25

 

Cold air seeped into the truck’s cab and Sierra shivered, wishing she’d thought to borrow a coat along with the truck. It had been only a few minutes since Chase left, but it seemed like an hour. She wavered between the need to do something, and the desire to follow his request to stay put. She couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong, and the longer she waited, the worse the sensation became.

Unable to sit still any longer, she shoved open the truck’s door and stepped into the darkness. Smoke immediately filled her lungs and thoughts of remaining with the truck fled. She raced down the driveway, coming to an abrupt halt in view of Piper’s house. Dark clouds billowed from the windows, eaves and chimney. Soot and ash rose high and then rained down on the earth, blanketing the lawn.

Sierra darted toward the house. “Piper!” Any threat Kevin imposed now paled in the light of what could happen to her sister in the flames. The unbearable thought had her scrambling up the porch steps with little heed to the dangers ahead.

The wraparound porch’s dry, weathered boards would go up fast once the fire reached them. She might have to find another way out once she entered, but she didn’t care. All she could think about was getting to Piper as quickly as possible.

Sierra had just reached the door when someone emerged from the shadows. “Chase?”

“No, bien-aimée.” Kevin stepped forward. Firelight spilled out the open window, casting an eerie glow across his face. “Disappointed?”

A sob tore from Sierra’s throat and she lunged away. Kevin’s arm shot out, capturing her around the waist. He hauled her back against his chest as his foul-smelling hand clamped over her mouth.

“I told you this wasn’t over.”

He’d also told Sierra he’d kill her. The thought motivated her into action. She rammed her elbow back, connecting with Kevin’s ribs, but he didn’t seem to notice as he kept an iron grip around her waist.

Sierra struggled and freed her mouth from his disgusting hand. “Let me go!”

He fumbled in his pocket before lifting a small black object in front of her face, his thumb poised over a raised button. “Do you know what this is?”

Sierra stilled. Whatever it was, she didn’t like the looks of it.

“This is what guarantees your cooperation.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Come with me, or your boyfriend and sister die. They’re inside, within range of a bomb powerful enough to destroy the entire house.”

Sierra’s blood ran cold. She had no doubt Kevin could conjure and fulfill such an evil plan. She twisted and studied his face, hoping to see some glimpse of emotion or sign of humanity—anything she could use to her advantage. Her hopes drowned in the depths of his fathomless, molasses-colored eyes; only an evil, hollow soul peered back.

“Don’t hurt them. Please. I-I’ll do anything you ask.”

“I know you will.” Kevin released her and gave her a hard shove. “After you.”

Sierra stumbled down the steps and struggled to regain her footing. She glanced back toward the house. It took sheer willpower to walk away, but she had no choice. Kevin had managed to take complete control, again.

He took her by the arm and tugged her across the front yard toward the woods.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“How do I know Chase and Piper will be all right?”

“You don’t.”

Sierra dug her heels into the ground. “Then I’m not going.”

Kevin stopped beside her and yanked her close. “You will do as I say.”

His peppermint-tinged breath made her gag. She attempted to avoid breathing the tainted air, but he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her flush to his chest as if he had every right to do so. He stilled, and his grip became like a vise. “You have his scent on you.”

She held her breath and braced herself for another of Kevin’s jealous rampages.

A low, rumbling rose from deep in his chest and erupted from his throat like a wolf’s untamed howl. “You’ve probably let him do intimate things to you—things you never wanted me to do. Haven’t you?” He shook her, hard.

Her head snapped back, and pain radiated through her skull. “No, Kevin. That’s not true.”

“You lie. You’ve made some very costly decisions. It’s time you face the consequences.” He cupped her chin and made her face the house. “Look.”

Flames burst through the roof, reaching high and devouring overhead tree branches. The possibility of Piper and Chase remaining trapped inside horrified her. “Why? Why are you doing this?”

“He can’t have you, bien-aimée. You. Are. Mine.” He forced Sierra’s hand over the detonator and pressed down.

The blast knocked them both backward. Heat seared Sierra’s face as debris shot out in all directions. Smoke choked her lungs, and her ears rang from the deafening explosion. She climbed to her knees as the devastation unfolded. She heard screaming, as if it was coming from some distance away. Over and over again, the sound split the night air.

“Shut up.” Kevin growled. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her to her feet.

Sierra gasped, and the screaming stopped. Only then did she realize the tortured sounds had come from her own throat.

Kevin removed her cell phone from her pocket and tossed it away as his lips curled into a satisfied grin. “Now who’s going to save you?”

Anger surged past Sierra’s numbing shock. She turned, fisted her hands and rammed them into his chest. Sobbing, screaming and crying, she took no heed of Kevin’s retribution. “You’re a monster!”

He didn’t budge while she pummeled him, as if he didn’t feel a thing. Finally, when she’d exhausted herself, he took her fists in his strong grip. “They got what they deserved.” He looked at her as if she were some diseased rodent he intended to exterminate. “Now, it’s your turn.”