Love Me (WITSEC #3)(63)

Look or run? I debated.

“Shiloh!”

“Shi!”

“Shiloh!”

I heard my guys shout for me. They sounded so far away, and I couldn’t yell back. Not without leading Gabe right to me.

Something snapping sounded near me. My debate was over. I ran. I ran further from my guys.

Pine needles, twigs, and rocks stabbed the bottoms of my feet, but I didn’t let the pain slow me down. The pounding of boots and heavy breathing was right behind me.

Don’t stop!

You can outrun him!

For a moment, I thought I could, until my foot caught on the root of a large tree. Before I could catch myself, I was tackled to the ground.

I screamed. I screamed as loud and as long as I could, praying my guys would hear me. But my scream was cut off when Gabe slammed his hand over my mouth as he climbed on top of me, straddling my hips.

I easily knocked his hand away and clawed at his mask, knocking it off.

He snarled down at me, baring his teeth, and he smacked me across my face. I smacked him back, making sure to hit his bloody and swollen nose.

“You stupid bitch!” he roared and caught my wrists, pinning them to the ground on either side of my head with a bruising grip.

“You’re the stupid bitch,” I said and thrust my hips upward, slamming them into his butt and propelling him forward. He could either let go of my wrists or nosedive into the ground above my head. He let go to catch himself. With my arms free, I slammed my elbow down where his arm bent, captured that arm between mine and my ribs, and rolled us. It was stupidly easy to gain the upper hand and once I had him pinned beneath me, I jabbed my elbow into his face. He went limp and I quickly climbed off of him.

As I backed away, he let out a groan and sluggishly touched his face. I didn’t stick around after that.

“Shiloh!” I heard Keelan yell, his voice close enough for me to know it was him.

“Keelan!” I yelled as I ran toward his voice.

“Shi!” Creed yelled and a light turned in my direction, illuminating my way.

I ran through a cluster of trees, and as they cleared, a large figure pointing a light at me appeared. “Knox!” I cried, knowing it was him. Tears filling my eyes, I ran faster.

He met me halfway and caught me as I leapt for him. “I got her!” he shouted as he hiked me up higher in his arms.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I buried my face in his shoulder and cried.

“Is she all right?”

“What happened?”

I heard Colt and Creed, sounding close.

“She’s hurt,” Keelan said. “Back of her head.”

“Do we call the police?” Creed asked.

“No,” I said weakly. My adrenaline was crashing fast and every injury I had begun to hurt. “It was Cassy, Gabe, and Amber. They attacked me in the garage and hit me over the head with something. Then they dragged me out to the woods. I fought them off. If we call the police, I wouldn’t put it past the sheriff to twist things and make it seem like I attacked them. Then he’ll go after you for having a party and serving alcohol to those under drinking age.”

“Then what do we do?” Colt asked.

“We take her to the hospital,” Knox said.

“And we call her uncle,” Keelan added.

Creed let out a curse.

“The rest of us aren’t happy about it, either, but he’s the only one that can help,” Keelan said.

Decision made, Knox started moving, carrying me back toward the cabin.

As we approached the house, I spotted Ethan and Isabelle standing in front of the open garage. Both looked visibly worried and when Isabelle saw me, her shoulders slumped.

“Shit,” Colt snapped. “Our cars are blocked in.”

We all glanced at the long dirt driveway that led up to the cabin and it was full of cars.

Keelan looked at Colt and Creed. “Clear out the party, right now.”

Colt and Creed didn’t argue and ran ahead of us, pausing for only a moment to say something to Ethan. Ethan nodded at whatever they said to him and the three of them ran inside.

Isabelle came up to us. “Are you all right?”

I didn’t get to answer her because Knox stormed right past her and went into the house through the garage. The music was off by the time we got inside, and Colt and Creed were telling everyone the party was over.

Knox carried me to his room and laid me on the bed. Kneeling by the bedside, he began looking me over. My once-white costume was now smudged with dirt, blood, and pine needles. My stockings were ripped and bloody.

“The back of her head,” Keelan reminded Knox from where he hovered behind him.

“Roll over, Shiloh,” Knox ordered and gently helped me.

Both hissed. “There’s a first aid kit under the kitchen sink,” Knox said, and I heard Keelan rush out of the room.

“Can I do something to help?” I heard Isabelle say with trembling words.

“You can come hold my hand,” I said, wanting to comfort my friend.

The sound of Isabelle’s dress swishing got louder as she got closer. In her beautiful, elegant mermaid dress, she climbed onto the bed next to me and took my hand.

Her eyes were watery. “When you didn’t come back, I went looking for you. I found the ice on the ground in the garage and drops of blood. I went and got Colt and Creed right away.”