Page 20 of Ice Cold Christmas
Her head pounded. Throbbed over and over, and her blood-covered fingers rose to touch the left side of her head.
Swollen. Wet, too. From the snow? Yes, from the snow, but…blood. More blood.
She surged up. Dizziness nearly sent her tumbling back onto the snow, but she staggered and stayed on her feet—bare feet, frozen toes—as fear spiraled through her. “H-help…”
Her face hurt. Her cheekbone. Her lips were busted. Parched. “Help!” she cried again. She spun around, looking at the snow. How long had she been unconscious? There were no signs of footprints. Just the terrible circle of red where she’d sprawled in the snow. No tracks to show where she’d been.
Nothing around her but snow. So much snow in every direction. Trees heavy with the weight of the snow on their branches. Woods that waited in the distance. No person. No cars.
Fear settled deeper around her. One hand shoved against her bleeding stomach.
Run. Get away.
Her other hand stayed clutched to her head. She…she couldn’t fall down again. Couldn’t give in to the pain. She had to keep going.
Keep running.
She turned, spinning, and her blood spattered onto the snow. Where to go? Which direction? She had to escape.
Because he was coming for her.
She slogged through the snow, her blood dropping in her wake, but the snow fell and covered it. She kept going and going, hurrying desperately even when she had no strength. She couldn’t feel her toes. Couldn’t stop shaking. But she had to keep going. One foot in front of the other.
But her feet were sinking in the thicker snow.
She had to keep going. Go, go, go. Couldn’t stop. If she stopped, she’d be dead. Or maybe she was already dead. Ice cold, through and through.
Is this what it feels like to die?
She headed forward. Straight ahead. No stopping. No hesitation.
Brakes screeched. Tires squealed. Her head whipped to the right. The darkness had grown. When had the night come? How long had she been walking? It had been lighter before, when she’d first woken. Light enough to see the blood.
But now darkness was everywhere. Darkness except…
Except for the two headlights that stared back at her. And there was no time to move. Only a split second to realize that she’d reached a road, that she’d stumbled right into the path of a vehicle.
Then it hit her.
Chapter Six
Melody’s scream didn’t wake him. Not like Victor had been able to sleep. When a ghost walked through the front door, you didn’t sleep. Especially when that ghost was your fiancée. You grab tightly to her. You didn’t let her go again.
But he wasn’t holding her. He’d left her room. After she’d dropped the bombshell that she didn’t know him—or herself—he’d left because he had work to do. People to call. People like Memphis. But the fast and furious chat with Memphis had only been the first of many phone conversations because he’d had a whole lot of plans to put into motion. And she’d looked exhausted. He hadn’t wanted to push her, not yet. Even though he had so many questions.
How did you get to the estate? Where have you been? Who the fuck cut your stomach open?
But she was suddenly screaming, not sleeping, and he rushed into her room. He’d long since picked the lock. Not like he wanted to be away from her. And maybe he’d even opened the door after she went to sleep. The better to check on her. To make sure she hadn’t disappeared on him again.
She was in bed. Thrashing against the covers. And her mouth opened as she prepared to scream again.
“Melody!” He ran to her side. His hand flew out. Covered her lips before another scream could pierce the night and bring the others running to her room.
Her eyes opened. She grabbed at him. Her nails raked his skin, and he realized that, oh, hell, yes, he’d made the wrong move. He’d scared her even more. Shit. “Baby, it’s okay. It’s me.”
Instead of comforting her, that revelation just made her draw back her fist and aim it right at his face. He took the hit on the cheek. Not a slap. A punch.
Damn. He moved his hand. “You’re safe.” Fast words. “You’re with me. You’re safe.”
