He wouldn’t stop chasing me while I was on his bike. I’d need to dump it. Once I was well out of town, I took a corner road and screeched the brakes bringing the machine to a sliding stop. Dust flew everywhere. I jumped off, leaving the keys in the ignition, not caring that the engine was still on. I let the bike fall as I ran for cover.
Dark tall trees lined both sides of the road and I darted into the darkness on the closest side, ducking under branches and jumping over debris until I was in far enough to be hidden but still able to watch him approach. I saw more than one set of headlights nearing. Colt wasn’t alone. Crap. Maybe they’d take the bike and not pursue me further. Maybe.
I backed against a tree to catch my breath and waited to see what the approaching group would do. I should have known better than to take the full three thousand, but I needed the money more than they did. Four motorcycles pulled up where Colt’s bike sat in the dirt. He lifted the bike and turned off the engine, looking around in all directions to try to determine where I’d gone.
Five men. Even I couldn’t talk my way out of that situation if they found me. I quietly backed further into the trees and when I was sure I wouldn’t be heard, turned and ran further into the depths.
I’d been travelling for at least twenty minutes before I stopped and sat down near a tree. I was tired, not only from running, but also because I hadn’t had any sleep. If I could find a hidden alcove or large hollow tree I could catch some zzz’s before I continued my escape. I flicked on my phone hoping that Colt and his gang would have left the pursuit by now. They hadn’t. They were probing the area, still looking for me.
They’d give up eventually when they realized the chase was futile. Most men gave up after a few hours. By the fact they were still here, I figured I’d get a day before they called off the search. They’d be cursing my name for ages. I could just imagine the crude things they were saying about me now, but I didn’t care, I didn’t do this to make friends and I sure as heck wouldn’t be hunting in this town again. That was the rule. Never the same town.
I scanned the area wondering where the best place to hole up and hide would be. I’d only walked a few more steps when I saw the cleared area. In the middle of the area was a wooden house.
It was unusual that a house should be here in the middle of such a thick canopy of trees that spanned at least a mile in all directions. No roads leading to it, no way of anyone finding it. Unless they stumbled across it when hiding from a biker gang, like I was. I stayed under cover of the trees while I walked the perimeter, searching for signs of life.
Built from tree logs, this house looked like a mountain cabin and was two stories high. A large porch at the front of the house was not made to look welcoming; instead, it almost glared at you, threatening anyone who came closer.
Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to give the impression that it was abandoned, with its broken window shutters hanging from rusted hinges and dead plants scattered in front of the steps, but there was no way this house was abandoned. Someone had built it here to hide from the world and they didn’t want to be found.
Since I didn’t want to be found either, it was the perfect place to stay, my luck was improving.
Walking to the back of the house, I quietly tested a window to see if it was unlocked. To my surprise it was. The window frame scraped as it opened and I paused, listening to see if I’d alerted anyone, before I climbed inside.
The house was just as barren inside as the outside, although some furniture did exist. I reached into my backpack and pulled out my knife. Just in case. Placing my knife into my back pocket I closed the window and waited for someone to come.
No one did. Someone was either afraid to investigate the intruder or was sleeping too soundly to have heard me enter. I bet my money on the former, although why they wouldn’t come and see who was breaking into their house, I still hadn’t figured out. I was in no doubt their curiosity would get the better of them eventually, but for now, I’d use it to my advantage.
Downstairs consisted of four rooms, two on either side of a large open staircase that led to a landing with more rooms upstairs. On one side of this level was a kitchen and living area, and the other a bedroom and bathroom. I suspected there was more bedrooms upstairs, and perhaps another bathroom, but I wasn’t going to investigate tonight, I knew I’d find out in time when whoever was here was ready to show themselves.
Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make it look like an abandoned cabin in the woods on the inside as well. Nearly all of the furniture and surroundings was made of wood, the walls, the table and chairs, even the bed. Fortunately, it also had a mattress and pillow, and while there were no sheets or blankets, a tattered mattress would be a far more comfortable sleeping option than the base of a tree.
I made my home in the bedroom, placing my backpack next to me on the bed, and lay down staring at the ceiling. It was quiet inside, almost like someone was holding their breath. I pulled the knife out of my pocket and slipped it under the pillow where I could easily grab it again if I needed to.
Yawning, I rolled over, pulling the leather jacket around me for warmth. The sun would be up in a few hours. Until then, all I could do was wait.
I closed my eyes and soon was drifting off to sleep.
Chapter 4
The morning light streamed in through the bare window and woke me. It took a few seconds to get my bearings and remember where I was. The room looked different in daylight than it did at night. The walls had peeling wallpaper and there were water stains in the corners. An old armchair, stuffing bursting out of the side with the chair frame showing, sat in the corner. It looked about as comfortable as the bed I’d slept in, which meant not at all.
I reached under my pillow and pulled out my cell phone checking the time. I’d had four hours of uninterrupted sleep. A bonus, and more than I expected. Whoever was upstairs wasn’t in any hurry to check out who their intruder was. I wondered about that.
A quick check of Colt’s location showed I’d be staying longer than I’d anticipated. He was still out looking for me. His friends were no doubt with him as well. This could get messy.
