Wrong Way Home - Taken (Criminal Delights 1)

Above them, the treetops were in constant movement, bending toward the ground at unnatural angles, but Colin could only shake his head. “Oh no. Does she have any favorite places around the woods?” he asked, closing his coat. Missi could give birth at any moment now, and she was the last cat that should’ve remained outside in this weather.

Taron pulled on the hood of his jacket when it got blown off. Considering the conditions, Colin was beginning to doubt if the vegetables he’d worked so hard on growing would survive the night. Taron and his radio buddies kept discussing upcoming disasters with so much excitement, they seemed to anticipate them with glee, but now he was starting to think that maybe there was method to their madness.

A thump reminding Colin of a bomb going off had him jump closer to Taron, and he got a brief hug.

Colin took a deep breath and looked around, at the woods that became increasingly gray until the rain intensified, hitting him with its full force. “But… she can’t stay out there. I can help you search for her. There’s still time,” Colin said, taking hold of Taron’s hand. If the poor cat had her kittens in this weather, he had no doubts they would all die. There was nowhere to hide, and Missi, while wandering outdoors each day, was used to being fed and sleeping in comfort.

Taron’s distress was loud and clear in the way he squeezed Colin’s hand.

he said, offering Colin a metal whistle attached to a black lanyard.

Colin might have asked for this, but he was still surprised that Taron was willing to let him out of sight, for whatever reason, but the mention of the landmark reminded Colin of the shock collar around his neck. Not only was Taron able to shock him at any time, but the device also kept Colin within a certain perimeter around the property.

If it wasn’t a bluff. If it was, Taron was too desperate to bring Missi home to think clearly. There was still a possibility that Colin could just leave. Taron was a smart guy, but for all Colin knew, he wasn’t an inventor or a tech whizz. And if the threat of shock was real, then so be it. He was positive it wouldn’t kill him, but at least he’d know his real situation. If push came to shove, he could blame leaving the perimeter on the weather and not much knowledge of the terrain.

Rebellious thoughts invaded his mind like mold overcoming the walls of a cold house in winter, and the collar that he barely noticed anymore, now stood out as a heavy presence under his jacket.

For all he knew, Taron could even be lying about the collar being fitted with a tracking device, and if that were real, would he risk his life and abandon his home to chase Colin in the upcoming storm? Either way, tonight Colin would find out. He could always lie that he’d lost his way in the torrential rain if Taron caught up to him.

If Taron was bluffing about the collar then Colin could follow the river into the nearest town. He would be free. If he survived this awful storm out in the wilderness, he could return to his normal life. To the comfortable desk, to the memory foam mattress and wedge pillow, to his audiobooks, his music, and his parents, who must have been worried sick since he’d been taken.

He nodded and put the whistle into the deep pocket of his borrowed coat, stepping away from Taron, but he wouldn’t look away even though he had so much to hide. Droplets of water splashed off Taron’s hulking form, obscuring his features until he didn’t even seem human, but more like a woodland monster that stalked in the night if you ventured too far into the forest.

Colin shuddered and turned away without a word, marching off into the avalanche of rain. It was the middle of the day, but the dark clouds made it seem as if daylight was already dying. His feet carried him past the chicken coop, past the showering area and then along the path leading to the river, but his brain felt numb, as if it didn’t yet comprehend that this might be the final day of his captivity. An invisible leash pulled on the collar around his neck every time he imagined Taron realizing Colin wasn’t coming back.

Would he only care about his crime being exposed, or would Colin’s betrayal hurt him, even if just a little bit? Colin didn’t want to dwell on it, and wiped the cold water off his face. At least he had the goggles to shield his eyes. They were the only ones Taron owned, so giving them away to Colin left him without any.