Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
I wasn’t afraid for myself. Only the need to protect Millie filled my brain with a buzzing sound. Like something had taken over me, I heard the unfamiliar shriek of fury leave my mouth as I ran at Pete. He wasn’t expecting the attack and so when I reached him, arm swung up, he didn’t block me as I raked my nails down his face and then dug them into his shoulders. With all my might, I hauled him away from Millie’s cot and tried to hit him in the balls with my knee.
But he was too big and strong. We grappled and I managed to wriggle free, turning toward the kitchen for a weapon. He grabbed handfuls of my hair and pain screamed up my scalp, my knees giving way. A hard shove brought me crashing down, my chin jarring off the floor. Pain ricocheted through my head, but I fought through it as Pete’s hands tugged and clawed at me. With another roar of outrage, I had just enough strength to turn around.
It was a stupid decision.
The man grew a thousand arms and legs and I found myself pinned beneath his heavy body. He smelled of a spicy aftershave I knew I’d never be able to smell again without feeling sick to my stomach. Flashbacks from childhood blurred before me. Of the man who had hurt Ery and tied me and Lewis up in the annex. Not again. I wouldn’t be powerless like that again!
“You shouldn’t fight me, luv.” Pete slammed my wrists against the floor and tears of pain pooled in the corners of my eyes.
How many times had Lewis and Callie asked me to train with them over the years? To learn how to defend myself. Aunt Robyn had attempted to show me self-defense maneuvers too. I’d never been interested.
This man, this stranger, peering down at me with a mad light in his eyes, was going to win because I wasn’t physically strong enough to fight.
No.
No!
He wasn’t going to win.
Not powerless.
This bastard had had enough of me.
“No!” I shrieked in his face, making him flinch. Then I bucked and strained and snapped at him with my teeth like an animal. Pete released my wrists to smack me hard across the face again. I’d expected it, I’d wanted it. All so he’d release my hands.
I gritted my teeth against the pain and disorientation, but with my hands freed, I fought my revulsion as I grabbed the appendage between his legs and twisted with all my might.
His bellow of pain shuddered through the house and I clambered out from under him, crawling toward the kitchen.
I was halfway there, his shouts of fury and retribution making me curse my jelly-like limbs. Everything had morphed into agonizing slow motion. The kitchen seemed so far away. Millie’s wailing was like a knife twisting in my heart. She must be so afraid.
Keep moving, keep moving.
A hand clamped around my ankle.
No!
Then a masculine bellow of outrage drew my head toward the entrance.
Relief crashed over me at the men hurrying toward us, and I was sobbing before Fyfe had even reached me.
Walker was at his side, his gun clasped with both hands. Fyfe seemed ready to launch himself at me.
But Walker’s authoritative voice halted everyone. “Release her or I will shoot you.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Pete released my ankle, and I was just about to sag into the floor when he stuck his hand into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a switchblade. I sucked in a breath, cold shuddering through me as Pete raised his arms, eyes blazing down at me.
A shot rang through the air and Pete jerked. Another shot had the knife slipping from his hand. His mouth gaped open in shock as his entire body fell back onto the hardwood with a dull thud.
“Eilidh!” Fyfe moved toward me.
“Millie!” I cried, gesturing wildly toward her. “Millie first.”
Fyfe’s face paled. “Did he …?”
“No. But she’s scared.”
His hesitance to leave me was obvious.
Walker strode to me, kicking the knife out of Pete’s reach. I could hear his gargled breathing, but I didn’t want to look at him. Walker stood over him, putting his body between us. “I’ve got Eilidh. You see to your daughter.”
The muscle in Fyfe’s jaw clenched, but he hurried over to the cot. I watched him cradle Millie in his arms. Black dots started creeping in on the edge of my vision. “Walk,” I mumbled.
“Eilidh, are you okay?”
“Just … just warning you … I’m about to pass …” The darkness drew me in before I could even remember what it was I’d tried to tell him.
Thirty-Two
EILIDH
Everyone was afraid to let me out of their sight.
Feeling guilty for putting them through this, I’d fought my exhaustion as we crowded together in my parents’ living room.
But now it was almost midnight. Only my parents, Fyfe, Millie, and Mor lingered. Mor should be in bed, but instead she was cuddled into my side like a little girl. We lay back on the couch, feet up on the chaise, my arm around her as she snuggled against me. I stroked my wee sister’s hair in reassurance as our family milled around us.