Page 124 of Ruthless Oath

“How did you know that?”

“I hear things.” I motioned toward the plate. “Are you going to make me that sandwich?”

“You’re a little demanding, aren’t you?”

You have no idea.

As soon as he took his eyes off me to open the refrigerator, I bolted for the door.

His footsteps came up from behind me, and my heart raced. I desperately reached for the handle. I wouldn’t get another chance to get out of here.

He hauled me by my hair toward him before I could get outside. “How dumb do you think I am?”

I wailed my arms in the air and kicked back my foot, nailing him in the one place that would make him release me.

“Fuck!” He let go of me and dropped to the floor.

I didn’t look back as I hurried out the door and into the woods. I ran as fast as I could, leaves and twigs cracking beneath my feet. In my haste to flee, I forgot I didn’t have any shoes on. My chest burned and my feet ached, but I had to keep going.

Maybe I could flag down a car. I’d worry about that when I was away from here.

“Lissia!” Danny screamed.

I glanced around at the large trees and the lake in the distance, my breaths quick and labored as my pace slowed.

“There you are.” Danny came through the trees, waving his gun at me.

I ran faster. It was risky to turn my back on a lunatic with a gun, but what choice did I have?

He fired in my direction, and the bullet ricocheted off a tree. I stumbled, but I caught my balance and turned to face him as he hurried to me.

“Are you fucking crazy?” I shouted.

“We both know the answer to that.” He waved his gun. “You’re too valuable to kill, but I will hurt you.”

“Not if I kill you first.” Marchello came out of the woods with Milo and six very large men behind him. They all had their guns drawn.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Danny asked.

Relief dominated my emotions. Marchello had found me. But why didn’t he look happy to see me?

“I believe you took something that belongs to me.” Marchello grabbed my arm and shoved his gun into my side.

Are you kidding me? What the hell is he doing?

“I have a message for you.” Marchello tightened his hold on my arm.

“What is it?” Danny gazed at all the men holding guns on him.

“Your friends in Argentina say hello.” Marchello smirked.

“Screw you.” Danny looked at me as he spoke to Marchello. He laughed. “You can have that little whore. She’s not worth the aggravation.”

“I’m not worth the aggravation?” I pulled out of Marchello’s hold and lunged at Danny as he shot his gun in the air.

“Oh!” I screamed.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Marchello removed me from the line of fire and pulled me back to him. “Are you out of your mind?”