Page 55 of Hunted By Them

“What do you want, Sweet Daisy?” Ryder’s voice was edged and menacing behind the bone. “You decide what we do with him.”

The world went still in that single sentence. The life that had held me by the throat dropped away like I was shedding my old skin. I looked at the three of them and felt the line I’d been walking snap.

Connor laughed, too loud and filled with panic. “This is insane. Whoever you are, this is kidnapping.”

They didn’t say a word as they waited for me. I locked eyes with Connor.

“You’re going to end up in jail for the rest of your life, Sage. I’ll make sure that they lock you up in a padded cell and throw away the key…unless you let me go right this second.”

I smiled and took a small step forward, careful not to enter the symbol. “Is that so?”

“Yes, I forgive you for stabbing and embarrassing me. We’ll wipe the slate clean.”

“I want you to admit it.”

“Admit what?”

“That you broke into my apartment and destroyed all my things. That you are so fucking petty and couldn’t take no for an answer. That you acted out like a toddler having a tantrum. You want to be set free, then tell the truth.”

He snorted, his ego getting in the way of life and death. “This is stupid,” he said, and started to get off his knees.

“Stay on your knees,” Buck bellowed from beside me, and the sound echoed off the trees. Connor froze. A knife flashed in the light as Buck threw it, and it lodged in the ground right in front of Connor’s knee. His face turned ashen as he resumed the perfect kneeling position.

He was shaking.

“Sage…please.”

“Stop saying my name like you own it,” I ordered.

His mouth clamped shut. In the quiet that followed, I heard an owl call twice, then fall still.

“Say the words, Connor, or I’ll have them slice your throat open right where you are,” I said, surprising myself that I meant it. I didn’t care if he lived or died.

He licked his lips and sighed. “Yes, I did it, okay? I was pissed. No one leaves me.”

My eyebrow arched. There was relief that came with his words. The police might not have been able to do anything about Connor, but justice would be served.

“Why did you follow me into the forest?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I was angry and wanted to confront you.”

“Confront me? You planned to kill me, didn’t you?”

Connor shook his head. “I…I…” He looked at the three men. “I wanted you to pay. I didn’t plan on killing you.”

“But you thought about it. Didn’t you?” My tone was firmer than I’d ever been with anyone.

He hesitated.

“Answer. The. Question,” Dash snarled, and a shiver raced down my spine.

Connor shook harder. “Yes. There, I said it. You got what you wanted, now let me go.”

Caribou stepped closer, voice soft enough for only me to hear. “We can make him disappear. No one will find him. Not rangers. Not dogs. Not time. Tell us what you want.”

My choice.

I squatted, but Connor looked down.