Page 53 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
"Don'tplay dumb," Samons shot back before letting out a thick mucus-filledcough. Taking a step forward, his face hardened as he got his breathing back inorder and glared at her. "You know what you did," he said, pointingan accusing finger at her. "I know what you did, and I know what yourmonster boyfriend did. Do you know they never found those two boys' bodies?Just bits and pieces. Do you even care?"
Shefelt as if her whole world was turning white and empty around her as she staredwide-eyed at the man. "I don't know what you're talking about," shelied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Shehad to go. She needed to get away from him, and away from the memories he wasdredging up from the recesses of her mind—memories she had buried years ago.Taking an unsteady step backward, she mentally rejoiced at the small victoryand pushed herself to step back further until she was turning on her heel withevery intention of running to the vehicles through the mud, clutching herequipment to her chest.
Butthe sudden, painful grip on her arm stopped her and spun her forcefully backaround.
Muchcloser now, Samons stared down at her, his jowly face reddening in his strangeirrational anger.
"Idon't think so," he hissed, shaking her with a bruising tug to her arm."You and your filth need to be-"
Samonslet out a howl of pain just as she saw the familiar tanned hand enclose aroundthe man's wrist. With surprising strength, Elijah snatched Samons’s hand fromher arm before twisting it behind the man with a painful snap. With a powerfulshove that propelled the much larger man away, causing him to stumble and fallon his ass, Elijah stood like a wall in front of her, wearing not a singletrace of the sweet boy she had come to know. Hatred glittered from Elijah'sdark golden eyes as he stared down at the former Sheriff, who held his wristlimply with his other hand.
"Youwill never touch her again," Elijah declared, his words filled with lethalpromise.
Sanalooked worriedly from the Sheriff's face as it transformed from shock toreddening anger as he stared up at the boy. She could see the man's hurt pridemix and churn with his volatile anger as he struggled to stand with a wince inthe sopping mud beneath him. Stepping closer to Elijah, Sana was prepared topull the much taller boy back behind her. She would not let Samons try to hurthim, she vowed.
"Youpiece of animal filth," Samons sputtered as he got to one knee, pushinghimself up with his good hand. Covered in mud and some of his thinning hairclinging to his red and sweating face, the man looked at them both with ragedistorting his features. Reaching behind his back, he pulled something from hisbelt and pointed it at Elijah. "I know what you are!" he yelled.
Sana'sgrip on Elijah's shirt tightened as she recognized the silver gleam of a huntingknife. Desperately she pulled at the tall boy, willing him to step furtherback, but Elijah would not budge. He stared down at the man as if he wasstaring down at something small and insignificant, completely ignoring theweapon.
Well,she wasn't going to ignore it. Grabbing Elijah's arm, she pulled moreforcefully now, causing him to turn slightly towards her, but his eyes neverleft Samons.
"Elijahplease," she pleaded. "Let's just go, we can call Una to-"
"TakeSana to the truck," a voice from their right spoke, and both her andSamons looked to see Adam standing next to them, his normally genial face setin unforgiving stone.
Actually,they were suddenly surrounded by the Waatese crew. Elijah's father, Darrius,stood at her left while three more men came to stand around the kneeling man,caging him in.
Reachingfor the portly man, Adam grabbed him by the collar and easily hoisted the manto his feet.
"You'refucked now," Darrius growled at the man with a sharp, almost hungry smile."I cannot tell you how much shit you're going to be in when we tell Zachabout this."
Givingone look over his shoulder, Adam cast Elijah a warning look. "To thetruck, now," he reminded him before turning back to Samons. "Though Ishouldn't, I would advise you to leave town, Samons. Now."
Sanafelt the hand wrap around hers and looked to see Elijah, whose face was muchsofter than it had been moments before, give her a soft smile. "Comeon," he urged gently, pulling her away.
Shakingherself from her shocked and addled nerves, Sana dug her feet into the mud,halting them both. No, she would not be ushered away. She wanted to know whatwas going on and what-
Herthoughts were interrupted with a little cry from her lips as Elijah bent downand wrapped his arms around her thighs.
"I'msorry," he said politely as he straightened up to his full height, liftingher high against him.
Toher horror and anger, she watched as not one member of the Waatese crew turnedto look at her as Elijah began to walk away with her.
"Elijahput me down," she protested, trying to push at his firm shoulders. But theboy was very strong, nothing she did gained her an inch.
"Andif you somehow get away before Zach gets here, and survive, that is…" shecould hear Darrius's dark words and strained to hear the rest as Elijah carriedher further and further away from the men. "Never come near our familyagain."
"Thatincludes Sana," Adam added before the rest of his words became too faraway for her to make out.
Finally,across the field, Elijah sat her gingerly to her feet. Pushing away from him,she scowled at him, to which she immediately felt guilty for. No longer filledwith glittering rage, Elijah turned his doleful gaze towards her, completelybanishing any anger she had for the young man.
"I'msorry, we just wanted to get you away from that lunatic," he explained,his dark upturned eyebrows giving his eyes an even more sorrowful look.
Sanashook her head, her mortification for being carted off by a boy her brother'sage forgotten. "It's ok."
Lookingback toward the end of the field, she squinted and frowned as she strained tosee the details. She watched as the pale figure of Samons dashed into the woodsas the Waatese men gathered close and watched. Adam pointed to the forest, andone of the men, Kevin, went in after him at a slower pace. With one last glanceto the forest's edge, then men turned and started walking back their way.
