Survival instinct starts to kick in, and my eyes dart around as I search for another way to get out.
“How old are you?”
My head snaps up at hearing Rhett’s voice, and I swallow hard before I stutter, “Eighteen.”
Rhett gives me a doubtful look which says that he doesn’t believe me.
“I have to go. The others are waiting for me.” I can hear the fear in my own voice, and I hate that I can’t sound braver right now.
Rhett’s one eyebrow darts up, and he turns to look out the window next to the door.
“Sorry to tell you this, but your friends just drove off,” he says as he turns back to me.
“What?” I gasp. I dart forward, but instead of getting to the door so I can yank it open, I slam right into Rhett.
His hands fall hard on my shoulders, and my body starts to shake as an all too familiar fear claws its way up my spine.
Why do things like this keep happening to me? I’m just trying to survive, but somehow I always find myself in trouble.
My breaths burst over my lips as I stare up at Rhett, praying that he’ll let me go.
His eyes soften as he says, “I’m not going to hurt you. You look nothing over sixteen, so you’re definitely not my type. I just want to talk to you.”
Yeah, right. I’ve heard that before. The second you let your guard down you’re flat on your back with a pig slobbering all over you.
I yank my shoulders free from his hold and turn to run, but I’m blocked by Carter who must’ve just come down the stairs. My eyes dart to the living room, and I watch with an overwhelming sense of dread as the other two men get up from the couch.
Crap. How am I going to get myself out of this mess?
“Let me go,” I whisper, my voice drenched with terror as I move closer to the wall behind me, trying to put some distance between the men and myself.
Rhett holds his hands up. “We’re not going to hurt you.”
“Why would she think we’d hurt her?” Carter asks as his eyes dart between Rhett and me.
Rhett looks a little uncomfortable as he looks at Carter.
“I held her back so she couldn’t leave with the others.”
“You did what?” Carter snaps.
With them being distracted, I take my chance and dart for the front door. I grab hold of the knob, but an arm wraps around my waist and yanks me back against a solid wall of muscle.
This time I scream in frustration and fear.
Noooo! I was so close.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Carter shouts.
“Dude, you’re scaring the living shit out of her,” one of the other guys states the obvious.
My eyes dart around wildly, searching for anything I can use as a weapon while I try to pry his arm lose from around my body. I will claw myself out of this house if I have to. There’s no way I’m going down without a fight.
“Look at her,” Rhett shouts back. “She’s a fucking kid. Would you let her strip if she was Mia?”
When I first saw Carter, I thought he would be the one to take what he wants. Not Rhett. But as I look at Carter, he seems to be the rational one. Taking a chance and hoping I’m not wrong, I plead, “Please. Please let me go.”
Carter’s eyes snap over my head, and he gives Rhett a look of warning which chills me to my bones.