The Hunted (The Killing Hours Book 1)

by Christy Anderson

  I still try to call for Knox. He can’t be dead. He can’t. If he is, I don’t care what they do to me. I don’t have much choice in the matter at this point, anyway.

  I’m going to die.

  Tears trail down my cheeks.

  Scarlett. My God what will this do to her? I do take comfort in knowing she is alive. If nothing else, she is safe.

  The shallow water reaches my side and takes my breath. The icy water grows colder as its murky depths consume me. The white dress, stained with mud, adds another layer of weight pulling me under. As I’m dragged further into the pond, water cascades across my face. The stagnant water filters through my nose and mouth, choking me. I begin to thrash. The sensation and fear of drowning are all too real now.

  I can tell the moment the anchor leaves land. I get pulled under swiftly. The pain of the ropes pulling tightly against bare skin, cutting through tender flesh, makes me cry out, which only causes me to drink in more water and lose precious oxygen.

  I’m light headed, but I try to propel myself upward, to break the surface. The anchor tries to drag me to the bottom as blackness crowds the corners of my mind. I’m drowning. I know it with everything I have in me.

  Suddenly, a stillness, a quietness I’ve never felt within myself begins to consume my body, but before I can relax into it, I’m propelled upward.

  Breaking the surface of the water I sputter, gag, and cough as water pours from my mouth. I desperately suck in deep lungsful of precious air. My lungs burn like they are on fire.

  A whimper escapes me as my arms are pulled taut. Pain radiates through my shoulders, my chest, and my back, as my arms feel they are being pulled from their sockets. The anchor tries to do its job and sink to the earth below the surface, pulling at me, stretching me, trying to drag me to my death. My body feels as though it’s being torn in two. I scream at the pain and pressure coursing through my body, my tears mixing with the cold drops of rain to fall into the pond. Vaughn’s men drive the posts into the ground, lifting me higher.

  Finally, once the posts have been driven in, I begin to settle. The water sluices around me at waist level, and the rain dances on the surface. A whimper escapes me.

  This is how my life ends.

  A pained, guttural roar rips through the night, piercing my very soul. I lift my head to find Knox’s furious gaze locked onto me.

  My heart breaks for him and all that he has endured and lost at the hands of a man who was supposed to love him, more than anything on this earth.

  I can’t stand the thought that he has to watch history repeat itself.

  27

  Knox

  I wake to the taste of my blood coating my tongue. I try to move my arms, but the sting stops my movement. I’m tied. I begin to come back to myself as faint, pained whimpers pierce my ears.

  Raven.

  “It appears my son is ready for his final lesson.”

  I crack my eyes open, and a gasp of terror escapes me. Raven is tied, strung up, over the pond. I struggle in the ropes that bind me to this tree and roar in frustration at their lack of give from my efforts.

  Visions of my mother flash through my mind, and my heart breaks to see Raven’s terror-stricken face staring at me. The faint light catches on the rivulets of tears streaming down her cheeks, mixing with the rain. The quiver of her lip squeezes my heart and fuels me with a rage unlike any I have ever known.

  Just as my mother was tied and left to drown, my father plans the same fate for Raven.

  “Always some fucking theatrics for you, Father.”

  The word Father tastes like ash on my tongue. I have to grit the word out, force it past my lips. This man before me was a father in name only. He is no one to me.

  “I just hope you enjoy the show, Son.”

  I thrash against the huge white oak tree and the ropes so harshly, my flesh tears from the friction.

  “I thought this was far more fitting an end for this farce of a relationship. Symbolic, if you will. The only thing that matters in your life, in your world, is Albatross. How many times must I beat this lesson into your head? Nothing can stand between you, the killer, and the organization. It’s too big, too important to throw away on petty feelings you think you have due to sleeping with some undeserving whore. Don’t you see, son? You are to marry for wealth, power, and to add to our coffers. I’m setting you free. Love can only blind you to the truth. You were born to kill. This is your fucking life. This, this is what you have to live for! You are my fucking legacy! It is your job to lead Albatross! I have done all of this for you!”

