Hunted (A Sinners Series Book 2) by Abi Ketner, Missy Kalicicki Read Free Book Online Page B

shoot.”
    “I’m guessing that’s a no. She seems entirely too uptight,” Clayton says through gritted teeth. If he wasn’t pointing his gun at Cole’s head, I’d have shot him already.
    “What do you want from us?” I ask.
    “It’s simple, really. Wilson wants you alive.” He nods toward me without taking his eyes off his target. “But he wants your boyfriend here in a body bag.”
    “I’m not going back to the Hole.”
    “You really are a stupid whore,” Clayton says with a devilish smile, his eyes still trained on Cole.
    “Shut up,” Cole says. “You know nothing about her.”
    “Oh, I know some things,” Clayton says. My eyes quickly turn to slits as I stare at him down the barrel of my gun. “I know she’d be interested to know that after you left Keegan’s body to rot, it was strung up on a scaffold, for all the Hole to see. Just in case anyone was having thoughts about trying to flee as well.” I feel my face heat up.
    “You did what to my brother?” I ask.
    “Lexi, don’t believe a word he says,” Cole pleads, but I can’t get the image of Keegan’s rotting body being displayed in that way out of my head.
    “I didn’t leave him there—” Cole protests.
    “Sure you did,” Clayton says, before Cole can finish his thought. “Anyway, while I’m enjoying this reunion, I’m afraid our time’s up.” He brings his finger to the trigger.
    No! With no other defense, I launch myself at him. But he’s too fast so I only manage to grab a tiny corner of his shirtsleeve before he smacks me to the floor.
    I land on my side, my gun skittering across the floor. Clayton’s face pulses red as he kneels beside me, pulls my head up by my hair, and places his gun to my head.
    I clench my teeth as he yanks me by my hair once more. It’s over. He’s going to kill me. But seconds pass, and all I hear is the sound of heavy breathing. Suddenly, the pressure eases up, and my face crashes into the floor. Cole and Clayton grunt, swear, and fight for control.
    “Lexi, run!” Cole shouts as he pins Clayton like a pro wrestler.
    I shake my head, scrambling to my feet. “Over my dead body.”
    “Run,” he demands. He wrenches the gun from Clayton somehow, but Clayton uses his mammoth muscles to fight back beneath Cole.
    Clayton gives up on the gun and whips out a knife from his knee pocket. He takes the hilt and smashes it across Cole’s face.
    My heart stops. My clammy hands wrench into fists.
    Cole loses his composure long enough for Clayton to gain the upper hand.
    Next thing I know, Clayton has the knife at Cole’s neck.
    I am frozen with fear, shame, and the promise of unrealized dreams.
    “Please,” Cole says. “Go.” Blood spurts from his lip.
    “I won’t.”
    “Are you sure you want to watch him die like you did Keegan? If not, I suggest you close your eyes.” Clayton presses his knife against the skin of Cole’s throat.
    Cole begs with his eyes—the eyes of the man who stole my heart. The eyes of the one who guarded me against his will and offered up his life for mine several times. I feel my jaw clenching as I try to think of a way we can both get out of this alive.
    “Wait!” I shout. Clayton’s eyes flick to me. “Don’t you want to know where Sutton is? We can take you to him. But if Cole loses so much as a hair on his head, you get nothing. No Sutton. No Lexi. Nothing.”
    Despite my shaky voice,I keep talking, gradually taking control of it. Clayton bends his head back down, ready to slit Cole’s throat.
    “Cole’s been keeping it a secret. Even from me,” I say fast. Almost too quickly. But Clayton can’t help himself. He pauses, interest flickering through his eyes.
    “What’s this now?” Clayton asks. “Our Cole does like to keep his secrets. Did he tell you the one about your father?”
    “What about him?” I ask, worried about the look on Cole’s face.
    “Tsk. Tsk. Shame on you, Cole. You haven’t told your little princess about her sweet