Page 91 of Petite Fleur

Is this where I regret talking openly to my kidnapper?

“A monster, hmm?” He asks without showing any emotion.

I huff, turning in his grasp to stare at him. “Yes, a monster. You stole me out of my bed in the middle of the night!” I point out.

Leon’s hands trail back into my sweatpants, but he doesn’t go between my legs. “I’ll make you a deal, ma fleur. I’ll turn the collar off, and you can run, but if I catch you, I’m doing whatever I choose to you as punishment for running from me. Do you think you can outrun me?” He asks.

“Yes.” I answer immediately.

I have to be able to outrun him, right? He has a prosthetic, and he’s been limping in pain ever since he brought me here; there is no way he can catch me.

Leon’s hands leave my sweatpants, and his arms unravel entirely from my body. “Okay.” He answers.

Chapter 35

Leon Aldon

This is going to be fun.

Maeve thinks she can outrun me, but can she outsmart me?

Can she navigate her way through the field and the forest surrounding my property?

I know she can't find her way around in the dark.

This is going to be fun for me, but maybe not for her.

I let her get her little head start. I even head downstairs to grab a few things before going after her, but I’m going after her.

When I step outside, the sun is starting to set, but it’s still just light enough that I can see everything I need to see.

I scan the yard for a moment, trying to figure out which direction Maeve had gone, and finally see her footprints in the grass.

I grin, seeing that she took off toward the left of the property and into the woods.

This will be fun.

I take off after her with my bag slung over my shoulder and the precious mask she seems to want so badly in my other hand.

I run through the wooded area for a while, until the sun is fully set and it’s finally dark out. This is where I shine.

Maeve will never be able to see or navigate her way through the woods in the dark. Frankly, I’ll be surprised if she’s not already stopped somewhere to catch her breath, especially with how hot it is today and given the fact that she hasn’t been feeling well.

All of this is going to be too easy.

When I hear branches break and what sounds like panting, I stop for a moment and listen.

The distinct blueberry smell fills my nose, and I know that my girl has failed to outrun me, but I don’t want to catch her too quickly.

I don’t want the fun to be over yet. So, I start to whistle, just a little nonsense tune to let her know that I’m close by and not at all phased by the running we’ve been doing.

“Crap.” I hear whispered before I hear more branches breaking and the grass around her being crushed, likely from her jumping up from a quick rest.

“Oh, ma fleur, I thought you’d have made it off the property by now. This is sad, truly.” I call out as I follow her.

I grin when I hear her huffing increase as her pace quickens, but I don’t miss the unmistakable sound of the ground crunching underneath each step she takes.

I take a deep breath, basking in the warm air of the night and enjoying the peace of this moment. I may be chasing my girl through the woods, but at this moment, it’s only us and the bugs.

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