”

Three men to my left and three men to my right stepped out from behind their covers and followed his lead, walking with their rifles pointed in military fashion.

Oh my God. I didn’t even see those men there. Just like I didn’t see the man who killed the sheriff.

I turned and dug my nails into the tree bark, watching him disappear into the darkness.

My chest felt as though it might explode as the darkness engulfed me, leaving me alone in the middle of the forest with nothing to do but wait.

A gunshot rang out, and my father screamed.

He did it. He shot my father, just like he promised.

I needed to help him. Maybe I could convince him to let my father go.

Pulling in short bursts of air, I psyched myself up before heading back into danger to save the man who was never around but who stepped up when it mattered.

I moved away from the tree, but before I could take a second step, someone jerked me back and pinned me in place.

“You were told to stay.”

Jake stood with his hand on my shoulder, dressed like Randall, minus the mask. Where the hell did he come from?

“He’s going to kill my father.”

Jake made the same hand command as Randall and three more men on both sides, stepped out from hiding, rifles engaged and walked forward like apparitions—barely visible and without a sound.

I turned back around, watching Jake follow the half-circle of men.

Another gunshot rang out, piercing my ears, and making them ring. My father cried out again. “I’ve got thirteen more to go,” Jeremiah said.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I slid down the tree to my knees, covering my mouth with my hands.

It was the ultimate agony.

To be helpless, unable to help him in any way.

To listen to his cries.

To want to block out his pain.

I clenched my eyes shut, the urge to plug my ears until Randall came back for me overwhelming.

Before I gave into the desire, a cacophony of shouting echoed through the woods… then stopped.

Two men stood overan older man, writhing in pain from what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the hand and thigh, while another man in a wheelchair sat beside him.

I recognized Jeremiah from the intel report Jake gathered. His stature resembled mine, equal in size. But was he able to use it?

Taking a closer look at the man in the wheelchair, a grin spread across my face, masking my surprise. The man I’d wanted to strangle with my bare hands was a paraplegic.

When it came to death, I didn’t discriminate. Everyone got their comeuppance one way or another.

As for the man wearing the uniform matching the officer Alek killed in the forest, I didn’t have his name, but it was obvious who he was.

These were the men who’d taken Ivy.

These were the men who’d die by my hand.

---