Royal was startled. I’d caught a few curse words and what sounded like Lou’s name, but I told myself I was hearing things. According to Bear, Lou had stolen his truck after she’d gone to his shop looking for me. I didn’t hear anything else he’d said after he told me some men claiming to be cops showed up the next day looking for her. They probably were real cops. Who else could have run the plates and traced the truck back to Bear…
By the time the last puzzle piece snapped into place, I’d stopped breathing.
The men who showed up on Bear’s doorstep had indeed been cops—dirty ones under Fox’s payroll. I hung up on Bear, calmer than I should have been, and turned to face Royal, who was watching me warily.
“What kind of truck was it?”
He didn’t hesitate, and before he finished rattling off the exact make, model, and color as Bear’s truck, I was running for the door.
Not wanting to turn shit to tsunami shit, I stupidly allowed Fox to send me here as punishment. He didn’t appreciate loose ends, and the moment I befriended Louchana two years ago, she became a gaping hole. It was only a matter of time before Fox figured out exactly who Louchana was—and she discovered what I’d done.
MY LUNGS WORKED HARDER THAN I thought possible while the sweat pouring into my eyes blinded me from seeing that the alley where I sought refuge was a dead end. The two men following me did, and they cackled with glee as they closed in fast, eager to do their worst.
After three days of being on the run, they had finally cornered me. With nowhere else to run, I did the only thing I could. Lifting my camera, I snapped a few photos, garnering the reaction I’d hoped for. They stopped short and glanced at each other in confusion. Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, I ejected the memory card and with nimble fingers, slipped it inside the wide leather band around my wrist. Eventually, they would find my body, and the police would have the evidence they needed to put Fox away for life.
And Wren would finally be free from his influence.
I’d never been very religious, but I thanked God for that much.
Fox’s bullies, who looked like older versions of Butch and Woim from The Little Rascals, now stood directly in front of me, blocking my view of the street and any chance for escape. After I fled the mountains, I’d stupidly ran back home or at least as close to home as I dared. I didn’t want to put the Hendersons in danger, and for once, I’d made the right call. After what I saw up there, I knew Fox was more than capable of murdering an innocent family.
“Give us the camera,” Butch demanded, “and we won’t hurt you.”
My back was literally against the wall, but I still refused to cower. “It’s enough that you’re going to kill me. Don’t insult my intelligence too.” If Wren were here, he’d probably growl at me to keep my mouth shut even while his eyes shone with pride. Then again, if he were here, he’d kick their asses.
“Have it your way,” Woim conceded right before he lunged for the camera.
I made a show of trying to fight him off, even though it wasn’t much of a struggle. Once he’d taken the camera, I found myself staring down the barrel of his partner’s gun.
“Fox sends his regards.”
“I bet he does.”
To my surprise, Butch and Woim chuckled. “Maybe I won’t kill you just yet,” Butch teased while eyeing me lustfully. “I like my bitches feisty.”
“So does your future cellmate.”
His smile quickly dropped, and with it, the idea of sparing me. It was just as well since I’d rather die than let him touch me.
“Have it your way.”
Preferring not to see death coming, I let my eyes drift close as my heart raced, and my hands shook. I never thought much about the end or cared for that matter how or when I would go, but now that it was here, all I could do was think about all the things I didn’t have the courage to do.
Like stealing a kiss from the boy I loved.
I had so many chances, and my only regret was that I didn’t seize the day.
Even though I knew there was no way out of this, I couldn’t resist vowing to take what was mine if given a chance.
As if accepting my vow, the