  “For me? You really are crazy, aren’t you? I never wanted this, you crazy fuck. None of it! You’ve taken everything from me! Every. Fucking. Thing. I will fucking kill you! If that is all I ever manage to do, I will fucking kill you!”

  “Tsk, tsk son. Enough. You will watch this whore die, just as you did with your Mother. I see some lessons need to be repeated.”

  My father walks over to me and taps me under the chin with the side of his index finger.

  “You will bend, Knox, then I will break you. My men will be back to collect you in a couple of days.”

  “Don’t fucking count on me being here, mother fucker.”

  “You’ve nowhere else to go, son.”

  He stalks off, and I watch as several men come out from behind trees to follow him back to the manor. Guess I’m going to have to kill several mother fuckers tonight.

  “Knox.”

  Her sweet terror-filled voice pulls me momentarily from my rage.

  “Raven, I will get free, baby.”

  I will. There is no fucking way I will watch her die like my Mother.

  I struggle against the ropes, and the burning intensifies. My arms stretched behind and around the tree leave me little room for leverage. I lean forward, pulling on the binds, roaring with frustration.

  “Oh, God! Oh, God, Knox!”

  The rain saturating the earth is forcing the posts to lose their grip in the ground. They begin to pull inward with Raven’s weight and the anchor. She’s slowly sinking. The water that was at her waist now reaches her breasts.

  “It’s okay, baby. Just try to stay still.”

  I speak as calmly as I can so as not to alarm her any further. I work my body furiously against the ropes. They begin to give around my wrists. I twist them back and forth and inhale sharply as I feel the ropes strapped around my chest begin to loosen. Working as swiftly as I can, I put every ounce of energy I have into getting free. I have to get out. There’s no other option. I can’t lose Raven.

  “Knox! I’m sinking!”

  Faster, I work my wrists back and forth, trying to loosen the damn ropes. I force my weight forward away from the tree.

  “Oh fuck, fuck!”

  I look up to see my sweet girl in water to her chin. My heart accelerates as I struggle. Everything hangs in the balance before my eyes, again.

  “Goddammit! Mother fucker! Hold on, Raven! Hold on!”

  I roar, terrified as I yank as hard as I can, feeling the tension lessen in the ropes.

  “Knox! I’m going under!”

  “Don’t worry. Take a breath, baby. I’ll be right behind you. I swear to all that is holy, I will be right behind you. Deep breath.”

  My beautiful, brave Little Bird raises her chin and gulps air into her lungs while I continue to work feverishly. We lock eyes, and I don’t take my eyes off her as she begins to slide under the water.

  My heart tries to leap from my chest, and with one massive surge, my wrists come free. I untangle the rope from around my chest.

  I break free and run with everything I have in me toward the water. I’m about to dive in when fire erupts in my thigh. I don’t give a fuck. They will have to kill me to keep me out of this fucking water.

  Bullets sail through the air as I dive under the water. The dark, murky abyss has almost no visibility, but I don’t let that stop me. I swim down further through the depths when I finally see a shimmer of white.
>
  Thank God!

  I stretch my arms out in a large stroke. My hand hits something. Rope. I use it to guide my way down to her.

  She’s not moving. She’s still. Too still. Her hair fans out around her like black silk, and the muddied white dress floats around her like an eerie death shroud.

  My heart stalls in my chest as I reach her.

  She isn’t conscious! My God!

  I blow a burst of precious oxygen into her lungs then trail down her body, grabbing the rope around her ankles that’s tied to the anchor. I twist the length around my forearm several times as bullets slice through the water closer and closer to us. I tug Raven down into my arms and blow another breath into her mouth before I wrap the arm holding the anchor around her waist and kick with everything I have, using my free arm to swim upward. The gunfire grows louder as we near the surface, and once I crest into the night air, I see why. Men in Iron Mayhem colors are stationed around the pond, firing into the surrounding woods. They’re acting as our line of defense against Albatross.

