Page 30 of Cruel Princes (Princes of Devil's Creek 1)
I needed him.
His cell phone was disconnected.
How was that even possible?
I paid the bill last week.
It wouldn’t have been the first time Aiden owed a drug dealer money. He had a bad habit, but I wasn’t exactly in the position to judge him.
Please be okay, Aiden.
Another sharp pain pierced my skull, and my fingers clung to the railing for support. I blew out a deep breath as images flashed before me, unable to stop them from taking my brain hostage.
It was so dark.
Too cold.
Loud screams.
A woman laughing.
My mother.
Wicked male laughter.
The Salvatore brothers.
Each image flashed before my eyes, moving so fast I struggled to breathe. My chest felt heavy as if weighed down with sand. Pressing a palm to my chest, I breathed through my nose and gasped for air.
I needed to get out of here.
To escape this fucking prison.
Desperate to be free, I slid a chair out from the table on my right and moved it beside the railing. Even though I didn’t feel like I was still in my body, I was fully aware of my actions.
Keep going.
I hopped onto the chair, and a cool breeze floated off the bay, blowing my hair in my face. If I could get over the railing without falling to my death, I could hug the brick post and shimmy my way to the ground. At least a dozen men with guns patrolled the perimeter. This place was better guarded than Fort Knox.
I had to find Aiden, needed to get the fuck out of this place. So I had no choice but to conquer my fear. I pressed my palms to the brick ledge and pulled myself up, arms outstretched to maintain my balance.
Just breathe, Alex.
Don’t look down.
What could have been a moment or an hour passed before I finally snapped out of my head, slowly returning back to reality. My heart still raced, but for an entirely different reason. Fear flooded my veins as a bitter chill washed over me like breaking waves.
I looked down, teetering on the edge, and a shriek escaped my throat. It was at least a fifty foot drop to the ground.
What was I thinking?
Then, I thought,What would the Salvatores do?If any of them were in my position, they would haul ass over this balcony and disappear like a wraith in the night.
Stick to the plan.
Go find Aiden.
I covered my heart with my hand and closed my eyes, feeling each beat beneath my fingers.
