Page 66 of Pack Obsession

“She’s here somewhere. Spread out. Check every closet, every corner,” another guy responds.

Where is Axel? Did they hurt him? Kill him? The thought sends a fresh wave of panic through me. This is my fault. They’re here for me.

Special, Dad used to say.You’re my little girl, Casey. That’s why we have to be careful. Why we have to hide.

I miss them terribly.

The closet door suddenly opens. Light spills in. I hold my breath, pressing deeper into the shadows.

“Check behind everything,” someone says. “Boss says she’s crafty.”

Boss. Julian. Of course, it’s Julian. That asshole!

Footsteps move closer to my hiding spot. The dresser creaks as someone leans against it.

I’m going to die here. Or worse. They’re going to take me back to him.

The dresser moves suddenly, scraping against the floor. Light hits my face, and I look up into the cold blue eyes of someone I don’t recognize.

“Well, well.” The taller man’s smile is as icy as winter. “The little runaway, all wrapped up like a present.”

I back away, water dripping from my clothes onto the hardwood floor.

“Imagine our surprise,” the first one continues, stalking closer. “Following those two idiots from the restaurant the other night. They were in such a rush, they never even noticed us.” He reaches for me, and I slap his hand away.

“Don’t touch me!”

His laugh turns my blood to ice. “Feisty. Julian said you would be.”

“Fuck Julian!”

The second man grabs my arms and yanks me to my feet in a second flat, and a scream rips from my throat, the sound echoing through the house.

“Go ahead,” the blue-eyed man sneers against my ear. “Scream all you want. No one can hear you. Your loverboy certainly won’t be coming to the rescue.”

My heart stops. “What did you do to Axel?”

“Let’s just say he won’t be playing guard dog for you.” The guy grabs my chin. “Julian’s going to be very happy to see you. He’s been waiting so patiently.”

“Axel!” I stumble backward. “AXEL!” I cry out.

Only silence answers.

I tear from their grip and bolt out of the bathroom, into the bedroom, and out into the hallway, eyeing the stairs. Taking them two at a time, my wet feet slip on the steps.

“Axel, please!”

Heavy footsteps thunder down the stairs right behind me. I slip on the bottom one, my wet feet betraying me, but desperation drives me forward.

“Get back here!” One of them snarls.

I go down hard, falling face first, my legs kicking out from under me. I hit the floor hard. The world spins as the bastards grab my feet by the ankles and drag me backward toward the front door, my nails scraping uselessly against the wood.

“Please,” I sob, my voice breaking as they drag me across the floor. “Please, I don't want to go to him. You don’t know what he’ll do.” Tears blur my vision, terror closing my throat.

One of them laughs. “Oh, we know exactly what he’ll do. That’s why he’s paying us so well.”

“I’ll give you anything. More money, whatever you want.”

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