SWNOVELS Brutal Savage: Chapter 11
“Can you take him back home?” I ask Fionn as soon as we’ve left the café, heading back to our cars.
Brody holds the dog in his arms, afraid to put her down this time. I know how upset he was when she ran off. But it was my fault. I shouldn’t have let him hold the leash. She got too excited when she saw a pigeon and pulled too hard and he couldn’t hold on.
Tears filled his eyes, and I vowed to find that dog no matter how long it took.
I couldn’t let him lose someone else. Not after everything.
“Why?” Fionn asks. “Where are you going?”
His amused expression makes it clear he thinks I’m going off to follow her. But he’d be wrong.
“None of your business.” I kneel before Brody. “I’ll be home soon.”
He nods, and Fionn opens his car door for him before I get into mine.
I know where Elara is going now: on her run. She was already dressed for it—tight gray leggings that did nothing to hide her toned legs and round ass. One I’d very much enjoy.
Her sitting beside me that whole time had me wanting to do things I shouldn’t want to do to her. I don’t know what the hell she’s doing to me and how, because I can’t seem to stop thinking about her, no matter how hard I try.
She’s a damn snake, wrapping herself around me until I can’t so much as breathe without her permission.
I can’t lie to myself anymore and pretend that I watch her for Brody’s sake. This time it’s all for me.
I’ve committed everything I can about her to memory. Like how she likes her coffee with only a splash of cream. And when she’s out to dinner, she orders a glass of white wine instead of red. And when she’s really nervous, she plays with her hair. There’s nothing I haven’t paid close attention to. Nothing at all, and that drives me crazy.
She’s beautiful, though it’s not just her beauty that entices me. It’s her aura. The way she’s afraid of me, yet speaks her mind and fights me with that sharp wit.
I want to feel her bare skin on my fingertips, want to expose every inch of her, in every way possible, until she trusts me enough to tell me what she’s hiding.
When I mentioned a fiancé, I didn’t miss the way her body visibly shuddered. He hurt her. That has to be it.
I need to know his name.
I need to find him.
Maybe her grandma will be more than happy to share that information.
But for now, I’ll watch her and see what I can find on my own.
From a distance, her ponytail sways as she jogs up the path I saw her on the last time. I guess she didn’t heed my warning.
Turning around, I roll my SUV the opposite way and head for her house, wanting to see what I can find. The last time I was there, I had to leave quickly when my father called. This time, I’ll be taking my time.
Ten minutes later, I park behind her house. It’s a small two-bedroom home, two stories, blue shutters. Perfect for her.
Opening the gate, I head toward the back door and easily pick the lock, strolling inside, right into the kitchen.
The smell of citrus drifts in the air from the bowl of oranges on her counter.
I run my fingers over the marble before heading for the fridge, not seeing anything there besides some magnets of animals. Dogs, cats, birds. She’s an animal person. It’s no wonder Bubbles was a fan.
I go through her cupboards. Every mug, every jar, every container. There’s nothing in here that can give me answers.
There has to be something. Something right in front of my face.
Continuing past the kitchen and into the living room, I rummage through the sofa cushions, not finding a damn thing. Not even after looking through every inch of the first floor.
Taming my frustration, I head toward the end table, where photos of her and her family lie. There’s one with her grandparents and another with two people I’ve never seen before.
Picking that photo up, I trace a finger down Elara’s face—a few years younger, yet still as beautiful.
The couple’s older, most likely her parents. She resembles the woman, same blue eyes, but Elara’s hair is darker—her father’s hair.
Where are they? Are they dead? She’s like a damn puzzle.
I take out my phone and snap a picture of them. I’ll run it through our facial recognition software to see if her parents get any hits.
Is she in witness protection? Is that what this is? We don’t have contacts with them. Wouldn’t be able to get those files.
I lower the photo back down, and as I do, it slips from my grasp.
“Shit.”
It can’t break. I don’t want her to know someone’s been here. She’ll think it’s her ex. If she ran once, she’s bound to do it again. Brody can’t lose her.
The glass doesn’t seem affected, but the back came undone. As I go to fix it, something slips from behind the velvet.
Tugging it out, I find a small, neatly-folded piece of paper.
What the fuck is this?
Opening it up, I read it. Just two letters and a phone number.
DK
732-555-6593
732. That’s a New Jersey area code. Is that where she’s from? Who the hell is DK?
Slipping my cell out again, I snap a photo of the info and return the paper back in the frame, placing it how it originally stood.
