by Jordan Ford
I care about her enough to pretend that I don’t.
She deserves a better life than hiding out from crazy family feuds and psycho fathers who want to kill their daughters.
Caitlin comes from a loving home.
That’s where she belongs.
My expression crumples for a second as I let the pain of watching her run away sear through me.
I hurt her.
I hurt myself.
But what do I have to offer her?
Nothing but trouble.
Slapping the wheel, I force logic to plow through the emotion. I don’t have time to feel. I need to strategize this beast and make sure my family stays safe.
The first thing I need to do is get them out of that cabin. If I’m right about that SUV and if Mariella wasn’t lying, the Sorrentinos know exactly where the cabin is.
I’m guessing they drove into town searching for Mariella first. I thought she already left, but maybe she hasn’t. If they catch her, she’ll be dealt with. No doubt.
I grimace as fear skitters through me. What are they going to do to her?
Will they torture her? Beat her? Kill her?
“Shit!” I roar. “This has to end! This has to fucking end!”
My yelling bounces off the car windows and reverberates back to me. I squeeze the wheel and try to think through the blinding haze.
We’ve spent hours talking through solutions, coming up with plausible ways to end this so we can come off the mountain and have a realistic future.
But every idea seemed too risky.
Now the threat is right on our doorstep.
Running seems the obvious choice.
But what if it’s not?
I scramble to work through the different ideas we came up with. Ways we could expose Lucca, try to pin Roberto Candella’s murder on him without getting dead in the process.
“Rybeck,” I whisper.
When I first mentioned it, Kade shot the idea down before I could even finish it.
Fair enough. He assaulted the government agent. He doesn’t want to go there.
But Caity made a decent point. What if Rybeck is just trying to do his job?
And his job is to protect witnesses so they can testify and put guilty people where they belong.
Surely Rybeck’s more interested in taking down a Sorrentino than a Kingsley. If I can offer him what he’s looking for on the condition he wipes Kade’s misdemeanor off the table, then that would be killing two birds with one stone, right?
Gritting my teeth, I let the idea roll around in my mind for a minute.
It’s a risk.
But it might just pay off.
Pulling the phone from my pocket, I keep driving while searching for a number that could end it all.
Licking my lips, I put it on speaker and lay the phone down on the passenger seat.
A woman answers in a clipped, professional tone.
“Hi, I need to speak to Agent Rybeck. It’s urgent.”
“Agent Rybeck is currently on field duty.”
“Then transfer me to whatever field he’s in, please.” It’s hard not to get twitchy when she sighs and tells me to hold the line.
It takes for-freaking-ever but finally I’m patched through. I have to endure the whole scenario again, my nerves fraying as I race up to the cabin.
“Agent Rybeck’s currently unavailable. Can I—”
“Put me through to him, now.”
“I’ve told you he’s—”
“Tell him it’s Riley Duncan calling. One of the Eton Prep runaways.”
The woman on the line goes silent for a minute, and then there’s a click.
Thirty seconds later Rybeck’s barking into my speaker. “This better not be a hoax.”
“It’s not. I’m calling to make a deal.”
Shit. Trey and Kade are going to kill me for doing this.
“What kind of deal?”
“You know the kind. Where you get something you want and you do me a really big favor.”
He scoffs into the phone. “Kid, this better be damn good. And when I mean good, I mean handing my witness to me on a silver platter.”
“Look, I know you’re all about the justice. Kade told me what you said to him.”
“Where are you guys?”
“That’s not happening right now. Deal first.”
“Fine!” He huffs. “Play your best hand. Let me see what you got.”
I lick my lips, suddenly aware that this call is no doubt being recorded somewhere. At least my phone’s a burner; it can’t be traced. But I bet they’ll be trying.
“I know who killed my parents. I know where it happened. How it happened. I can get you a witness to testify.”
“Kid, no offense, but I don’t really care about a case from a decade ago. That’s you, right? The Duncan murders.”
His words hurt like a punch to the face, but I flick off my anger in order to get my point across.
“You’ll care when you find out who did it.”
“What?”
“Lucca and Marco Sorrentino. You want those guys to go down, I can get you witness accounts on my mother’s murder, plus bear witness to the fact they shot that guy at Dynamis Shipping Yard. You want justice? I can serve it up on a shiny silver platter!”
“How the hell are you going to pull that off?”
“I’ll make it work. If you can guarantee me that Kade gets off for assaulting you, and Ana can walk away from this unscathed, then I’ll convince the right people to come forward and start talking.”
He’s silent for a long beat, which makes me nervous. I’m about to start up with a new spiel to convince him when he says, “You’ve been in hiding for nearly a year. Why the sudden change up? What’s happened?”
“This new info about my parents’ murders has only just come to light. I need this to end. And I think you can help me do it.”
Another long beat.
I roll my eyes and snap, “Shit, Rybeck, are you going to help us or not?”
“Where are you?”
“No way.” I shake my head. “I’ll contact you with a meeting point in twenty-four hours. Think of this as a courtesy call to give you a heads-up. It’s no doubt being recorded, so at least we have it on record that you’ve agreed to help us out, drop anything you have on Kade and keep Ana safe. I—”
My words are cut short by a black blur in my rearview mirror.
