Two Kings

Chapter 12

Whatever the reason they have me here, they need me alive, well, at least for the moment, since they didn't kill me in the car. As I slide across the seat to exit the SUV, Dom stands by the car door, in a stance, his shirt blowing in the breeze as I place a black, spiky high heel on the ground and step out.

A large lake and a forest of giant pine trees surround the house. Where ever we are, it looks secluded. The driver walks around the car. His brown eyes are bloodshot, but he looks wired and alert for someone who's been driving for hours. The other guy stands at the back of the SUV, no doubt to detour me from running.

I wrap the jacket around my body and scan the surroundings, scoping the area in case I need to run. Which, of course, I will if given a chance? And they are no doubt waiting for it. But I'm not running off blindly, only to get caught, either. I'm not that fucking stupid, not while the three of them surround me. But if another opportunity presents itself with an actual chance of me getting away, you can bet I'll take it.

Dom places his hand at the back of my elbow and directs me along the paved path towards the white house. As I approach the lime-colored door, it opens, and another man emerges. He looks to be in his 50s and is wearing a white shirt with black trousers and black zip up shoes. "Hello, Alexis." He smiles, and it's all gum and a line of small teeth staring at me.

"Hello." I respond. My eyes drop to the floorboards, my hands trembling as I do my best not to freak out.

"Breakfast is nearly ready," he informs me in a cheerful tone. "Hope you're hungry?" He steps back, giving me room to pass him. "Please, take a seat at the table while I cook."

As I enter the house, a burst of heat hits me. The worn floorboards are cold and creak as I walk towards the table and pull out a wooden chair and sit. I kick my heels off and keep them close in case things turn ugly and I need a weapon. "What happens now?" I ask as he stands at the bench flipping golden bread in a pan. "I mean after breakfast."

He shrugs. "We eat. We wait. You like French toast?"

Even if I wanted to, I couldn't eat. "I've never had it."

"Well, I'll fix you something else if you don't like it. You like fried eggs or scrambled eggs?"

The back door opens and my eyes dart to it. "Thank you," I say. "But I couldn't eat right no. I'll be sick if I do." The driver enters the house with Dom and the third man trailing behind him. They by-pass the kitchen and keep walking. The main door hits the jam but doesn't catch the latch. Which finds me with a sudden upsurge of courage and fear as I contemplate taking off. If I don't take a chance now, I might not get another one.

When I hear their feet pounding on the staircase, something tells me to run, and without giving my brain a chance to override my moment of insanity, I know it's now or never. My heart slams into my chest cavity, as if it might crack the bones at any second and erupt from my body. But I don't care, I'm going and that's it. I let the jacket drop from my arms and then jump to my feet, pushing the chair over to block his path and give me a few seconds head start on the older man.

He yells out to the other men. "SHE'S RUNNING! SHE'S DOIN A RUNNA!" It's loud and high pitched and enough to scare any little rodents back into the cracks of the skirting boards.

Within three long strides, my hand is twisting the door handle and a gusty front has me gasping in the chilly air as it hits my lungs. I slam the door shut behind me, and with a giant leap, my bare feet hit the cement with a thump, sending a painful jolt to my ankles. Two things hit me at once: the pain in my feet and the gusty wind whipping my hair across my face. As I sprint past the white SUV, my legs and bare feet move faster than they ever have. I run hard even though the earth beneath my feet is full of sharp stones.

In a couple of strides, I'm heading for the giant pine trees, desperate to hide amongst the forest and foliage. Several birds scatter from tree tops, squawking, but I keep going. My legs stretch out, even though pine needles and sticks pierce the soft layers of my feet.

With a stream of tears flowing, I sprint. I'm not about to give up because my feet are too delicate. At this point I don't care if my feet are hurting or cut, I'm not stopping while my body pulsates with life. The urge to escape these men surpasses the madness of the potential danger I've put myself in by making a snap decision to run.

As I weave through the darkness of the trees, I hear them calling out to me. Telling me to stop running. But I refuse to stop. I'd rather get caught trying than not. I near collide with a grey rabbit as it darts from one tree base to another. My legs are tiring fast and I've barely run a hundred meters.

I shoot a glance over my shoulder and immediately spot Dom and the younger man sprinting after me. Fuck! At the speed they are moving, they'll catch me within seconds. So I cut a sharp left. A branch slaps my head and scratches my cheek, shoulder and upper arm as I veer towards the clifftop.

Besides not being able to keep this pace much longer, they'll catch me. Through the trees, I run, heading for the cliff. Within seconds, I come to an abrupt stop, my feet sore and my expensive dress ripped from the branches on the trees. With a racing heart, I balance between life and the lake of death below. With my hand pressed against the stitch between my rib and hip bone, I take in the drop. It's not too far down.

My head snaps around to see one of them creeping towards me. "Stay the fuck away from me, you crazy- kidnapping -psychopath!"

"I'm not crazy," he shrugs. "And it looks like you found a dead end, sweetheart."

My eyes dart from him to Dom, who sprints towards us. His sneakers skid across the loose stones as he comes to a stop, his chest thumping against his shirt.

"For God's sakes, Alexis, what are you doing? Why are you running?" Dom's nostrils flare. "Come inside—we'll talk. I'll explain things."

I huff. "You had enough time to explain, Dom, but you didn't. I know what's happening. You wanna kill me? I'm not stupid. That's why you brought me here."

He pulls a distorted face. "No. No. You're wrong."

"Like hell I am! And don't bother trying to explain, because I don't believe you. Nor am I going anywhere with you or them."

"Alexis, listen to me. No one wants to hurt you. In fact, our employer wants you alive. Ok. Alive."

"Your employer!" I spit those words back at him, filled with outrage. "You think I care what your employer wants?" My voice breaks and my eyes blink with moisture, a tiny part of the emotional affliction that's building up inside of me. Not that I would ever give up my freedom to them. "I'm not going into that house and waiting for one of you to kill me?"

"Hey," the older man's voice has me turning to see him hunched over and trying to catch his breath. "Don't!" he coughs, slapping his hand against his chest. "No one is gonna hurt you, let alone kill you. You're too caught up in what you think is happening to hear reason. Believe me, we're here to protect you. I know you don't believe that, but we are. The only reason we took you when we did was to avoid anyone getting hurt, and our employer doesn't want any of the Mancini's hurt. Which is why we did it the way we did. If Rico had of been there with his security team it would have ended in a shooting."

My eyes dart to Dom. He takes another step toward me, offering me his hand as if he's trying to catch an untamed dog with a handful of nothing. "You jump, Alexis, and you could die. And if you die, guess what?... We're finished."

"Then you should have considered that before you agreed to do whatever it is you agreed to do."

Dom attempts to take another step, but I point a shaky finger at him. "Keep your distance!" The sudden movement of the younger man in the corner of my eye has my head snapping around to catch him mid step coming towards me.

He stops at the spot, his body immobile, his face empty of emotion. "You're full of shit!" the younger one counters. "I say we grab her. She's not gonna jump and we know it, including her!"

"Wrong!" I take a step closer to the edge, my eyes darting between the men as they close in around me. "Fuck all of you, including your boss." With that, I leap off the edge: fear, shock, and panic engulf me as the icy wind whips at my hair and I free-fall through the air. If I should survive the fall, I only hope the cold water doesn't kill me.