Judging by the look on their faces neither one of them cared.

“Your mom seems to think you need to be taught a lesson. And that’s another one of my specialties,” the grizzly man said as he came around the desk.

I couldn’t contain my fear any longer. As he came around the desk holding that knife, I screamed. Payton was insane and I knew we were doomed. You didn’t want to be on Payton’s bad side. I had known for weeks that Mason had stepped on Payton’s toes one too many times. Payton wanted Mason to pay for going against her.

“Don’t worry, none of these are loaded,” the grizzly man said.

“These two are though,” the other guy said, lifting his shirt. Two guns were nestled in the waist of his pants.

“Come on, sweetie,” the handsome one said, grabbing me by the elbow.

Mason jumped in front of me to stop him from taking me out of the trailer. He pushed Mason back and reminded him who was in charge by lifting his shirt again to reveal the loaded guns. Mason didn’t back off.

“Mason, please stop,” I said. I knew he regretted forcing me to go along with his plan. I felt bad for him.

“I’m sorry, Kendall,” he said.

I followed the man out of the trailer, looking back at Mason once as I left.

“You can call me Mark,” he said, pulling me down the rickety stairs. His hand remained gripped on my arm.

“Kendall,” I said. I kept my eyes glued to the ground. I could hear the grizzly man’s voice coming from the trailer. I wondered what they were going to do to Mason. Were they crazy enough to kill him?

I began to cry at Mason’s unknown fate. Tears slid down my face. It wasn’t a surprise really; I’d known for some time we’d eventually be facing something like this. I just wasn’t ready to face it yet…not now.

“Why are you crying?” Mark asked.

“Mason doesn’t deserve this, sir.” I wouldn’t look at him.

“Whoa now, no need to call me sir. I’m thirty-seven, not fifty.” He unlocked the door to a small garage. Inside were several cars and a bunch of boxes. Tools lined the pegboard on the walls giving me several choices for a weapon in case I needed to defend myself.

“Ahh, Sam’s a big teddy bear,” he said dismissively. “He’s just doing a favor for an old pal. It’s not often the women line up for him,” he said, a big grin spreading across his face as he stared at me. He shut the door and leaned against it.

“Mason doesn’t deserve this,” I said again. I wondered if we were going to make it out of here alive.

“Seems not everyone agrees with your opinion.” He crossed his arms. “You guys run around with that crazy broad?”

I nodded.

“She’s a looker, but she’s nuts.”

I wondered how Payton knew these people.

“Are you going to kill us?” I asked finally. I watched him closely. His arm stayed crossed, his posture relaxed.

“I’m just the doorman,” he offered.

I knew he was full of crap. Men like this were capable of anything and would kill in a heartbeat and not blink an eye.

“What are you…about eighteen?” he asked. I nodded even though it wasn’t true—didn’t matter.

“Kids your age make a lot of mistakes. Probably like the one you made today.” He came closer, his eyes an intent stare.

I wondered what he was thinking about doing with me.

“I like to think I’m not so naïve,” I said, my voice so low I could barely hear myself.

He pulled the gun from his waist, running it along my cheek and back down to my lips. I blinked back the tears at his sick game.

He finally stopped the gun at my temple, my pulse beating against the pressure of the cold metal.

“Do you think you’re a good person, Kendall?”

“No, not at all,” I said, swallowing down the misery of my honest answer.

“Really?” he asked, one eyebrow lifted in confusion. “Are you afraid to die?”

I wanted to spit in his face for his cruelty. Why didn’t he just pull the trigger and end it already. A part of me, however, silently begged that he wouldn’t shoot me.

“No, I’m not afraid to die,” I admitted. I closed my eyes and the tears fell quickly. “I’m not afraid of much in life. I’ve seen too much to be scared.”

He let out a sigh. I opened my eyes. He pulled the gun away from me.

He turned his back to me and moved to the door. I took the opportunity to pull a dumbbell out of a box behind me. I quickly hid it behind me. Fortunately, he was none the wiser.

“Well, Kendall, we’ve got two options,” he said, looking around the garage.

I nodded, my heart pounding erratically in my chest as he came closer. I increased the pressure on the dumbbell, squeezing it tighter so it wouldn’t fall to the ground.

I no longer heard anything he was saying. The adrenaline in my body took over and I remained focused on his head—my intended target.

I took a deep breath and swung before I had time to change my mind. I connected with the side of his head before dropping the barbell.

His face contorted in pain, quickly followed by anger.

While he was somewhat dazed, I took that opportunity to rush out the door.

My heart hammered in my chest and air filled my lungs as I tried to pick up speed.

“You didn’t even get to hear my options,” he yelled. He picked up speed and was quickly gaining on me.

I ran toward the trailer then came to a dead stop. Did I dare barge in there with all the guns I’d seen? I’d be dead as soon as I hit the door.

I was frantic when the memory of the two guns Mark had flashed my way. I turned in a circle, not knowing what to do next. Dust swirled at my feet.

“Mason!” I screamed. I hoped he was all right and wondered if he could hear me calling for him.

I pushed forward in a run. It felt like I stepped on every rock or nail in my path. My body froze as a single gunshot rang out. My shoulders drew up in defense mode and I dove to the ground behind a big heap of metal. My lungs burned from breathing so hard.

I’d been in a lot of bad situations in my life, but I’d never been where someone was actually trying to kill me. Payton and Wanda had gone off the deep end and needed to be stopped. If Aunt Wanda hadn’t been in agreement with this plan, she would have stopped me from leaving in the first place.

Now I sat behind the pile of metal wondering if Mason and I would get out of this mess alive. Or were we really the sitting ducks he’d spoken of.

“Peekaboo!” Mark yelled, jumping out of nowhere. I jumped up and kicked him in the shin, then tore across the junkyard like lightning, fear gripping at my heels as I tried to lose him again.

Another gunshot echoed through the junkyard. Where were the cops when you needed them? I had to get away from this deranged man.

I landed on my face behind the trailer. After picking myself up, I hurried up the steps to find the door was boarded up. I looked in the window to try and see Mason or that ogre of a man who held him captive. I couldn’t see anything. I pulled at the board trying to pry it lose, but only managed to break my nails.

I jumped down just as Mark found me again. He ran faster until he caught me by the arm. I screamed as my body slammed against the trailer. He grabbed me by the hair, jerking my head sideways, and sent me flying to the ground. I clawed at his legs as his big boot pressed down on the side of my head, pinning me in place. The rubber sole of his boot dug into my flesh.

“You’re not very smart are you?” He increased the pressure on his boot, making my skull ache. I pulled at his foot until it slid off my head.

I crawled across the dirt and scrambled to my feet, the fear of being shot sending me into panic mode.

I hid behind a tree.

Mark took his time to find me. He twirled the gun around his finger, slowly circling me as he continued his sick cat-and-mouse game.

“Now, Kendall, are you ready to hear my options?” he asked, his breathing ragged from all the running.