I was still tired and getting hungry. I played with the idea of rolling over and falling back to sleep, but when my stomach growled I decided it was time to meet my anonymous housemate.
Standing up, I deliberately made as much noise as I could to attract attention. I glanced up the stairs when I walked past them and into the kitchen. Whoever was up there knew I was here all right.
The kitchen was old, cabinet doors hanging off hinges, some with no knobs or handles. Obviously whoever lived here wasn’t a gourmet chef. I banged cupboard doors with deliberate clatter as I searched for food. There wasn’t anything on the shelves that was useful, no jars, no cans. There were a couple of half-empty spice jars and a cereal box that was stale and had something rustling inside it. Whoever lived here needed to do an immediate grocery run.
Fortunately, there was a functioning refrigerator which revealed a carton of eggs. I tested them in water to see if they were fresh like I’d been taught when I was younger, and they were good. I couldn’t find any bread for toast, but eggs alone could make a hearty breakfast. I lit the old-fashioned wood stove and placed five eggs into a mug, scrambling them with a pinch of salt. Pouring them into the cast iron skillet, I began making scrambled eggs as I heard footsteps descend the stairs with slow trepidation.
A man in his early forties stood in the doorway and leaned against the frame. He was handsome for his age, with dark hair peppered with fine strands of grey. His eyes were both gentle and tortured. His clothing was sophisticated yet casual, a cashmere grey jumper and tan trousers. This was not the occupant of the house that I expected to see, this was the type of man I’d eagerly hunt and steal from. Yet this man had nothing of worth in this house. He was a contradiction and that intrigued me.
“I assume you like eggs since it’s all I found.” I halved the scrambled mess in the pan and slid his porti
on onto a plate, placing it at the far end of the table. Sliding the remainder of the eggs on my own plate, I turned off the stove and sat down ready to eat.
“Why are you in my house?” He didn’t move, his tone was cool but not angry.
“All the rooms at the Hilton were booked.” I swirled my fork in the eggs and took a bite.
“You must leave.”
“But I’m paid up until Wednesday.” I pouted dramatically.
A flash of anger crossed his face but disappeared as quickly as it came. “It’s not safe for you here.”
“I can look after myself.”
“If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police.”
“No you won’t.”
“I will.”
I took another mouthful of the eggs. They were rather good even if they needed pepper. “Anyone who goes to this much trouble to build a house hidden in the woods does not want the police to find them. You won’t call them.”
He rushed into the room and hit his fist on the table, causing his plate of eggs to jump and clatter. “I am dangerous. You do not want to be around me.”
I shrugged. “I can look after myself.” I watched the struggle as he tried to contemplate what to do next. My knife was within easy reach if he did try anything more than threats, but I did not feel like he would.
“My last victim thought she could look after herself, too. She couldn’t. She called me, the brute. I am a brute. I’m a beast. A beast who will destroy any woman who comes near him.”
I narrowed my eyes trying to read him better and determine what was truth and what was merely said to scare me away. “Victim implies a crime. What was your crime?”
He shook his head. “No. Do not play the psychologist with me. This is a trick.”
“Your eggs are getting cold. Eat.”
He looked at his plate and pushed it off the table so the eggs splattered on the ground and the plate shattered into shards on the floor. “See. I’m dangerous.”
“Dangerous to eggs, maybe.”
I stood up and picked up my knife so he could see that I had it, playing with it in my hand. “I can’t leave yet, but I will soon. In the meantime, you’ll have to get used to having company. I’ll stay out of your way if you want, but I’m not leaving. Deal with it.” I placed the knife on the table with the blade out and walked over to the refrigerator. “Do you have anything to drink? I’m thirsty.”
“You’re not scared I’ll attack you? Force you to do things you don’t want to do?”
“Is that what you did to your victim? Attack her? Force her do things against her will?” I watched the conflicted emotions dance over his face. “Because if you were the beast you claim to be, you would have taken me last night. You wouldn’t warn me, you’d just do it. Even now, you won’t come near me. You’re all talk.”
His breathing quickened. “I’m serious. You don’t want to tempt me. You won’t like what I can do.”
If I was to stay here until it was safe to leave, it was time to see what he really could do to me. I bit my lip seductively and lowered my lashes. I lifted my hands up to untie my hair and let it flow down over my shoulders. If he was the animal he claimed to be, then I’d find out soon enough and be able deal with it. I’d certainly met worse before. But the choice of dealing with a biker gang that could slit my throat, and a man who had obvious issues with woman and sex, I knew which side of the fence I’d rather be on right now, since men and sex were my specialty.
“Do you mean, tempt you like this?” I walked past the table, grabbing my knife as I did so, and then stalked seductively toward him.
As I predicted, he backed away from me. I moved closer, until I was standing in front of him, my body almost touching his. I leaned forward, his eyes horrified that I might try to kiss him.
But I wasn’t going to kiss him, this was just show. I bought the knife up to his throat and whispered, “Like I said, I can look after myself.”
