“This is like that,” I tell her. “You stay in here no matter what. Don’t come out even if you hear shouting or someone says your name. Stay in here until I come get you or until Everett, Lincoln, or Cash shows up, okay?”
She nods again, her little face set in serious lines.
“Good girl. I love you so much, Cora.” I settle her in, pulling the blankets around her.
There are footsteps on the stairs now, and I swallow hard. I give Cora a strained smile and close the closet door as gently as I can, moving away from it.
It hurts to leave her there. To turn around and just trust that she’ll be okay after I promised to keep her safe, but I don’t have a choice.
If Geoffrey finds Cora, it’s all over.
I grab the bat Lincoln keeps tucked behind his nightstand and grip it tight. My hands are shaking. All of me is shaking. But I don’t let go. I move so I’m positioned just out of view of the doorway, holding my breath as the footsteps grow louder and closer.
There’s a moment of silence and then he’s there.
It’s Geoffrey.
He looks the same as he did the last time I saw him. Same height, same build, same cruel mouth twisted into that cold smirk that used to make my stomach drop.
For a second, I’m thrown back in time. I’m cowering in fear, afraid of this man who caused my sister so much pain. It’s hard to breathe, hard to think past the panic to figure out what I should do.
But then, something clicks.
Because I’m not the same Omega I was back then. I’m not trapped, and I’m not afraid to speak or move or fight. I’ve been through hell and back since I ran with Cora, and I’m still here.
I’m still fucking here.
I swing the bat, the impact shuddering up my arm as it connects with a loud crack. It slams into Geoffrey’s shoulder, a solid hit.
He grunts and stumbles back, clearly not expecting that. For a second he looks startled, off balance, but it does only last a second. His expression twists into rage, and then he’s coming at me.
“You shouldn’t have done that, you little bitch,” he growls.
He lunges at me, and I swing the bat again, but this time he’s too fast. He catches it, using his strength to yank it from myhands so he can toss it across the room with a clatter. He grabs me next, and I do everything I can to get him off. I kick and claw against him, drawing blood, but it’s not enough to get him off. Even when I sink my teeth into his arm, he just roars in anger and holds on.
“You’re making this harder on yourself,” he snarls, and I spit in his face.
He drags me across the room, and I kick out, trying to do anything to slow him down. I fight him like someone who doesn’t have anything left to lose, using all my anger and fear to try to get any advantage.
But he’s still stronger than me. He always has been.
I can’t do anything to get away from him, and he finally slams me to the ground hard. Stars burst in front of my eyes, and I struggle to breathe as he looms over me.
He fishes for something, and I half think he’s going to try to kill me right here in the bedroom. Instead of a gun or a knife, he comes up with a cloth, clearly soaked in something.
I thrash in his hold, but I can’t get away before he presses the cloth over my face. I suck in air, and the scent of something sharp hits me hard.
My head spins, my vision going blurry, and the last thought I have before everything goes dark is about Cora, hidden in the closet. He won’t find her. She’ll be safe.
Please stay hidden. Please stay quiet.
Chapter 44
Lincoln
I’m in a good mood when I pull into the driveway, already thinking about getting Harper into my arms. I’ll tell her all about how the fire alarm went off tonight because Tony burned popcorn in the microwave, causing us to spend a full hour roasting him about it. It’ll make her laugh, and I love to see her when she’s happy like that. She’s been stressed as hell, and I can’t blame her, so the thought of bringing a little brightness to her night makes me feel good.
I pull in, but before the truck even fully stops, something feels off. The patrol car that was there when we all left is parked at a weird angle, and when I squint through the window, I catch sight of the driver slumped over the steering wheel. Passed out or worse.