“Shit,” I whisper. The SUV. It’s coming right up my ass. Heading for the cabin. My family!
“Riley?”
“Legacy, Wyoming.”
“What?”
“Legacy, Wyoming! And if you want to see your witness alive, you better get here fast!”
The SUV goes to overtake so I swerve in front of it.
With a loud beep the driver tries to move to the other side of the road, so I pull the other way and block his path again.
Rybeck’s yelling at me but I can’t answer him.
The SUV nudges my bumper and I’m thrown forward. The phone goes flying onto the floor while I grip the wheel and try to gain control of the car.
The car skids sideways and I’m stuck adjacent to the SUV that’s now coming straight at me.
“Shit,” I mutter.
I push the gas, attempting to turn before it hits me, but I don’t have enough time.
The heavy metal bumper clips my back edge and sends me spinning.
The car turns twice across the road before clunking into the ditch and rolling onto its roof.
I’m now hanging upside down, still gripping the wheel like it’s going to save me.
Breaths are punching out of me as my brain switches to autopilot, systematically checking for injuries. My entire body is aching but nothing seems broken or unusable.
I need to get to my family.
The thought pounds through me, driving me to unclip my seat belt.
I catch myself against the steering wheel and flop onto the roof of the car. My head hurts�
�a spiking pain that reminds me I’ve just been in a car accident.
But I need to get to my family.
The door doesn’t open easily when I unlatch it. Bent metal has jammed it shut. I have to spin around and kick out the glass. It’s already fractured but doesn’t shatter on my first try.
Time is ticking. The black SUV is probably racing up the hill to kill the people I love.
A ragged kind of sob punches out of me as I yell and use both feet to kick the glass. It cracks and smashes, falling out in large shards. Adrenaline is pumping through me as I struggle to crawl out without cutting up my hands.
Someone grabs my jacket and hauls me the rest of the way, dumping me at his feet.
I gaze at the shiny black shoes. Expensive leather. Pointed toes.
Fingers curl into my hair and force me up.
“Arghh!” I slap at the pain, trying to loosen the man’s hold.
Spinning me around, he pulls me back against his chest. A solid arm clamps around my neck and starts squeezing. I struggle against the guy’s hold, but it’s freaking relentless.
I have to get out of this.
I have to warn my family!
“Marco, stop! Please, don’t do it.” Mariella Sorrentino’s face pops out of the window. There’s a cut on her swollen cheekbone and a bruise on her chin. Her cheeks are stained with black mascara tears. “Don’t do this. He’s just a boy!”
My feet scrape on the ground as I struggle for air. His muscles are like iron, and breathing is a challenge.
Panic is setting in when I hear a voice from the driver’s side. “Is he one of them?”
Mariella stiffens with fear and looks over her shoulder.
“IS HE ONE OF THEM?”
She flinches and then gasps, her reply a feeble, “Yes.”
“Stop, Marco. He might be useful when we get there.”
The pressure on my neck is instantly released and I sag to the ground, hacking and coughing.
Marco grabs my jacket and hauls me back to my feet, shoving me towards the vehicle.
I slam into the door and can’t help a small groan.
Fisting the back of my hair, he grips tight and seethes into my ear, “Get in.”
The anger in me wants to fight back, but logic manages to yell over my rage. Dying on this roadside is not going to help my family. I may want to avenge my parents’ deaths, but I have living people who I love too.
I’ve always thought my best revenge would be putting the killers behind bars. Let them rot in jail. They deserve that more than a swift death.
Marco gets into the front seat and we take off up the hill.
I’m sick with dread as I glance into the driver’s seat and recognize the man from Dynamis Shipping Yard.
The one who aimed a gun at Ana.
Lucca Sorrentino.
#33:
Ripped Apart
Caitlin
I’m worried about Riley.
And angry.
And sad.
And ripped apart.
He doesn’t want me. That’s basically what he said. Nothing would ever happen between us.
He’s probably leaving right now. And the most interesting, exciting, heart-thrilling thing to ever happen to me will be gone.
But still, worry niggles. Above all my other emotions, it’s the strongest.
My imagination moves in fast-forward, zipping through scenarios of their escape. The dangers that await them. The possibility that they might be caught before they even make it out of the cabin.
Fear sends sharp prickles rippling through my body.
Why the hell am I out here sulking in the woods when I should be trying to help them?
“But he doesn’t want your help,” I murmur.
Does that even matter?
If I care about Riley, which I totally do…and Ana, and Jules and everyone else in that cabin, then I should be doing everything in my power to help them.
Maybe I can check in with Uncle Kurt, make sure he’s done what he said he would. Buy them some time to get away.
Maybe I should tell my dad the truth.
Dread lands like a rock in my belly. Having to admit that I’ve been lying to him is going to suck. But if I tell him everything, lay it all bare, he won’t be able to refuse me.
“Just do it, Caity. Do the right thing.”
