Page 152 of Breaker

Viper rubs his eyes, moving to a crouch. Gripping a large root, he pulls himself up to look out. After a moment he crouches back down. “I don’t see any movement. When we get up, stick close to the trees. Go slow, watch for branches and roots. And do not lose sight of me, got it?”

Striker and I nod. Viper squeezes our shoulders, then climbs through the large opening. I follow Striker out, moving in behind him, my back pressed to the tree as I stand. When he makes sure it’s clear, Viper creeps to the next tree then the nextand we follow. My heart hammers, the blue night enveloping us, but even with the veil of darkness, we’re still exposed. Every time the clouds clear, bright moonlight spills between the branches making it feel like we’re in a spotlight.

Viper creeps to the next tree, then the next, moving ahead of us to make sure it’s clear. Striker follows, me last. Viper stops about thirty paces ahead, smashing himself against a thick pine as Striker creeps toward him, exposed between the trees.

The clouds peel back away from the moon and suddenly the woods are thrown into bright white light.

Somewhere, far behind us, a twig snaps. The sound echoes in the darkness like the crack of a whip.

I fall to my ass, heart in my throat. Striker drops to his stomach splayed out on the ground.

A thunderousboomfollowed by debris hitting my face, makes me duck low. I cover my head on instinct, flattening myself to the tree.

Someone just shot at me.

Another heart shattering gunshot echoes through the woods, and more wood splinters, spraying me with rough chunks.

Fear strangles me, taking over all instinct. So I stand up and do exactly what I’ve been told not to do.

I run.

And run.

Then my boot catches on a root and I stumble. My nose hits the dirt, hands barely breaking my fall. Scrambling upright, I wipe my palms on my pants, smearing warm wetness across my thigh. My heart gallops in my chest, and I fall back down, recognizing the deep color and how it glistens in the moonlight. How it spreads thickly, smearing over my skin.

My eyes fall to the ground and find the pool of blood.

Don’t scream.

A hand covers my mouth, and pain explodes in my skull.

Then nothing.

Chapter 47

Cora

Clyde left me acouple hours ago. It’s taken me only two hours to catch an Uber to my condo, change into clothes that didn’t come from a Dollar General, and pack a few items in a bag so I have toiletries and extra clothes at Clyde’s house. Even though we’ve not sat down to talk yet, I would bet every cent in my bank account he’s not going to let me go back to Rune’s house. Clyde walked in on Rune allowing, helping Zane hurt me.

He’s not going to forget that.

Gathering a few more items, my laptop, an extra charger, and my favorite fuzzy blanket, I check the time on my phone. It’s after midnight. Clyde left to talk to Rune around ten, and I’m surprised he’s not called, screaming at me for leaving his house. It won’t matter if I get back to his place before him, he’s going to know from his security footage that I left his house.

I glance around my condo, my skin pricking with unease. It’s obvious Rune came to look for clues after we were taken. The place is clean, a little too tidy, and all my things are just slightly out of place. My books rearranged from my pretty rainbowpattern, to complete chaos of blue books mixed with red. The pink vibrator in my nightstand moved. All my clothes are shoved to one side of my walk-in, the drawers rearranged. My fridge is empty and there’s no dishes in the washer or the sink, so he must have had the place cleaned. Funny since he knew I was going to come back.

The thought settles oddly.

Before I can think too long on that, I hear the faint beep of the electronic lock on my front door, telling me it’s been unlocked.

There’s only three people besides me who know the code. I grab my bag and head to the foyer but drop it when I see him.

My stomach lurches. “Rune.”

He doesn’t say anything. Rune just shuts the door, slowly, making sure to close it quietly, then hits the button to engage the lock. The loud beep as it secures closed crashes through my skull.

When I first moved out he would always yell at me for leaving my front door unlocked.Someone might come in and harm you,he always said.A young, beautiful woman, all alone?Anyone could just walk in.

The irony never failed to slap me in the face. The only one ever hurting me was him, and the locks never kept him out.

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