Page 131 of Beautiful Prey

No.

NO.

A scream pierced my skull, and I realized it was mine.

“Emery!” I screamed.

Liam held me, and I struggled against his grip. I tried to jump into the water but he refused to let go.

A man came out of the tree line with a long gun. Then the others came with their dogs.

All I could do was cry out for Emery.

Emery, who was now taken by the river.

PART 4

TILL THE BITTER END

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I had to be dragged on to the boat, kicking and screaming. Yet, Liam held on despite the knife in his back.

The man with the long gun followed behind as I was forced onto the boat. He untied the boat, then climbed in and started the engine. He pulled out into the river while Liam brought us both down onto a seat. I struggled in his grasp but his hold was tight. Words came out of his mouth, but I didn’t bother to listen. Emery was out there. He was in the water. He wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be dead.

I wailed. I begged. I fought. But neither of them budged. The boat picked up speed, flying now across the dark water. I felt the wind and spray on my face, I felt the cold seeping into my very being, until I was numb. Not even Liam could warm me. I hated his touch even now. I hated him.

I grew tired of fighting and just sat crying in his lap, bent forward, trying to separate from him. The roar of the engine rang in my ears as the boat bobbed up and down.

“Almost there,” the man at the helm called over his shoulder.

Liam tightened his hold. I could feel him panting, then grunting in pain. I turned my head toward him and we lockedeyes. His face was pale, his eyes bright with what I could only guess was anger.

“Please,” I whispered. “He’s out there. Just go out and get him. Y-you can take him to prison. Lock him up forever just turn the boat around. Please, Liam, go back for him.”

He didn’t say a word. I knew he was hurt badly and, as awful as it was, I didn’t care about that either. I just wanted them to go back and find Emery.

“I’ll do anything,” I continued, thinking somehow he might change his mind.

His mouth was set in a hard line, his jaw clenched as if he gritted his teeth. “Would you never see him or speak to him again?”

I stared at him, shocked. Speechless.

“We aren’t going back,” he said firmly.

I closed my eyes and let the tears stream down my face. I choked down my sobs the rest of the way.

Eventually, the boat slowed. From the window, I could see flashing lights. The man at the wheel pulled into a dock, into what looked like a small marina. Others came running to tie the boat down.

Liam went to lift himself while still keeping a hold of me but staggered, wincing from pain. I took that moment to free myself from him. Before I could make it off the boat, he caught my arm.

Together, we stepped onto the dock and I was surrounded by officers on each side. Their faces blurred. I couldn’t find my voice though I wanted to scream again. I wanted to pull away and run across the dock, to the river.

I tugged, and Liam’s grip only tightened.

Right off the dock were several cop cars and an ambulance. Liam refused to be seen by the EMTs until he had me in the back of a car with the doors locked.

I hit my fist against the glass, but no one looked my way. Liam was taken into the ambulance and fear suddenly gripped me.

---