Page 3 of Sinful Kingdom

I have the power here.

I need to get out. I need to find a way back to Alex, and then I need to let them do their jobs.

If I’m lucky, they’ll have left some kind of evidence behind at the cabin. Something that will help lead the guys straight to them. Anything that will bring this nightmare to an end.

All I wanted was a chance at a new life. Something that Blake and I could make our own. Things were meant to get better for us. Not worse.

Refusing to succumb to my tears once more, I focus on where I need to be.

Alex and Blake.

They’re who I need right now.

One will set the world on fire for me. The other will hold me together.

I don’t even care which way around they do it, so long as they do.

It takes longer than I want to confess to, but eventually, I manage to get to my feet, although my legs barely have the strength to hold me up.

I move from tree to tree, gripping onto each one as if it’s a lifeline.

The sun climbs higher in the sky, and the warmth of it finally creeps through the thick tree cover above me. It feels amazing on my chilled skin and gives me the push I need to keep going.

I feel like I’ve walked a marathon, but with no markers to tell me how far I’ve really gone, I fear it may only be a few feet.

I’m so focused on moving that the bark of a dog startles me to the point I let out a high-pitch scream.

Clapping my hand over my mouth, I freeze as fear turns my blood to ice.

They’ve come for me—and they’ve brought dogs to ensure they don’t leave empty-handed.

Another bark, closer this time, has my breathing increasing to the point I can barely keep control of it.

Silently, I beg. I pray for the dog to turn around, to sniff out something else and lead them in the opposite direction.

But only seconds later there’s another yap, followed by the sound of branches cracking underfoot.

No, no. Please.

I made it this far.

Don’t let it all be for nothing.

The bush before me rustles and I whimper into my hand, my entire body trembling as the image of a bloodthirsty Rottweiler or something similar plays out in my head.

It rustles again and my knees almost give out before a golden fluffball bursts through the greenery and bounds up to me.

His entire body wags with his happiness as he gazes up at me with what I’m sure is a smile on his cute face.

“Y-you’re not here to attack me, are you?” I ask, my voice hoarse.

He stares up at me before sitting down and letting out another bark that startles me again.

“You need to stop doing that,” I warn before finally giving in and dropping to the ground.

The second I’m down, the giant soppy thing nuzzles into me.

“Murph,” a female voice calls. “MURPHY, where the hell have you gone this time?”

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