AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t you say that!” I roared at her across the five-foot space that separated us. “Don’t you ever give yourself up for me—don’t you fucking do that!”
“Let’s go,” the dark-haired man said. He bent over and grabbed Thais’ elbow, yanking her to her feet.
Driggs yanked me up, and I stared him down with all the hate and fury and retribution I could muster. But I stood, and I didn’t fight back, and I walked forward as Driggs shoved the end of Thais’ staff into the center of my back. I’m going to fucking kill you. I’m going to fucking kill every one of you. I felt the blood circulation cutting off from my hands as I tightened my fists behind me, the unbreakable plastic almost cutting into my flesh. My teeth ground together in my mouth, breaking the skin on the inside of my cheek. My eyes flashed, the faces of every man I had ever killed moved in front of me like macabre images on a screen, staring back at me. It wasn’t guilt I felt, but rage, the same rage I felt as I killed each one of them.
I glanced at Driggs from the corner of my eye and thought I could easily take him down, swipe his legs from beneath him and choke him to death with my own legs. But I couldn’t risk it; I knew they’d use Thais against me, and that they’d hurt her.
Thais went down the last step of the back porch, walking obediently alongside the dark-haired man; I came down with Driggs at my back, steadily poking me with the staff. Our eyes met. I’m sorry, love…I’m so sorry I let this happen.
It’s not your fault, Atticus, her eyes told me. We will get out of this…we will find a way.
The rest of the men emerged from the cabin; two came from the side of the house, one of them carried the hatchet I had been using to make Jeffrey’s canoe.
“Let’s head out!” the dark-haired man instructed.
There was a strident scream, like a crazed war cry, and the bushes rustled out ahead. Everyone stopped cold, reaching for their guns and knives.
Jeffrey burst through the woods wielding his shovel in both hands.
“You let them go! You don’t hurt Thais!”
“Jeffrey nooo!” Thais bellowed.
Jeffrey went at them, raising the shovel out beside him like a baseball bat, and when he was within range, the shovel sprang forward like a whip and cracked one man on the side of the head. He fell to his knees, covering his face with both hands; blood poured from the gash, painted his fingers red, dripped down his forearms. He writhed in pain, moaned and howled like a dog struck by a car.
“JEFFREY STOP!” Thais cried out, struggling hard against her bonds. She tried to run out after him, but the dark-haired bastard grabbed her.
I turned swiftly on Driggs and kicked him in the stomach, then took off running toward Jeffrey. “Jeffrey, don’t do it! Put the shovel down!”
I heard a thunk! and saw yellow and black dots dance across my vision, followed by a crippling sensation racing through the back of my skull. I crumpled to my knees. My first instinct was to reach up and touch where the butt of the gun had struck, but I couldn’t move my bound arms. I blinked rapidly until normal vision returned.
“They are bad men!” Jeffrey exclaimed, whirling his shovel above his head. “Grandpa says it’s okay to kill the bad men! I’ll throw them over the bluff! They shouldn’t hurt Thais! They shouldn’t hurt you, Atticus!”
Jeffrey pushed forward, his eyes blazing, his mouth wide open, the shovel heaved above his head ready to strike.
Together, Thais and I watched in paralyzed horror.
No…
No…
THAIS
A shot rang out, sharp and violent in my ears. And then all was quiet; I could no longer hear the crickets or the frogs, the beating of my own heart, the blood pumping through my veins.
Jeffrey’s shovel fell first, slipping from his grasp and hitting the ground—but it made no sound. Then Jeffrey fell, his heavy body collapsing against the grass in a heap of overalls and skin—but it made no sound. And when the shock of the moment wore off, and I screamed so loudly my throat felt like fire, not even my own voice could I hear.
The last thing I saw as I was hoisted over Kade’s shoulder were Jeffrey’s dead eyes staring up at me from the ground.
57
ATTICUS
When we made it to the path where other men waited with horses, Thais and I were separated. Thais was forced into a makeshift carriage—a truck bed pulled by two horses—while I was forced to walk alongside Driggs high on his horse.
“Try to run,” Driggs warned, looking down on me, “and I won’t shoot you—I’ll shoot that pretty little woman back there. Understood? Underfuckingstood?”
I wouldn’t run anywhere without her, you fucking idiot.
