AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My voice is cold, sharp. I’m not hysterical because it wouldn’t help. I have to be reasonable and make them understand that I’m not kidding.
I’m not laughing at all at this little game. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me, and I can feel the panic growing inside me little by little. But I have to calm down, nothing will happen to me. Tucker wouldn’t hurt me, would he?
He doesn’t respond to my command. My breath quickens as I am gently seated on a leather seat. My attempt to remain calm gradually fails. “Damn it, untie me!”
“Why is she winding herself up?” asks the second guy. “She’s the one who wanted to be in the game, right?”
What?!
“Shut up and drive,” Tucker commands.
His voice is close to me, inches away. I turn toward him and speak through the lightweight bag. “I didn’t want to be part of this stupid game! You dragged me into it, Tucker! I swear to God, if you don’t let me go, I will rip your balls off and make a necklace out of them.”
My voice falters on those last words as I try to catch my breath.
“It’s one thing to be in your third trial, but to be kidnapped?”
Tucker puts his hand on my waist. “Hey, it’s okay,” he whispers in my ear so only I can hear him.
“No, no, it’s not okay. I have to…I have to breathe,” I say, panting hard.
His forehead pressed against mine as my breathing barely slowed. “Stop panicking. This is what you were made for. You’re made for danger. I want you to succeed, you have to succeed.”
“But this is just a stupid game,” I spit out as I try to move my shoulders to free my hands. “It’s so creepy.”
“Wait, she wasn’t okay with this?” asks the guy at the front of the vehicle.
“Shut up,” orders Tucker again.
“Why are you doing this?” I spit in his direction. “Just let me see where we’re going.”
The driver stifles a laugh. “Let you see? No way.”
But already I can feel Tucker’s hands on the back of my neck.
“Tucker! What are you doing?” the guy shouts.
But Tucker ignores him. He pulls the stupid cloth away from my face and I inhale deeply.
“You had no right to pull the bag off her!” exclaims the guy driving, wearing his wolf mask. “Tucker, those are the rules!”
“And I make the rules,” growls Tucker. “So either you shut up or I’ll shut you up.”
The guy curses and his hands grip the steering wheel harder, but he keeps driving. The tension rises between us. I stare at Tucker, restraining myself from thanking him and then slapping him—not that I can anyway since my hands are tied. He returns my gaze without blinking. His behavior is totally different from when we are alone. He seems closed and almost distant. Impenetrable.
“Where are you taking me? In a forest? The one at your place?! Answer!” I shout while he keeps his lips closed.
I can see that he is angry at me for getting my face free. Yet it’s as if he couldn’t help himself. “I told you it was the third trial,” he replies.
His posture is totally hostile. Both of his fists are clenched on his thighs, and his breath is rapid, as if he is forced to be here.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask again.
“We want to see if you have guts,” retorts the guy behind the wheel without answering my question. “And if you’re not just selfish cubs.”
Selfish? Are we going to have to help each other?
Tucker plants his eyes on mine and gives me a small smile. It’s as if he’s trying to send me a reassuring message through his unfathomable gaze. “It’s okay,” he whispers, an inch from my mouth. “Nothing will happen to you.”