Spinning on my heel, I run back to town. It takes about twenty minutes and I’m lagging by the time I near the road. I didn’t realize I’d walked so far into the forest. And I also didn’t notice that I’d turned myself around. That’s so unlike me.
Placing my hands on my hips, I look up the deserted road and try to figure out where I am. There’ll be a landmark around here somewhere that can help me out.
Slowing my pace, I study the trees, figuring I’m probably on the eastern route. If I head right, that should wind me back into town.
“Geez, I hope I’m right,” I mutter as I pick up my pace and fall into a gentle jog.
I need to get back to town as fast as I can, but my limbs are tired and achy.
I’m annoyed with myself that I wasn’t more conscious of my path through the woods. I’ve been living and hiking in this area for years. It should be impossible for me to get lost!
With an irritated huff, I pump my arms and push onward, hoping I’m in the right place. I’m used to driving the southern and western roads. I hardly ever take the eastern route, which is why I think I’m on it. The place doesn’t look that familiar.
Checking my watch, I glance at the time and wince. I was supposed to be home half an hour ago. Dad’ll be getting antsy and pissed off. Great, more upset people to deal with. I’m having the shittiest day. Letting everyone down. It’s no wonder friends don’t come easy.
I always blamed it on Legacy, but maybe I’m the problem?
I grimace as the urge to cry tries to take me out.
“Stop it!” I berate myself, swiping my cheeks before any tears can fall.
I’ve brought this on myself. It’s my fault that all this crap has come up the mountain to ruin everyone’s lives. I have to fix it.
I have to tell the truth, get them help. Make it right.
With a determined sniff, I round the corner and nearly crumple with relief when I see a car coming around the bend.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Hey!” Waving my arms, I flag the car down, already formulating a sweet plea for a ride back into town.
The car ambles to a stop beside me. I put on my best smile and lean down to greet the driver.
And that’s when the world comes crashing down around me.
Instead of a friendly smile, I’m met with bloodstained teeth.
Glazed eyes.
Mangled face.
A maniacal laugh that warns me of what’s to come.
Snatching my wrist before I can jerk away, Antonio pulls until I let out a pained cry. My tiptoes brush the road as I dangle painfully through his window. Cupping the back of my head, he digs his fingers in and asks, “Where’s the baby?”
His voice reminds of Jack Nicholson in The Shining and my heart catapults into my throat.
“I don’t know anything,” I manage.
Pressing his forehead against mine, he lets out this crazed chuckle. “I think you do. I think you’re going to be very useful in getting me what I want.”
I strain against his hold on me, shaking my head with a whimper. “No. You’re not touching her.”
“You know.” His voice pitches. “I’ve had a headache for months. It’s always there. Pounding. Hurting. Blinding. And do you know why I have that headache?”
I smash my teeth together, willing my panic to sizzle away so I can start thinking my way out of this.
“I have it because that assface beat the shit out of me. And he needs to pay for that.” His laughter is screechy and manic. “He tried to do it again! Can you believe that? So, I crawled my beat ass back to my car. By the time I got there the cabin was full with assholes again, and I was like fu
ck this, you know?” He laughs again. “I was gonna drive out of town and put it all behind me, but then I saw you and it was this sign not to give up. Maybe I can trade you for the baby or some shit.”
“That won’t work!” I snap.
He glares at me. “You’ve got to be worth something.”
I scoff. “I’m not. Seriously. You should just let me go and head home. Staying here will only cause you pain.”
“I am in pain!” His voice booms through the car. “I suffer every day, and he should pay for that.”
“I’m nothing to Kade, and Jules would never trade her baby for me. You’re making a mistake.” Fisting my hair, he gives it a sharp tug. “Ouch!” I cry.
“I’m not a loser.” He pulls in a ragged breath. “I’m not a fucking loser.”
His voice is quaking now. It’s like he’s talking to himself more than me, and I can’t help my curiosity. He’s obviously battling some mighty demons.
Which is so not my problem right now.
“She was supposed to get rid of it.” He’s mumbling, pressing his head against mine. “Dad can’t know. But he thinks he knows. I have to prove myself to that bastard. I have to…”
The blood from the deep cut in his nose rubs against my face as he blubbers on about things I don’t understand. It’s disgusting and creepy…and enough to snap me into action.
With a loud scream, I rake my nails across his face, then press my thumb into his eye.
He lets me go with a feral wail and I wriggle out of the car, scraping my ribs along the opening. It freaking hurts, but I don’t care. All I can think is run.
Run. Run. RUN!
#34:
A Life Taken
Riley
The SUV handles the steep driveway with an ease I’ve never experienced. It’s like a freaking slap in the face.
Gritting my teeth, I will my friends to hear it coming.
The second the door opens I’m going to start shouting at them to run. I don’t care if it gets me a bullet in the chest. I love my family. I’d do anything for them.
Lucca punches the brake and the car jerks to a stop in my usual parking spot.
Panic slices through me as I stare up at the cabin.
All is quiet.
Marco gets out of the car first. A second later my door pops open and he hauls me out of the vehicle. His gun pushes into my neck as he scans the house for signs of life.