Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

ARIA

My heart pounded heavily in my chest as the cold barrel of Maximo’s gun pressed tightly against the side of my head. I pressed my eyes shut and tried to ignore the way my heart started to race.

So this is it. This is how I finally die.

At that realization, a cold sensation spread throughout my body, causing my breathing to become shallow and rapid. Fear clawed its way into my bloodstream and I couldn’t focus on anything else but the weight of the gun against my flesh.

I heard the sound of the gun cocking and I realized how much I didn’t want to die. If I die now, there will be no chance of me escaping, or even trying to escape.

I inwardly scoffed at the thought. Escaping from Maximo won’t be as easy as escaping from my stepfather. Maximo’s weight was pressed on my body, and there was no way I could ever overpower him.

“All it takes is for me to move my finger, and you’re gone,” he said in a low growl.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as a wave of terror