Page 2 of Ensnared

Mybody is flagging.

Iglance back again, and the motion costs me.Asharp rock pierces the sole of my foot, andIcry out, stumbling.

Darnit all!

Istop, clutching at my foot.Ishove my glasses back on only to see the offending stone topple innocently beside me, its dagger point dropping to the side.Bloodwells, and an aching bruise starts swelling the sensitive flesh.

Atwig cracks.

Myhead whips around, andIstudy the green depths around me.Abird?Ahunter?

Nono no.

Theycan’t bethatclose.

Bitingmy lip,Irip a strip of cloth from the bottom of my filthy blouse and wrap it hastily around my foot.Pantingthrough clenched teeth,Ihobble as fast asIcan toward the sound of water and try to stop panicked thoughts from taking me over.Nomatter howIpush them down, though, my stabbing steps reveal a basic truth: this isbad.Ineed to run.It’sthe only thing keeping me free.

Thesight of the sparkling river makes my pain ebb for a moment, andIstumble between the trees.

Onlyto stop.

Mystomach drops to my feet.

Threetall, muscular—and very heavily armed—men watch me from the riverbed.Oneof them, with half his dark-blond hair tied in a topknot, slings back his rifle.Thecolorful carnival scenes tattooed down his defined arms catch the dappled light, and he grins under his short beard.

“Wellhello, sweetheart.”

Chapter2

Dominic

Survivaltip #220

Don’trisk your men.

Nomatter how pretty she is.

Iwatch the play of emotions on the woman’s face atLucky’steasing.Herlarge gray-blue eyes, made even larger by her black-rimmed glasses, widen.Theflush drains from her pale, muddy cheeks.Thosebig eyes dart between the three of us and, beforeIcan move, she spins to bolt away.

Atleast, she tries.

Asshe turns, her bandaged foot collapses beneath her and she lets out a muffled cry.Beaujumps into action, lowering himself as he strides forward as though that might make his size less intimidating.

Luckymoves to help, butIshake my head and nod at the river.Whenhe hesitates,Ibite back a curse.Iknow it’s bad ifLuckyis testing my authority.Butdamn it, we’re here for a reason—we need to replenish our water supply and keep moving or we’ll never make it back before dark.Theyears since theFinalWarhave been harsh and there are too few of us left;I’mnot risking my men by spending another night in the open.Whateverthis woman is about, we don’t have time for it.

Luckypouts but, with a regretful glance at the girl, he does as he’s told.

Iwalk over to the woman.Shescrambles until she’s sitting with her back against the tree, watching the now-crouchingBeauas though he eats babies for breakfast.

“... not gonna hurt you.Justwant to take a look at that arm of yours, ’kay, darlin’?That’sa nasty scrape you’ve got there.”

Ijust barely stop myself from rolling my eyes.Bastard’slaying on the apple-pie accent thick.Healways does it when he has a crush; it might have been a while, butI’drecognize the tone anywhere.Goddamnit.Ijust have to be out with the two bleeding hearts of our fucked-up little group.Whyisn’tJasperwith me instead?Hell, evenJaykob?Hewould scare her off for the fun of it.

Beauedges forward.Thewoman flattens herself against the tree.

Hestops and lifts his hands like she’s a frightened mare. “Thatfoot needs some attention too, huh?Myname’sBeau, sweetheart.I’ma doctor.Youdon’t need to be afraid of me.”

Darksuspicion fills her haughty features.Herchin lifts and her thin cheeks make her cheekbones seem higher than is natural.I’dbet she hasn’t had a decent meal in a while.Notmany people have, lately.Thoughwomen aren’t often found these days either, and certainly not alone, and yet here she is.

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