Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” Oz barked into the phone. The sound of his voice making me wince. “Good.”
I had to get away from here. Before, escaping wasn’t something I’d considered since we were so remote and I had no clue where we were, but I couldn’t stay here now that I’d seen what he was capable of. He could—and most likely would—kill me. Running was my only option.
“Write these names down,” he said to whoever he was talking to. “Hans Warren. Check the San Francisco area. Portola Valley, to be specific. He was at a party there in December. They had gone to Stanford together. Also, Nikola, James, Fredrick, and William. I don’t have last names.”
He hadn’t asked me for them, but I wouldn’t have known. I only knew the last name Warren because Perry had said it when telling me whose house he was at when I spoke to him on the phone later that day.
“Yeah,” his gruff voice said into the phone as he started walking away.
He was going to get something. My eyes scanned the kitchen for keys or a car fob. If I was going to have any chance of successfully escaping, I needed a vehicle until I could get to a town or city. He’d be here on foot and not be able to run me down until I was far enough away. Not sure if I would go directly to the police station or not. I could go and tell them about the money Perry had given me. That I hadn’t known. But would they put me in jail until I could clear my name?
I looked at the refrigerator, where he had almost choked me to death, and decided that being alive was worth it. If I stayed here, that darkness in his gaze would eventually snap when I couldn’t tell him what he wanted. He’d have no use for me, and that would be it. If the phone hadn’t rung, it was possible he would have killed me. He might be coming back to finish the job.
With my heart hammering in my chest, I began to walk swiftly through the kitchen, into the next room, then toward the door, looking for any sign of a key or a fob. I was running out of time, and I knew it. I had to think. It was get away from here or die.
My brother had basically signed my death certificate. That was a break that I’d never be able to mend. Even still, I wanted to protect him. It was what I did. All I knew.
I heard his voice as he continued talking to whoever was on the other line and hurried away from the sound. Not wanting to get closer, but farther away. Rushing down the hallway, I saw a key holder on the wall near the door that led to the basement. There wasn’t a car key on it, but the one key I did see I knew most likely belonged to the cell in the basement.
“I’m working on it.” Oz’s voice drew closer.
I had no time to debate this idea. I couldn’t walk myself through the outcome. Grabbing the key, I slung the door open and rushed down the stairs almost at a full-blown run. My heart slamming against my chest. The door to the cell was open, and I wanted to weep in relief for one last step. Heavy footsteps pounded above me, alerting me to Oz having realized I’d run down here. Although I doubted he’d guess what I was about to do.
Closing the gate behind me, I reached through the bars, using the key to lock it as my hands trembled. Adrenaline coursed through my veins at the sound of Oz coming down the stairs. The lock clicked into place, and I pulled out the key and backed away from the bars before his first foot hit the concrete floor. I was panting, but relief flooded me. I’d made it. I was locked in, and I had the key. He couldn’t get to me.
I was safe. For now.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked me with more annoyance than anything in his voice.
“Staying alive,” I replied out of breath.
He tilted his head and studied me. “You think this keeps you safe?” He took a step toward the bars. “That you won’t have to tell me the secret you’re keeping for your brother?”
Yes, I did. I had the key. He couldn’t get to me. But I didn’t say that. I said nothing.
“You’ll get hungry and thirsty. You’ll come out when you think I’m asleep. I won’t be.”
Okay, I hadn’t thought that far. He could still harm me in here by dehydration and starvation. My mouth immediately felt dry, reminding me how horrible it had been with just that small bottle every twenty-four hours. Now, he wasn’t even going to give me that. But at least he wasn’t able to continue choking me to death.