Page 68 of Unleash You

Charlie’s eyes watered. He pursed his lips and nodded to his men. I struggled against their hold while Anabelle got dragged back into the tent. I called for her until something heavy landed on the back of my head and I passed out. Son of a bitch.

* * *

“Hey.” I woke up in a startle to see Mack’s face blocking the morning sunrays. “Where is she?”

“They’re gone.”

I shot to my feet. “What?”

“Half the camp moved out about ten minutes ago.” He put up his hand to get me to calm the fuck down. “They’ve got something big cooking today. I can tell.”

Every muscle in my body hurt. It would be days before the throbbing in my neck stopped. “How long was I out?”

“A few hours. I couldn’t get to you after they dumped you off. After your heroic display, Charlie had everyone pack up and go.”

“You saw?”

“Yeah. If we go now, we can catch ’em?” He pointed at the makeshift stretcher he’d made last night. “Or I can stay and catch up later.”

“I’m not leaving you behind, man.” I picked up the two branches and hauled him down the path. The construction felt flimsy, but we only had a half mile or so to go. Once it crapped out on us, I would have to carry him. Whatever it took to get back to Anabelle.

“Let me know when you need to take a break,” I called over my shoulder.

“You’re the one with an asshole on your back.”

Mack was here, wounded, because of me. He wasn’t the asshole. I was. I’d failed Charlie before. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. I settled into a quick pace I figured would get us back to the river in under half an hour. No matter how hard I tried, flitting images of Anabelle flooded my mind. I missed her scent and her smooth skin. As tired and sleep deprived as I was, her memory became the thing keeping me on my feet.

“You’re a beast.” Mack chuckled behind me as soon as the water came into view.

I pressed on and didn’t stop until we reached the water’s edge. My gaze darted up and down the riverbank. Motherfucker. Out boat was gone. “This was the spot, right?”

“Yeah.” He stepped off the stretcher and hopped ahead. “He really wants to stick it to you, doesn’t he? At least, he doesn’t want you dead. But I can tell he’s got a big nasty chip on his shoulder.”

“Apparently, he just wants to have a purpose again.” I hurled the stretcher on the ground.

Mack punched my arm. “That’s them.”

Charlie sat at the front end of a small boat with Anabelle right behind him. She looked tired, but other than that, she seemed unharmed. I let out a breath and ran toward them. After last night’s storm, the current flowed at a speedy pace. They didn’t even have their motors running.

“Anabelle,” I called after her when they sailed past me.

She swung around and smiled at me, her gaze bouncing between me and Charlie. “Wes.”

I dove into the water and swam after them. My arms burned from the effort. When I stopped to take a breath and gauge my position, Charlie whispered something in Anabelle’s ear. She kept her eyes on me, then nodded. Feeling like an idiot, I treaded water as I watched them glide down the river, farther and farther away from me. What the hell did he tell her to get her to agree to leave me behind?

“Wesley.” Mack’s voice sounded distant. When I turned around, I realized the current had dragged me far away from him.

I swam as hard as I could to the edge. He left me stranded the way I’d left him stranded eight months ago.

My body fell hard on the mud. The sunlight hit my face. I closed my eyes and smiled at the picture of Anabelle forming in my head. Her pink cheeks and her bright blue eyes stayed with me. She’d finally gotten to say what she’d been holding on to for years. Even if her words didn’t change a thing, Charlie heard it. And now he knew what he’d done to her.

I lay there, letting the sun dry me and my clothes, while I came up with a quick plan to get us out of here.

“Wake up.” Cool water poured on my face. I licked my lips hungrily, aching to satisfy my thirst. “Wesley.”

My eyes flew open. A shadow looming over me came closer until his face was inches from mine.

“He’s alive.” Teak beamed at me. “Anabelle was right. She didn’t need a backup plan. But you did.”

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