Page 117 of Day Break

“I don’t think so. Rumor is, you have something that’s very valuable to me,” Derrick sneered.

I tried to kick him in the shins, to twist out of his hold, but he was far too strong. He started pulling me through the tall grass, back towards the house.

Where was Lane? Was he out there searching for me? Would he find me in time?

I screamed a few more times but this only made Derrick laugh harder. His eyes momentarily moved away from me even though his hands held firm.

I had a second to think before I reacted. I leaned up on my toes and bit him square on the jaw, sinking my teeth into his skin so deep that I tasted blood.

“You bitch,” he screamed, trying to dislodge me. He shook me until I was forced to release my bite. I fell backwards, realizing quickly that he’d released me.

Once more, I ran into the darkness, blind to the danger that I was running right into.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“I never see the dawn that I don’t say to myself perhaps.”

- John Dos Passos

Lane

I watched as Chloe disappeared into the darkness. The tall grass swallowed her whole.

Turning, I headed towards Byron’s angry barking. I was close when he yelped in pain and grew silent.

“Son of a bitch.” I threw myself at the dark figure that hovered over my unconscious dog. Just as I plowed into the shadow, he looked up.

I had a moment of pause before our bodies were thrown into the sand with the force.

A fist rammed into my gut, robbing me of my breath just as my elbow connected with his chin.

I fought like my life depended on it. Unlike all the past times I’d fought with my cousin before.

This time, I knew the winner would be the only one left alive.

All my life I’d never been able to beat him. He was much bigger than I was, so much stronger.

So I did what I’d been training to do at the gym in the boxing ring. I used his own force and strength against him. Every time he swung out, I dodged and he would fall into the sand.

When he kicked out, I connected with the leg holding him up.

When I’d dodged him three times, he lay in the sand, cursing at me. Then he suddenly turned towards me, and I was assaulted with a handful of sand. I was blinded long enough that his fist was able to connect with my jaw so powerfully I started to black out. I didn’t see the gun. I did, however, hear it go off right before everything went black.

When I woke, everything was quiet. There were clouds over the moon, blocking out the light.

I could taste blood, feel it oozing out of my side where the bullet had lodged. Every time I took a breath, my ribs hurt.

When I sat up, my head spun. I bit my lip until my eyes focused. I thought I heard a scream. Thought I heard a dog barking.

No, that couldn’t be right. Byron was down.

I glanced over to where I’d seen his dark form lying in the sand. The spot was empty.

Crawling to my hands and knees, I cursed as I stood up. Swaying, I took one deep breath and then another.

Chloe. Chloe was pregnant.

I was going to be a dad.