As I intend to head upstairs to her bedroom, soft footsteps pound across the ground before keys clink together.
Seems like she cut her run a little short today.
A smirk spreads across my face as I return to the kitchen and settle onto a stool, waiting for her to find me.
I think it’s time we had a little discussion about how it isn’t nice to keep someone waiting.
I want an answer about my job offer. And I want it today.
ELARA
A chill creeps up the back of my neck, even as sweat beads across my forehead. I take in gasping breaths, but it isn’t from the run. It’s from something else entirely.
A car behind me slows.
A black sedan with no plates. The windows tinted.
My breaths rush out of me as I start to run faster, the engine roaring to life right before the vehicle speeds up.
Closer.
It gets closer.
Chasing me down the empty road.
Tynan was right. You never know who might find you here.
And this time, it isn’t him.
My body prickles, the wheels burning across the concrete as the driver toys with me.
Is it Jerry? His father? One of their men?
No. I can’t die. I can’t give up.
Run.
Keep running.
But I’m no match.
It gains on me.
Faster.
Faster.
The horn beeps, but I keep going, my lungs burning like they’re on fire.
Only a few yards remain between us. And as it comes up right behind me, I veer into the woods, rushing past the branches crunching beneath my feet, one slicing across my arm through my thin, hooded zip-up jacket.
I wince, yet keep running through the pain, unsure if the driver is still following me.
I can’t look back. I must keep going. I know the way back home from here.
Only a couple miles remain until I’m safe.
Though that’s a foolish thought.
Because whoever is behind that wheel must know where I live.
Maybe I should surrender. If I do, there’s a chance they’ll spare my grandparents’ lives. I can’t let them die.
I fight the tears filling my eyes. Staying strong and making it out of this is all I have left right now. There’s no other choice. I have to make it home. I have to pack my bags and disappear.
Glancing behind me, I don’t see or hear a sound.
Just keep running.
Almost there.
My heart is ready to rip right out of my chest.
Mindlessly, I hurry like hell until I make it back home, rushing to get my keys out and opening the door as quickly as possible.
“Oh, God…” I cry, the adrenaline leaving me, fear remaining.
My back hits the door, and I slither down to the floor, breathing heavy as I shut my eyes.
I need to figure out a plan. Maybe I can somehow find out who was chasing me before I do something rash like leave my grandparents behind.
But how? There were no cameras there, I don’t think, and even if there were, how would I have access to the footage?
In that moment, Tynan comes to mind. He has connections. Maybe I could tell him what happened and he’d help me find the driver.
Brushing the back of my hand over my sweaty forehead, I start to rise, needing to clean my wound.
I grimace as I stare down at the blood already soaking the material.
My phone rings, and my pulse jumps in my temples.
Instant panic sets in when I retrieve it to find the nursing home calling. What if Jerry did something to him?
“H-h-hello?”
“Ms. Hill? Hi, it’s Ms. Davis calling from Sunset Homes.”
“Yes, i-is everything okay with my grandfather?” My breathing has yet to stabilize. I’m barely able to get the words out.
“Oh, yes, yes, of course. I was just calling about the outstanding bill we have on his account. I know you had asked for another week to pay the remaining six thousand for this month, but I’m afraid we still have not gotten a payment.”
Shit. I don’t have enough.
Pinching my eyes closed, I clear my throat. “Uh, right, yes. I’m so sorry about that. Is there any way you can give me another week? Please? I can pay two thousand today. I just need a little time.”
She sighs. “Ms. Hill, have you thought about sending him to Care Park? It’s a few thousand less a month and they have space for him.”
No way. That place is awful. I personally toured it and read the terrible reviews. I’d never send him to that dump. I’ll have to get another job.
Tynan offered you one…
My stomach clenches.
“Ms. Davis, I swear, I will have the money for you in a week. You won’t have a problem again.”
She releases an impatient exhale. “Alright. I’ll speak to billing. But a week, Ms. Hill. That’s all you have. There will be no other extensions.”
“Understood.”
“Have a good day.”
“You too.”
She drops the call, and I grip the phone in a tight grasp, my breath ravaging in my chest. I have to tell Tynan I want the job. That’d give me at least seven thousand a week. I’ll have the rest of the money from my salary.
My arm stings, and I groan as I head toward the kitchen.
As I step inside, I gasp through my racing heart, jumping back and almost tripping over my own feet.
Because sitting there in my kitchen is none other than Tynan Quinn.
Wearing that same smirk I can’t seem to get out of my head.