  I swim toward the bank with Raven in my arms, dragging ropes and the post from the opposite shore behind us. She still isn’t moving, and I’m certain she’s not breathing. Fear grips me as I try to stay calm but fail miserably. I finally get close enough to shore to touch the mucky bottom and push through to the water’s edge. Movement out of the corner of my eye draws my attention, and one of the men from Iron Mayhem jogs toward us. Every instinct I have screams to put down my girl and kill this fucker but he must sense that and throws his hands up in the air.

  “We ran the shooters into the woods. Here to help, brother. What do you need?”

  “Cut that anchor loose and the other ropes tied to the posts.”

  He nods and starts toward the rope hooked to the anchor, pulling a knife from the sheath on his belt.

  I lay Raven down gently in the grass, pushing her hair from her face. My fingers dip into her mouth, sweeping any debris from it. I place my fingers at her chin to tip it forward before I lean in to listen for breathing from her nose.

  Nothing.

  I pinch her nose shut as I seal my mouth around hers and begin to blow. I watch her chest rise with my breath filling her lungs. I give her another breath, and Raven sputters. Water and pond debris leave her. I turn her to her side and rub her back as she continues to expel the water from her body. My eyes sting with tears.

  She’s alive!

  “I’m here, baby. Just breathe.”

  Tears run down my cheeks, and my chest aches as I rub her back and continue to shelter her in case any more bullets begin to fly in our direction.

  “The ropes are cut, man. You need anything?”

  “Got an extra piece I can borrow?”

  He studies me for a minute before reaching down into his boot and handing over a .22 magnum from his ankle holster.

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime, and some of our brothers are out here. You see them, you better tell them you ain’t on the losing team before they try to mow you down. Some are still outside this place in case we need backup.” He motions toward the woods before taking off toward the sound of gunshots, drawing another gun from behind his back. I crouch down and start removing the lengths of cut rope from Raven’s wrists before moving to untie it from her ankles.

  “Knox.”

  Raven’s sweet voice is strained and weak, but she’s starting to gain her senses. I finally get the rope free from her ankles, tossing it into the pond before sitting and placing her head in my lap.

  “Little Bird.”

  “Thank you for saving me.”

  “It’s my honor, baby, taking care of you, keeping you safe. Can you get up? I need to get you some place safe, so I can come back and wrap this shit up.”

  “I think so.”

  I help her stand and pull her to me. She wraps her arms around my waist. I lay a couple of soft kisses to the top of her head.

  Jesus. I almost lost her. Just like I lost Mom.

  “I thought I lost you.”

  “I’m here.”

  I cup her face and kiss her, gently, deeply, trying to show her how much she means to me. This woman is working her way into my heart.

  “Let’s go, baby. I need to get you somewhere safe.”

  28

  Raven

  I died. Knox’s father killed me. Under that water, I gave in. I gave up. I resigned myself to my fate. That scares the shit of me. I’m trying to digest everything that happened while Knox is dead-set on taking me somewhere safe so he can go back in to the woods and find the crazy bastard.

  “Please, Knox. Let’s just leave. We can just leave and never come back.”

  “You can’t leave your family, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting him live. Not after what he just did to you.”

  “Let me help you, then. I can do something besides pray you return.” Tears begin to form in my eyes, but I try to stay strong for him.

  Don’t let them fall.

  Absolutely not. I can’t do what I need to do if you’re there. I’ll be too worried about trying to protect you.”

  He winces as we walk.

  “You’re hurt!” I stop and inspect him.

  “Just a scratch. Nothing to worry about. We need to keep moving.”

  He pulls me along with him, trying to end the conversation.

  “I’m not dumb, Knox. Let me check it.”

