Page 15 of Pushed Through The Dark
"What? Are you all pissed off now? Did I offend you?"
"Pull this fucking car over."
"No, don't, he's not getting out—you're not getting out," Koa said, leaning forward and holding up his hand. "We're in the middle of fucking nowhere, in a country you don't know—you're not getting out here."
"Fuck you I'm not. Pull over and let me out now." Knox's voice was harsh and deep. The vein in the side of his neck started to pulse and throb as he rocked his jaw side to side.
It was easy to see these two had years of pent up jealousy and anger over shit from the past, and it didn't seem like either one was the type to back down. They both wanted control, they both wanted to be crowned king of the mountain, but only one could hold the key to the top.
From where I was sitting, Koa was that king.
"You're drunk, Knox, if you get out you'll end up lost or dead. You'll probably end up walking your dumb ass off a fucking cliff, or into the barrel of a gun because you can't keep your mouth shut."
As they argued back and forth, I took advantage of the distraction and tried to free my hands. They were so preoccupied with each other, that neither one was really paying any attention to me.
The rope around my wrists was tight, but I could feel the frayed ends. The thin fibers were pulling free as I tugged on them, and each one I removed caused the rope to loosen.
A plan was formulating in my head, and it was actually starting to seem like it might work. If I could get my hands loose and my feet free, I'd be able to hop out and take off before either one of them knew what happened. I could hide in the woods, easily tuck myself into a bush in the darkness and they'd never find me.
It was foolproof, it was plausible, it might be my only chance. The last opportunity I might have for a long time to get my freedom back.
The tires cracked and popped over the rocks as the limo slowed to a stop. Knox and Koa were still going at it, completely unaware that I was carefully slipping my feet out of the rope.
Knox started to climb to his feet and reach for the handle, but Koa put himself between that door and his brother.
"You're not going anywhere, just sit down and let's get to the airport. This isn't the place for you to be pulling this shit."
"Don't fucking tell me what to do. You're not my boss, we're partners, remember?" Knox attempted to shove him out of the way, but Koa didn't budge. "Fucking move, douchebag." Giving him another push, Koa held his arms up to block him.
"I'm not moving, and you're not getting out. Stop being a fucking pussy and sit your ass back down." Shoving his brother back, Koa's chest puffed up and his eyes turned to slits.
One shove turned into two, and then before I can blink again, they're wrestling, fueled by testosterone and dickishness.
This is it! Go! Go!
Arms were moving, feet were digging into the limo floor, both men were tangled around each other, grunting and growling. What started as two brothers annoyed with each other, quickly escalated into two men battling.
And in the mix of it all, I slipped out of their way, grabbed the handle, and threw the door open. Jumping to my feet, I hit the ground hard, not even feeling the rocky terrain of the road on my bare feet.
Holding my arms up in front of my face, I darted into the woods beside the car and just ran.
"Go! Go!" Koa's voice barked from someplace behind me. "She went this way!"
Heavy feet vibrated the ground as both men quickly took off after me. I was hoping they wouldn't notice right away, I was praying that neither man would realize I was gone until I had more of a head start.
But their fight ended the second I opened the door. I had underestimated how preoccupied they were.
Glancing over my shoulder, I took a sharp left and hid behind a tree. Pressing my back against the stump, I tried to catch my breath. I couldn't see a damn thing. Rubbing my eyes, I strained to make out anything in the pitch-black cover of the forest at night.
Branches were cracking around me, leaves rustling beside me, but there was no way for me to tell what was causing it. Both men had gone silent, and I had this nervous feeling come over me that I wasn't the first person they had ever hunted.
Peeking my head out from behind the tree, my eyes had adjusted slightly. I could make out shapes under the dimly lit sky, but I wasn't seeing any movement.
Twisting around, I turned to check the other side.
"Going somewhere, little minx?" Koa's thick hand was instantly around my throat, squeezing firmly. "You're so fucking lucky I found you, and not my brother. He would just kill you, I'm a little more lenient."
His fingers moved up my neck, curling around my face, and squeezing my cheeks. Flaring my nostrils, I took in long slow breaths. "You call this lucky?" I asked, balling my fists at my side.
