Zoe wouldn’t think twice. She’d cut off his balls or blind him. Whatever it took to free herself, to free you, too. So do it, Chloe. You can! If you don’t, he’ll kill you. That’s a fact. He just hasn’t yet because he hasn’t hunted Zoe down. But he will.

Of course she held out the hope that her twin had gotten away, that even now, Zoe was safe and directing the police to the cabin. But Chloe couldn’t count on it. No, she had to fight this monster if he ever came back.

Another fear wiggled snakelike through her brain. What if the freak never returned? What if he just left her here to die, to waste away in this dark, dank prison? What if he got killed and never gave up the location? And maybe Zoe wouldn’t recall where this crappy cabin was . . . oh, sweet Jesus. Her insides curdled at the thought.

Don’t go there!

But the dingy, moist walls seemed to shrink in on her and she knew that she’d go mad if she had to stay here much longer.

Find a way to escape. You’re a smart girl. Plan what you’re going to do and then execute. Literally.

Swallowing back her fear, she clutched the ragged fragment from the broken light and prayed she’d have the strength to take the bastard on, to actually kill the freak and find a way out.

Tears welled in her eyes.

Fear twisted her guts.

She wanted to fall back into her own weakness, into her position of being the shy and emotionally frail sister that she’d been for twenty-one years. It was a comfortable role. This new position of taking care of herself to the point of murder just wasn’t who she was.

Shut up! Don’t be your own worst enemy. You have to take him on, Chloe. Your life depends on it!

She was shaking, trembling at the thought.

Grow some damned balls!

Oh, geez, she nearly peed herself she was so scared.

You cannot rely on anyone but yourself!

“God help me.” Closing her eyes, she dug deep. Her inner voice nagging. She had to do whatever it would take to save herself. And she would, damn it, even if it killed her.

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 14

“Did you know Arianna?” Brianna asked as a roar went up from the bar, indicating that one of the baseball teams shown on the screens had scored.

“Not really. More like knew of her,” he said with a shrug.

Now he seemed uncomfortable.

She let the subject of Arianna drop.

For now.

Brianna picked up her glass. “You know, you’re about the last person I ever expected to go into law enforcement.”