Page 16 of Between Control and Chaos
I need to try something else, something different, because I can’t outrun him and he’s gaining on me, fast.
I skirt around a larger tree, climbing it, holding my breath so he can’t find me, spot me.
I get halfway up to the nearest branch, sling my leg up and over when it snaps, landing me flat on my back.
Nico chuckles, staring right down at me. “Welcome back.” He lifts me with ease, tossing me over his shoulder, carrying me back to the vehicle. He grabs a set of zip ties from the glovebox and yanks them on my arms, shoving me into the backseat.
This feels all too familiar.
Five
Luca
From silence to the sweet symphony of her voice.
She’s alive.
“Where are you taking me?”
The voice through the phone is slightly muffled, and there’s a strange sound before it becomes a bit clearer.
“Where are you taking me?” Harper asks again, this time with more grit.
“Shut up!” Nico shouts.
I’m careful not to say a word until I put my phone on mute, listening as I allow her conversation to be on speakerphone for Ashton and Dante to hear.
I grabbed Dante the moment chaos ensued with Nico.
“Take a car out toward Blue Sky Resort, see if you can intercept them,” Dante orders. “Call me the minute you find out anything.”
Ashton and I head out together. There are other men of Dante’s, but learning of Nico’s betrayal, it’s clear as day he’s unsure who he can trust.
I don’t know what he intends to do with his men.
Interrogate them.
I’d punish each of them until they come clean with the truth.
I don’t wait around to find out. Ashton and I are in the vehicle, already on our way, the phone on speaker and mute, so that we can hear every word, every gasp and plea through the phone.
It’s agonizing to listen and not be able to do anything.
But our silence is the only way to save her.
Nico can’t know that we’re listening in and Harper is doing her damndest to relay as much information as she can, without making it obvious.
“At least drop off Moreno at the hospital,” Harper pleads. “You can take me, do whatever you want, but don’t let Moreno die.”
I glance at Ashton, relieved that he’s still alive.
“That would waste valuable time,” Nico says.
“Then leave him on the side of the road,” Harper says. “Let someone else deal with him. Isn’t that better for you—not to have to clean up his dead body?”
I grimace, praying that she’ll give me more information. My foot is like lead on the gas, and while I drive, Ashton texts Dante with any new pertinent information.
Right now, there isn’t much. But if Moreno gets dumped on the side of the road, we’re not going to have time to take him to the hospital and chase after Nico to rescue Harper.
