The Beast (The Bad Boys Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

until I heard him go upstairs and shut the door behind him. He was either going to come back down with a bottle, and try and seduce me or poison me, or try and twist the game back so he had the upper hand and do something unexpected. Either way, I wasn’t going to wait and see what happened next. Not that he needed to know that.
    I placed the empty glass on the table and snuck passed the stairs and back to the bedroom grabbing my backpack and the leather jacket. I carefully opened the window and climbed out.
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    The night was cool and I was glad to have the black leather jacket to keep me warm. I hugged it around myself as I slipped outside and headed into the dark cover of the woods. As soon as I was passed the first row of trees it was like a blanket of darkness smothered the way forward, but I’d used my instincts many times before, I was sure of the right direction, even if my sight wasn’t good in the terrain.
    I walked a few more steps until I was out of earshot of Nick’s house and stopped where he couldn’t see me if he came outside. He was beginning to get too friendly. It was one thing that he brought me dinner, but if he really expected me to have wine as well, then things were getting too cozy for my liking. Besides, this wasn’t his problem.
    My plan now was to get to the road and somehow sneak past Colt and his cronies. If I could get to the other side of the road without them seeing me, then I could easily get to the next town, catch a bus and be back home by breakfast. It would have been easy if there was only one of them, but there was no telling how many I had to deal with now, and how far up and down the road they were searching.
    Before I attempted to get home, I needed to call Owen.
    He answered on the second ring. “Mom?”
    “Hi Honey, how are you doing?”
    “Good. Miss you. How’s the hunting going?”
    “Caught a big prize this time. Three grand. Most of it should be there tomorrow, so make sure you check the post before Grandma does, okay?”
    “Always do.”
    “I know.” I smiled into the phone. He was such a good boy. “Any pain today?”
    “Nah, nothing I can’t handle.” That was probably a lie. Owen had a tendency to downplay his leg injury.
    “Three grand huh?” He whistled, “Must have been a rich guy.”
    “Something like that.”
    “You won’t need to go out much longer now, we’re almost there.”
    I swallowed back the knot forming in my throat. “Only ten grand to go.”
    “When will you be home?”
    “I’m aiming for tomorrow, depending on how tonight goes down.” Depending on whether I can slip past a bunch of biker’s hell bent on retrieving their cash or slitting my throat. Perhaps both.
    “Cool. Stay safe.”
    “Always do.” I frowned hoping he wouldn’t hear the waver in my voice.
    “I gotta go, Mom. Got this big test tomorrow.”
    “Make sure you study hard. Love you.”
    “Love you, too.”
    I hung up and placed my phone in my backpack before slinging the bag over my shoulder.
    “You have a son?”
    I jumped around. Nick was standing a few feet from me - I hadn’t heard him approach. “How did you find me so quickly?”
    He shrugged. “How old is he?”
    “He’s eight.”
    “What’s wrong with him?”
    “It’s nothing.”
    “It didn’t sound like nothing.”
    I shook my head. “It’s not your problem. Look, I’ve already stayed longer than either of us wanted, so I’m leaving. Everyone gets back to their lives, just like before.”
    “You’re upset.” Damn it, I always let down my guard when talking to my son.
    “No, I’m leaving, that’s all.” I turned and started to walk away from him, but he followed.
    “Maybe I can help?”
    “Help with what? My son. Got a stack of cash lying around do you?”
    “Well…”
    “I didn’t think so.”
    “I meant that I could help you get home to him.”
    I stopped walking. “What are you talking about?”
    “I check on the men that are following you. Find