Finally, I hear steps coming from behind me and I whip my head back in terror. A man is coming toward me, limping lightly as he runs. It's Parker or Kade, and it makes me feel sick that I can no longer discern the brothers. But the words he snarls at me make everything all too clear.
"You better run, little sis," he yells in my direction, getting closer with each step. "I won't go easy on you this time around. Last fucking chance. Run, little sis, fucking run!"
Realizing Parker is after me, I yelp softly and make a run for it, though I know it's a futile effort. I hear him panting behind me, and even farther behind, I can hear Kade’s voice calling my name desperately. I run. I run as fast as I can. The shrubbery cuts into my feet, the sharp rocks on the ground grinding into the soles of them. I run through thorns, leaves, and branches, each of them leaving a mark on my once so perfect skin.
I finally come to a clearing, and I suddenly realize I've been running uphill all this time. What a foolish, foolish girl I am. Because when I come to a stop at the end of the clearing, I realize it's not a clearing at all. It's a cliff, and I'm standing on the edge with Parker and Kade advancing on me as fast as they can manage. I can only hope the good twin will be the first one to reach me.
I turn around quickly, my eyes glued to the spot where the forest becomes sparse, knowing I'm a target exposed like this. Panting, suddenly both brothers appear in the clearing and look at me with dark intent. My heart beating like a hummingbird's wings, my eyes flutter from one strong man to another. They exchange glances, and for a second, I'm sure they'll jump at each other's throats, but instead, they both head straight for me. One of the men trips and falls, cursing loudly. The other advances toward me until he's only a few steps away. I look into his eyes, the question obvious in my gaze.
Will you save me or hurt me?
The evil snarl on his face immediately reveals the faster brother is Parker. I whimper in fear as he advances on me, grabbing me in his strong arms like a rag doll. Desperately, I call out for Kade, who finally gets to his feet and catches up to us.
"Not a step closer, brother," Parker snarls at him, clutching his hands around my throat. Kade stops dead in his tracks and emits a low growl as Parker and I face him, his twin pulling us both backward toward the edge of the precipice.
He finally raises his hands in the air, trying to placate. "Parker, there's nowhere to go anymore. Nowhere to hide," he tries to reason with his twin.
"You think you're going to win again?" Parker growls, the grip on my throat tightening. I'm so scared I might faint at any minute. "You're fucking done, Kade. She's all mine now. And if I can't have her, no one can." Terror sinks in as I realize what he's saying. He's willing to kill us both just so Kade can't get his hands on me.
"Don't, Parker," Kade growls. "Please. We can work it all out. It will be okay, just come over here. Bring Junebug here, dammit!"
It's the last command that makes Parker lose it. I know he could never stand taking directions, least of all from his brother. And throw my name in the game, and his sanity is just fucking gone.
"Fuck you," Parker snarls at his brother, and my heart splits in two as I realize the divide I've created between the two brothers. I never meant for it to end this way. I may have been naïve, but I always thought we could be happy together... That we could fix things, overlook our differences, and put the past behind us. My hand flies up in a silent goodbye, and I know this is my last chance to make things right.
Then I realize I have to end this myself. I’m the one who got us all into this mess. Now I’ll be the one to get us out of it.
“Parker,” I say fervently. “Parker, I changed my mind.”
His eyes flit to me, still keeping his attention focused on his brother. “Shut up, June.”
“No, please.” I wrestle free of his grasp and surprisingly, he lets me. “I want to come with you. I don’t want to die. Let’s get away, together.” My eyes go to Kade. “He won’t hurt you if you take me with you.”
Parker smirks at me. “I don’t believe you.”
“You will now.” I press my lips against his with determination. My heart is pounding because Kade is standing right there, but I hope he can see through what I’m doing.