Page 8 of Daddy’s Hunted Bride

CHAPTER 4

DANE

Spinning around, Vanessa glares up at me, instinctively moving to put herself between me and Josie.

Brave little fox.

“We’re leaving,” she states with a boldness that is only somewhat undermined by the quiver in her voice.

“Oh?” Tilting my head to the side, I watch her, amusement tickling my chest when she jerks her chin up, terrified green eyes flashing with determination.

“Yes. And you aren’t going to stop us.”

“By all means.” I gesture to the hallway behind me. “Run, little fox.”

Her bravado falters for a second, her eyes darting between me and what she sees as her freedom. “I will.”

“Good.” Stepping forward, I lean down to whisper in her ear. “But if I catch you, I get to keep you. And once I have you, I will lay claim to every inch of your sweet little body. So run fast, little fox, and don’t look back.”

She steps to the side, her weight shifting from one foot to another, a runner debating on whether or not to steal second. “What’s the catch?”

Clever little fox. “No catch. I’ll even give you a head start.”

“What about Marjorie?”

I glance over at my niece who lifts a shoulder as if to say she tried her best. “Josie is welcome to go with you. If she wants. Do you want to run, Josie-Posie?”

“No, Uncle Dane.” She slides a worried gaze toward Vanessa. “Can’t you just stay, Vanessa? Please? It’s actually a lot of fun here and you could have all the time in the world to read if you want. And we always talked about how much fun it would be to live together! We could⁠—”

“Josie.” I wait for my niece to look my way, and I have to swallow a laugh at the way her jaw firms with stubbornness. “If Vanessa wants to run, that’s up to her. Just like your decision to stay is up to you. Understood?”

Fire flashes in Josie’s eyes, but only for a moment before she sighs, her shoulders slumping forward. “Yes, Uncle Dane.”

“That’s settled, then.” Returning my gaze to the fierce Little girl in front of me, I let my lips curve. “Josie stays. But you are free to go. If you can make it to the main road before I catch you, that is.”

Vanessa shoots a pleading look over her shoulder, but Josie only shakes her head. “I’m not leaving. This is where I belong. With my family.”

“Clock’s ticking, little fox. Time to choose. Run or stay.”

She hesitates only a moment longer. “I’ll be back for you, Marjorie. I swear.”

With one last pained look for her friend, my babygirl takes off for the front door.

The chase is on.

Vanessa

Get to the car. Drive to town. Get help.

That desperate mantra plays over and over in my mind as I run, my sneakers pounding against the gravel of the long, winding driveway. I parked at the bottom of their drive, my car hidden behind some bushes so I wouldn’t alert them to my presence.

Clearly, I did a fantastic job of sneaking up on them.

But I can’t think about that now. Head down, I focus all my energy on running faster than I’ve ever run in my life. On running as if my life depends on it.

Because it does.

This time, I do risk a glance back, my heart slamming against my ribcage at the sight of my pursuer far closer behind me than he has any right to be. Like any good horror movie villain, he doesn’t run, but my short legs are no match for his long, determined strides.