CHAPTER THREE

“Hello, madam,” Maya says, facing Celine.

“Maya.” Celine’s voice is firm. “Did you finish the errands?” 

Errands? My mind spins as it hits me that Celine was indeed trying to harm my babies. Without them, she knows there’ll be no way to prove my innocence, and I’ll be of no use alive. 

“I brought your food.” Maya’s voice makes me flinch.

Maya dips her hand into her bag and removes a sealed flask, placing it gently on the wooden top. I push the cereal plate aside and slide the flask closer. I glare at Celine as she leaves.

My stomach growls loudly, and I turn to face Maya. She beams as she opens the flask, pushing it back to me. I swallow a spoonful of the soup as Maya grabs the cereal plate.

“Maya,” Barrett calls from inside the house. 

I pause as Maya hurries out of the kitchen, and my heart rate increases. Inaudible chatter echoes from inside the house, and I rush the food as fear consumes me. A few seconds later, my fear is confirmed.

Heavy footfalls approach the kitchen, and I quickly glance around. My eyes settle on a small knife placed near the oven, and I dive at it. Just as I slip the knife into the band of my pants, Gusto walks in and marches toward me. 

“C’mon.” He says as he drags me out of the kitchen.

I stumble beside Gusto as he drags me into the living room, where Barrett is sitting with Celine beside him, her hand resting lovingly on Barrett’s. A sour taste fills my mouth at the sight, but I quickly swallow.

Barrett gazes at me in disgust. “Get a change of clothes.” He says. “You’ll be cleaning the back of the house.”

I nod once and turn to leave, but Celine’s voice sounds behind me.

“She shouldn’t get any food till she’s done.” She blurts out.

I swivel with eyes wide as I gape at Barrett, who nods at Gusto. I gasp, and tears start to well up in my eyes, but Gusto grips me and pulls me away. Just before leaving, my eyes land on Celine, who now has a mischievous grin on her lips. 

Gusto drags me to my room, and I scan the house for Maya to no avail. He shoves me in and bangs the door.

“You have two minutes.” He barks from outside my room.

My heart hammers as I quickly slip out the knife, placing it beneath my bed on the ground. I hastily swap clothes, sliding the knife back into the side of the band of my jogger pants.

Sighing, I pack my blonde hair into a loose ponytail as a plan materializes in my mind. Anyone who’ll be guarding me will get hurt tonight, but I must get out of Malrock. I open the door to Gusto’s glare.

“Took you long enough.” He mutters.

We proceed to the backyard, and Gusto hands me over to Rick, one of Barrett’s guards, who’s standing guard in the backyard.

“Don’t let her out of your sight,” Gusto tells Rick, then strolls back inside.

I scan the nasty backyard briefly before Rick nudges me from behind, and I stagger down the small stairs.

“Get working,” He says, throwing a broom beside me.

Rick detests me, as he believes I seduced Karl into an affair that got him killed. But I don’t blame him; Celine’s plan for using Karl wasn’t only to turn Barrett, but the whole pack against me, because everyone loves him.

The full moon dimly illuminates the night as I work my hands tirelessly. My clothes cling to my skin with sweat pouring down, and I turn slightly to glance at Rick, who’s watching me with unbending focus.

I move close to a bench to my left, ready to execute my plan to lure Rick to me, but the back door swings open with a creak, and I whirl to see Barrett. 

“Go have dinner with the others,” Barrett says. “I’ll watch her till you finish.”

Rick rises, nodding curtly before he marches to the left towards the front of the house. Barrett glares at me pointedly as he descends the three steps slowly and strides toward me. The air squeezes out of my lungs as he moves closer till he’s only inches away.

“How about that birthday gift now?” A smug grin fills his face.

My hand meets his face with a hard slap, and I turn to run to the woods. Barrett’s hand grabs my upper arm.

“No.” He mocks as he drags me against his body. “You don’t get away this time, bitch.”

Streams of tears flow down my cheeks as I reach for the knife, and I swing low, hoping for a good enough hit. Barrett yelps as the blade pierces the right side of his lower abdomen, and he bends over in pain.

Without a second's delay, I turn and sprint into the woods. The adrenaline offers support as I hurry my legs, but after a few meters behind the tree lines, I hear distant rustlings. I glance back, but no one’s in sight yet, and my heart swells in relief. 

Determined to reach the road, I charge on, hoping for anything close to the best. Suddenly, a push makes me slam into a nearby tree, and I land hard on my stomach. A strong hand grabs my hair, lifting me roughly, but my eyes remain down, gazing at my stained pants.

‘Oh, no, my babies.’ The thought stabs sharper than my hammering head.

I lift my gaze to stare into Barrett’s dark eyes.

“Bitch.” He barks and raises his hands.

I catch a glimpse of his fingers now elongated into claws, and I shut my eyes, bracing for the impact. Suddenly, a low growl s

ounds from a distance, and Barrett turns sharply.

“Who’s there?” He yells.