Page 37 of Right in Front of You

“Is that the way to greet your father?” With three long steps, he was at the counter. Grateful there was a half-wall between us, I backed up against the file cabinet.

“Get out, now.” I pointed to the door.

“This is a public place.”

“You hate Doctor Burke. Why would you even—”

“We don’t have a lot of time, baby. Unless you want me to say out loud what kind of a slut you are, so that everyone here hears you, you’re going to step out and away from this desk and come outside with me. Now.”

Shit!

I didn’t care about his name calling, but I also knew that his threat wasn’t empty, and I’d do anything to ensure my little brother in the back would be spared hearing any of his vulgar comments… or worse. Deep inside, I was afraid he’d use Nathan to get to me.

I set down the pen I was holding and stepped around the counter. He reached for the front door and kept it open for me. My legs were shaking. Actually, my whole body was shaking, on the inside and out. A distinct smell of fuel filled the air. As soon as I was outside, I felt him behind me as he whispered in my ear, “Now be a good girl and turn left.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

A sharp pinch jutted into my ribcage. I lowered my gaze to the knife he was holding there.

“Unless you want to spread your pretty little legs for me out in the middle of the street, you’re coming with me. Or do I have to go back into the clinic to grab your brother, so he can convince you?”

Crap!

I looked around the empty street. Everyone by now was at the fire, and those who weren’t, had stayed behind at the wake.

“Keep walking. Turn left at the corner.”

I followed the pressure of his guiding hand at my lower back, secretly wishing he wouldn’t touch me, while planning an escape in my mind. As we got closer to the woods, each of my steps became less certain than the previous one. The smell of smoke intensified, and I noticed that we were heading closer to the fire.

This is good. It means I’m closer to Carter.

If I could only make a dash for it, I knew I could take him. I knew he couldn’t catch me because I’d run from him enough times. But he’d kept that knife too close to my stomach and my chance to vanish, was disappearing.

Once we entered the woods, my knees started shaking uncontrollably.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“What do you think?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Don’t you smart mouth me, now.”

“I’m not gonna let you.” Not without a fight.

He grabbed me by my arm and spun me around. The back of my head hit a tree as he pressed his stinking body to mine, holding the knife at my throat.

“I’d rather die than to have you touch me ever again.”

I pushed my neck forward and felt the sharp blade cut through my skin. It didn’t even hurt. He tilted his head to the side, and a bemused smile spread across his face. I could barely look at him.

“You may get that wish, baby. You think we’re here by coincidence? Nothing’s a coincidence.”

I followed his gaze to the billowing smoke over the tree tops.

“You set that fire?”

“Had to get your attention somehow. Had to make sure we had some privacy.”

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