Chapter 5
I swayed my hips as I returned to the table. More for my own amusement than anything else. I dipped my finger into the leftover egg yolk that had dripped onto the plate and bought it to my mouth running my tongue over my finger.
“I don’t have anything worth stealing. If that’s what you are here for, you’ve come to the wrong place,” he said, quieter this time. I’d unnerved him. I tried not to smile.
As I looked around the barren kitchen, I leaned back in the chair causing the front legs to lift from the ground. “I can see that.”
“I’m serious, I don’t have anything worth taking.”
The chair legs clicked back on the wooden floor as I leaned forward. “Look. I’ll be gone soon. I thought I’d already be away by now, but my business is taking longer than I anticipated. I need somewhere to hang for a few more hours, that’s all. I’m not going to rip you off and I’m sorry for the intrusion. I wouldn’t be here if I had other options.”
He eyed me coolly, still not daring to come closer. “You’ll be gone in a few hours?”
“Three, tops. I’m sure of it. They always give up eventually.”
“Okay. Fine.” He looked down at his feet, tormented by his decision. “But stay out of my way. For both our sakes.”
He turned to leave, but before he’d disappeared I stood up and followed him out of the kitchen and into the hallway to the bottom of the stairs. He turned to say something, but I interjected first. “I know it’s a hassle. I’m sorry. Anyway, for what it’s worth, I’m Belle. Belle Lockhart. See, now you know who to report to the cops if I do anything wrong.”
“Wrong? Like trespassing? Breaking and entering? Threatening me with a knife?”
“Well, yes, okay. But I’m really a very nice person when you get to know me.” I held my hand out for him to shake as a peace offering, but he didn’t take it. I pulled it away just as quickly.
“Nick Prince.” He narrowed his eyes and turned his back as he ascended the stairs, but before he got to the top landing, he stopped and turned back to me. “I won’t call the police, you were right about that. But if you are going to stay, here are the rules. One: Do not come up these stairs. You can only stay on the ground floor. Two: Do not call out to me. Three: Do not come near me.”
“Agreed.” He glanced at me one last time, sadness in his eyes, then reached the landing and opened a door to the far right. I heard the lock click as he shut himself in his room. “I’ll stay down here. For now, anyway,” I whispered.
An hour later, Colt still hadn’t left the area. While I couldn’t be sure that his biker friends were still with him, I was convinced they were. He may have even bought more people into the search for all I knew. I’d have to sneak back through the trees and investigate tonight under the cover of darkness.
The only other option would be to find out how far these woods spread out. If there was another town or road nearby that I could get to safely by heading in the opposite direction, then I could get back home without them ever finding me. The GPS only showed trees and hills too high to navigate.
I contemplated heading upstairs and asking Nick if there was a better route out of here, since he would know better than I, but decided against it. He’d made it clear that he didn’t want me upstairs, which of course was the very worst thing he could have said to me, because now I had an urge to go up and see what he did all day, see what he was hiding in that room. I was sure it was far more interesting than down here.
No. That wouldn’t be fair. Nick Prince wasn’t part of my pick-up ritual. He was just a confused man hiding out. But about that, why was he hiding out here? What was in his past that made him think he was a beast when that clearly wasn’t what I saw?
I tried to shake away the curious thoughts that were coming thick and fast. I need to convince myself that I didn’t care. All I cared about was getting home.
By nightfall, Colt and his gang had started searching the woods. Things were getting messy.
Chapter 6
I’d need something in my stomach
if I was going to sneak back through the woods. The loud grumbling in my belly would give me away in a second, plus I don’t concentrate as well with an empty fuel tank, and I’d need my wits.
There were two eggs left in the refrigerator. I’d already had boiled eggs for lunch and, of course, scrambled eggs for breakfast. The thought of more of them made my stomach turn. What else did this guy eat? He must have food up there.
I walked to the bottom of the stairs and looked up contemplating my next move. I heard a click and then his bedroom door opened. I stood my ground, waiting for him.
Nick emerged holding a tray with two plates on it, each plate topped with a stainless steel dome cover, the type you saw in high-end restaurants and hotels.
“Expecting a date?” I asked.
“You said you’d be gone by now.”
“I’m about to head out, check if things are safe.”
“Eat first.” He descended the stairs and walked past me, toward the kitchen. I followed him into the kitchen where he placed the tray on the table and lifted the lids. Each plate had a baked potato, grilled chicken and green beans. Steam slowly curled up from the potato as a drizzle of butter slid down the side.
“You have a team of chefs up there do you?” I grinned and sat down, my mouth already savoring the flavors. “Thought you didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”
He pushed the plate until it was in front of me and walked around to fetch cutlery from the side drawer. “Having you fed and gone is preferable to sick and starved.”
“Fine by me.” I dug my fork into the beans and ate them greedily. The butter slid down my throat like silk. Delish.
“You said you’d be gone soon. What is the hold up?”
I looked up at him, contemplating whether I should tell him. I couldn’t come up with a reason not to. “Had an incident with a biker last night. He’s looking for me and has a bunch of friends doing the same. They should have given up sooner than this. Most of them do.”
The Beast (The Bad Boys Series) Page 2