  “I don’t think you’re dumb. I’m really fine. Just a flesh wound. I promise I’ve had worse. I just need to get you the fuck out of here, baby. It’s too dangerous here right now. I don’t know where Vaughn is. I just need to know you’re safe. Please, just let me get you out of here.”

  “Okay.”

  I can’t argue with him about this. He’s an assassin, for Christ’s sake. I’m not certain how I think I can help him.

  “Okay? Just like that?”

  “Just like that.”

  He smiles and cups my face in his hands as he leans in and kisses my lips. If my being safe helps him, then that’s what I need to do.

  “Let’s move.”

  He grabs my hand, and we make our way as quick as we can toward the side of the manor. He winces with each step and I bite my tongue to keep from fussing over him.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’m taking you outside. Some of the MC are still out there. They’ll protect you.”

  “You’re leaving me with a biker gang?”

  “I never thought I’d say this, but yes. It’s the safest place for you right now.”

  The sound of shots ring out from nearby, and we pick up our pace. We make our way toward an old iron gate, perched between endless rows of manicured boxwoods. Knox presses his thumb to a pad, and the gate clicks open. He ushers me through and closes the gate behind him. Row upon row of motorcycles with a group of about ten men greet us, guns drawn and aimed at us. I stop in my tracks, and Knox steps in front of me, shielding me.

  “Lazz sent us,” Knox says with his hands raised in the air.

  “Who the fuck are you?” A guy with a scraggly gray beard that hangs to his chest asks with his gun still trained on us.

  “Bane.”

  One word and all the men look at one another before they lower their weapons.

  “This is Raven, she’s… He looks to me for a moment before continuing, “she’s mine. I need you to guard her with your life.” He brings me into his side, squeezing my shoulder. Hearing him call me “his” sends a thrill through me.

  I’ve fallen so hard, so fast for this man.

  “Why the fuck would we baby-sit your bitch?”

  Knox steps forward as gray beard raises his gun. I press myself in front of him and he gently moves me behind him.

  “You get this one fucking time to speak to me like that, one fucking time to call my woman a bitch.” Knox speaks quietly, deadly. His nostrils flare, his ruthless rage barely contained. I’m hanging onto his bicep, trying to tamp down the beast.

  Calm down, Knox
. We need their help.

  “I... I, uh…” Gray beard is at a loss for words. I don’t blame him. I’m about to tell the man to run for his life when a voice sounds from behind us.

  “Shut the fuck up, Punch, and back the fuck off before Bane fucking drives his fist through your skull.”

  I turn to see Lazz coming through the gate. He made it out. He looks like pure hell, though. Blood soaks his clothes, but from the fluid way he moves, I can tell it’s not all his.

  Lazz comes over and shoves gray beard backward, and he turns, walking off toward the other men.

  “Pay no attention to Punch. He’s a dumb shit. A good soldier but a dumb shit.”

  “You made it.” I offer a smile.

  I never thought I’d be happy he was safe.

  “Sure did, darlin’. Had to fight my way out of that fucking tunnel, but these fuckers can’t kill me before I spill their blood.”

  He shoots me a wink and a devious smile.

  “What’s the plan, man?” Lazz asks as he turns his attention to Knox.

  “I need someone to watch after Raven, and I need guns and ammo.”

  Lazz smiles. “We’ve got that covered. My old man founded this MC on gun runnin’ and we have carried on that tradition. What do you need?”

  Knox’s eyes light up, and he heads over with Lazz to a SUV to pick out what he needs. I stay out of his way as much as possible. Knox picks up guns, loads them, and starts strapping the guns and ammo to his body. Every now and then, he turns and gives me a small smile as he arms himself to do battle to the death. I’m trying to stay strong for him, but inside, I’m falling apart. He is going back in there, and no amount of pleading can stop him. This war with his father is far worse than I could have imagined. I now know first-hand what lunacy Vaughn is capable of.

  “Lazz, can you give us minute?” Knox asks.

  “Let me know when you’re ready. I’m going with you.” Lazz walks over to some of the men standing nearby.