Page 97 of Rage

I follow, anticipation thrumming through my veins.But as we near the cabin, something feels… off.The hair on the back of my neck stands up.Years of club life have honed my instincts, and right now, they’re screaming danger.

I hold up a hand, stopping the others.“Something’s wrong.”

They freeze, instantly alert.We move as one, silent and deadly, toward the darkened windows.That’s when I hear it, a voice, low and threatening, coming from inside.

“Don’t make a sound, or I’ll blow your pretty little head off right here.”

Ice floods my veins.Meadow.

My vision narrows, rage building as I recognize the voice.Jenny.

I lock eyes with Ronny and Christopher.No words needed.We have a job to do.

Time to crash this party.

* * *

Meadow

I want to look behind to make sure no one is back there.The last thing I want is for someone to get hurt because of this bitch.

Jenny’s eyes dart around the room, her grip on the gun tightening.“We need to get out of here,” she hisses.“Too many witnesses.Too messy.”

She grabs my arm, her nails digging into my skin as she drags me toward the door.My heart pounds in my chest as I realize her intention—she’s going to take me outside to kill me where no one will hear.

As we step into the hallway, the floorboards creak ominously beneath our feet.Jenny freezes, her eyes wide with panic.For a moment, the only sound is our ragged breathing and the distant chirping of crickets outside.

“Move,” Jenny snarls, shoving the gun into my back.

We make our way down the stairs, each step feeling like an eternity.The moonlight streaming through the windows casts eerie shadows across the walls, transforming familiar objects into looming monsters.

As we reach the front door, a cool breeze wafts in, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth.Jenny fumbles with the lock, her hand shaking slightly.I consider making a break for it, but the cold press of metal against my spine keeps me rooted in place.

The door swings open with a soft creak, revealing the dark expanse of the forest beyond.Crickets chirp in the underbrush, and somewhere in the distance, an owl hoots mournfully.The gravel driveway crunches beneath our feet as Jenny forces me forward.

We’re halfway across the yard when Jenny suddenly stops, her grip on my arm tightening painfully.“On your knees,” she commands, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

I slowly sink to the ground, the damp grass soaking through my pajama pants.The barrel of the gun presses against the back of my head, cold and unyielding.I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing.

“Any last words, Dr.Beckham?”Jenny asks, a hint of manic glee creeping into her voice.

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can utter a sound, a twig snaps in the darkness.Jenny whirls around, her grip on the gun faltering for just a moment.

And in that moment, a shadow detaches itself from the tree line.Moonlight glints off leather and metal as Mason steps into view, his eyes burning with a fury I’ve never seen before.

The sight of the gun even pointing in Mason’s direction has me screaming at her so she’ll turn back to me.“No!”I shout, my voice shattering the tense silence.“Jenny, don’t!”

My desperate cry has the desired effect.Jenny whirls back toward me, the gun once again trained on my head.But in that split second of distraction, everything changes.

A blur of motion erupts from the shadows.Mason charges forward with deadly intent, closing the distance between them in heartbeats.Jenny’s eyes widen in panic as she realizes her mistake too late.

Before she can squeeze the trigger, Mason’s hand clamps down on her wrist, wrenching the gun upward.A deafening crack splits the air as the weapon discharges harmlessly into the night sky.

Jenny shrieks in pain and fury, clawing at Mason with her free hand.But he’s immovable, a force of nature unleashed.In one fluid motion, he disarms her, tossing the gun far out of reach.

“You shouldn’t have touched what’s mine.”

Jenny struggles against his iron grip, spitting curses.“You ruined everything!”she screams.“He loved me!We were going to be together forever!”

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