Page 2 of Ruthless Regret

“I’m here. I can’t see her.”

“You need to tell me what’s happening.”

“Ashley is missing, that’s what is happening. Where the fuck are you?”

While I talk, I consider the options. There are only two places where someone could hide without me seeing them. To the left, the path runs the length of the house and leads around to the front. Someone could have taken her that way. The pool andpool house are to the right, the back of it backing onto the wall that runs the entire length of the garden.

I choose to go left, and almost as soon as I turn to follow the path down to the main gates, another scream rips through the silence. I spin and run toward the sound. It didn’t come from the front of the house, which means she’s still around the back somewhere, and I picked the wrong direction.

“Ashley?” My voice echoes around the garden.

“Zai—” My name is cut off by another muffled scream.

“Fuck.”

The scream came from the far end of the yard, behind the pool house, and close to the wall encircling the back of the property. The minute I sprint around the corner, I see them. A figure, clothed in black, has their hands around her arms. She’s twisting and turning in their grip, trying to escape, but the figure is bigger than she is, and no matter what she does, she can’t break free.

"Let her fucking go!"

The figure’s head snaps around, revealing the black ski mask covering their face. But with their attention on me, their grip on Ashley falters for just a moment. It’s enough to give her the opening she needs. She twists free, and the momentum sends her sprawling backward to the ground.

The figure turns their back on me and steps forward, arm lifting. Ashley scrambles back, throwing one hand above her head.

The sun hits the figure’s upraised arm, and the metal in their hand gleams.

Fuck. No. No fucking way.

“Ashley, get the fuck up.” My cell falls to the ground, and I take off across the grass toward them both.

At my shout, the figure’s hand drops and they half turn toward me. I don't slow down, ducking my head down andcharging straight at them. The second they realize I’m not stopping, they straighten and sprint toward the back wall. They’re up and over it before I can reach them.

I follow them, intent on taking them down before they escape, but Ashley calls my name. Her voice is shaky, scared, and it stops me in my tracks. I turn and hurry back to her.

She’s on her knees, head bowed, one hand pressed against her chest. I crouch beside her.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" My hands land on her shoulders, and I run my palms down her arms, and pull her hand away from her chest to check for blood.

Her head lifts, and her eyes meet mine.

"N-no … I don’t think so. Who was that? What did they want?”

“Can you stand? Let’s get back inside.” It’s not that I’m ignoring her questions, I just don’t have an answer for her, and I want to get us both back inside the house before they come back.

I don’tthinkthey will, but at this point I’m not taking any chances.

I take her hand, and stand, pulling her to her feet along with me. Her fingers are cold, her entire body is shaking, but she isn’t bleeding, and I don’t think she’s hurt.

“Let’s get back inside.” I check over my shoulder constantly on the walk back to the house, watching for the intruder to reappear, scanning the grounds in case there’s more than one, but there’s nothing to be seen.

Sheriff McFadden’s voice crackles from the cell phone lying abandoned on the ground.

“Zain, what’s going on? Talk to me!”

I stoop and pick it up, lift it to my ear, but don’t stop moving.

“Whoever attacked Ashley ran off. They had a fucking knife.” Beside me, Ashley flinches. I tighten my grip on her hand. “Theyjumped the wall at the back of my property. Where the fuck are you?”

He doesn’t answer my question. “Lock all the doors and windows. I’m on my way.”

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