Page 6 of The Vixen's Vice

The last thought almost causes me to pause, but I push forward, shoving it from my mind. Sure, Landon and I haven’t been very close lately, but I’ve still spent a considerable amount of my life with him. Heknowsme—at least, I think he does—the hazelnut situation did put some doubts in my mind. And he never did notice the cuts on my neck…

But despite anything I may feel, I can’t in good conscience leave a person out in the woods with a masked madman. I’m notthatterrible of a person.

I race down the familiar path of the hiking trail, numb to the sharp rocks and sticks that cut my feet as I race into the mouth of the forest. The minutes feel like hours, but I finally come across a human-shaped form off the side of the path, seemingly bound by a piece of thick brown rope.

My heart stalls as I rush over, taking in the horrible welts along his exposed limbs, at the raw flesh on his wrists and ankles from the rope. For a few terrible moments, I’m sure he’s dead. But then, he raises his head, and I nearly fall over in relief.

“Landon!” I cry, crouching and starting to unto the heavy knots holding his joints together. “Oh God, I’m so sorry this happened. I never thought?—”

I stop, a sob working its way up my throat. Ididknow something like this could happen, and yet, I still let it.I’m horrible. Truly horrible.

“Just get me the fuck out of here!” Landon snaps, struggling uselessly against the restraints. “That fucking psycho could come back any moment!”

“Landon, I?—”

“Can you talk and work? Because if not, kindly shut up.”

His words sting, but I brush it off, attributing it to him being shaken by the situation. “Don’t worry,” I say, tugging at the second of many knots. “I’ll get you out of here.”

As I work, Landon recounts the story of what happened to him. He had gone for coffee and breakfast with the girl he met at the Neon Flamingo when I had stormed off to go jogging. He had gone to the bathroom at the coffee shop, and when he was washing his hands, felt a stabbing pain in his neck.

“I can’t remember anything after that,” he grumbles, wincing heavily as my fingernail accidentally nicks his skin. “Be careful! Anyways, the next thing I know, I’m hog-tied in a damn forest, my allergies flaring and my fucking phone missing.” He turns his eyes to me, a scowl on his handsome face. “Why the fuck did it take you so long to look for me?”

My face pales. “I… I took a nap.”

His eyes narrow. “And how would you know to look in the forest for me?”

I focus on untying the last of the knots, my tongue heavy in my mouth. What do I tell him? That I’ve been playing a dangerous game with a dangerous man, and now he’s the victim of my actions? “I just… had a gut feeling.”

The last of the ropes fall loose, and Landon sits up with a relieved sigh. Clearly forgetting our conversation, he gazes around at the shadowy forest, rubbing his wrists with trepidation written all across his face. “We should go… who knows when he’ll be back?”

I hold out my hand to help him up, and Landon shrugs it off, wobbling to a standing position. He grabs a tree trunk forsupport and I roll my eyes, taking off down the hiking trail toward civilization. I hold my head high, determined to show Landon his attitude has no effect on me. I’m so focused on this task, that I don’t notice the large rock protruding from the trail.

And that’s when I roll my ankle.

I curse my stupidity as I fall to my ass, clutching my lower leg as hard as I do my lip between my teeth to stop the cry of pain that wants to tear free.Fuck. This is not good.

A few moments later, Landon appears on the path, looking far less woozy than he was before. He rolls his eyes when he notices me on the ground, the cruel action accompanied by a deep sigh of irritation.

“Really, Lottie? What have you done now?”

I frown, fighting the tears in my eyes as I attempt to put weight on my right side.And that’s a no.I want to scream, though I know that will do nothing to help my predicament. So instead, I turn my eyes to Landon, my gaze a plea for help.

Of course, it’s at that moment the bushes start rustling.

Landon’s eyes widen for a moment before turning in the direction of the noise, his shoulders visibly shaking.

“What the fuck was that?” he asks, though he doesn’t look at me. “Do you think that was him?”

“I don’t know. Please come and help me, Landon. I just need help up—I think I can walk on my own.”

He shakes his head, still not looking at me. “I should… I should go get someone to help you. It’ll be faster if I go.”

The unmistakable crunch of footsteps rings out in the brush, causing a fist to clench around my heart. “Landon… don’t you dare leave me here…”

He finally turns to me, his eyes wild with fright. “I… it’ll be faster if I go get someone, Lottie. I have to—I need to go.” He takes a step backward. Another, and another. And then he turns and runs.

“Landon!” I scream. “Landon! Don’t leave me here!”

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