Atlas - Roberts Alyne - Страница 8

"Atlas?" I called out, knowing he would hear me. The two big guys just stared down at me, unamused.

"They will see that you find your way back to your room," Atlas answered from the hall.

My throat constricted with panic and I felt like a caged animal. I backed myself into the corner of the kitchen while the two meatheads closed in on me. Like most animals, my fight or flight instincts kicked in.

With a strength I didn't ever think I could possess, I pushed past the two burly men. With one fist, I hit one square in the balls and elbowed the other in the pit of his stomach when his arms tried to reach around me. Sounds of grunts and thumps sounded and I fell to my knees with them.

My hands and legs scrambled to pull myself back up. Knocking a fruit bowl off the counter, I grabbed a cutting board. A knife would have been better, but they were smart enough to remove those when I was granted access to the kitchen. Armed with a heavy piece of wood, I ran. My feet slipped as I scrambled for the open doorway. The two men were also getting to their feet behind me. The cutting board shook in my hands as I kept my eyes forward. The wood was heavy and I hoped it would be enough to at least cave in one of their heads.

"Stop her," one yelled as I rounded the corner of the doorway.

"Stella! Stop!" Atlas yelled. I could tell he was in the kitchen.

In the hallway, the front door was finally in sight. I knew it was locked and could only opened with their keys. That didn't stop my legs from sprinting toward it anyway, knocking the air out of me when I slammed into it. The side window panels looked too thin to fit myself through. I could hear the pounding of the men’s footsteps coming after me. Their voices echoed as they came closer to where I was pinned against the locked door.

With my blood pumping with adrenaline, I pounded at the glass with the cutting board. Glass shattered and fell to the ground. Stepping back, I felt the tears rolling down my face.

"Stella," I heard Atlas growl from the end of the hall. Only a few dozen feet of expensive hardwood floor separated us.

The sound of his deep and commanding voice pushed one more burst of will through me. I could hear my own cries as I punched the rest of the shards away. The glass digging into my skin didn't register in my mind as I tried to push my body through the thin opening. I was able to fit the upper half of my body through before I felt a hand grab my leg.

"You fucking bitch."One of the goons had my leg and yanked me roughly back.

"Let go!" I cried and kicked. My bare foot connected with a hard body and I was released.

Hearing my name called once more, I used every ounce of strength to pull myself the rest of the way. Glass and wood scraped at my skin, but I didn't stop. I could feel the cool night air on my skin. I could smell the rain that had recently fallen and saw the moon hidden in the clouds in the sky. I was outside!

The night was so dark I couldn't see a more than few feet in front of me. I actually couldn't see any light in the distance at all. My heartbeat thumped and my breath came in hard pants as I ran away from the house. I could hear the shouts for me, and Atlas barking commands, but I couldn't look back. It didn't matter that I had no idea where I was going. My bare feet hit the gravel and my body cut through the night air as I sprinted up the gravel drive. I had to keep going. I had to lose him and find help. I just had to keep running.

"Stella! Stop!" My heart stopped when I heard Atlas's voice behind me.

In a panic, I turned off to the right into the tall grass. I could hear him cursing as he entered the thick brush behind me. The grass and branches slapped my bare skin, stinging me. This would be my only hope to lose him and get away. I kept running, ignoring the pain and shortness of breath until I couldn't hear him any longer.

Bent over with my hands on my knees, I struggled to breathe. Every gasp of air burned and my entire body ached. I couldn't see in the darkness, and all I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding. Even the moon had been swallowed by the clouds. Goosebumps trailed over my sweaty skin as I noticed how very lost and screwed I really was.

"There's nowhere to go, Stella," his voice surrounded me. "You won't get away."

Fuck! Just when I thought I was alone, he had found me. A cry escaped my lips and I tried to run, only to be pulled back. My back hit a hard body behind me at the same time a hand clamped over my mouth. My cries and screams were muffled under the pressure of his hand. Another arm snaked around my chest and fingers wrapped around my throat.

"Shh," Atlas whispered in my ear. "That was fucking stupid. So stupid. You're hurt now."

I lashed out against him but it was pointless. The hand around my throat tightened in warning. His hold was strong and held me immobile in his arms. I slumped against him in defeat and despair. All the strength and determination leaked out of my body.

He found me. I ran and he caught me. I was warned how foolish it would be to run and now I would have to face the consequences. Tears streamed down my face and over his hand as the adrenaline wore off and reality sank in. Everything hurt and it was only Atlas holding me up on my feet.

His lips brushed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "Don't you dare fucking scream, understand?"

I nodded once and his fingers slowly lifted from my mouth and wrapped around my waist. I pulled in a deep breath, feeling the pain in my ribs with the inhale. Atlas tilted my head back while still keeping his grip on my throat. Even though I couldn't see his face, I felt his hard stare on me. Anger was rolling off his body in hot waves, and every muscle pressed to me was rock hard.

"I'm sorry," I cried quietly, slumping against him.

"Shut up," he growled as he hoisted me up into his arms. "We are going back to the house and I will clean you up. You are not going to fight me or even think about running again. Do you understand me?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded against him. I didn't struggle as he walked us out of the brush, with his arms protecting me from anymore scrapes. I didn't even fight as he carried me back up the long driveway. I didn't dare to apologize again for fear of angering him further. I had no idea what he would do to me for running.

Atlas carried me effortlessly and I started to feel the consequences of my escape attempt. My sides ached and stung with every step. My hands felt raw and I could smell the metallic scent of blood. As the light of the house came into view, two large figures lingered near the door as we approached.

“Board up the windows,” Atlas barked at them. “Get this cleaned up.”

"Yes, sir," the other answered as they shrank back at his anger.

"That will be all," Atlas muttered as he stepped up the front door. Glass broke under his steps.

"What about the girl?" Goon Two asked.

Atlas spun to face the two dumb brutes. I squeezed my eyes shut knowing he had gone from very angry to downright furious, and it was my fault. I could only imagine how I would pay for it when they left.

"You two fucking morons can't handle the girl, so you're no good to me at this point," he told them in a scary, low voice that sent goosebumps over my arms and legs. "You had one fucking job. Get. Her. To. Her. Room."

Atlas spun on his heels and slammed the door behind us once inside. My vision swirled and blurred as he carried me down the hall. Nausea mixed with the dread as I knew we were close to my room. When I heard the turn of the doorknob, everything went black.