Page 164 of Corpse Roads

“I don’t think you’re losing it, sweetheart. Let me make some calls and check the records from the previous investigation. You did good.”

“Too little, too late.” I breathe in his spicy scent, even if I don’t deserve to be comforted. “I can’t bring her back.”

Hunter guides my eyes up to his. “But you can stop anyone else from getting hurt. I have some news.”

Panic spears me. “What is it?”

“The intelligence department has tracked down a potential location for where you were held.”

“Did you find anything?” I rush out.

“Not that simple. It’s deep in thick woodland and can only be accessed by foot. We have to go there and scout it out.”

My heart pounds harder. “So we’re leaving?”

His smile is tight and unhappy. “None of us like the idea of you being in danger. If Enzo had his way, you would never leave the house again.”

“I’ve spent enough years locked away from the world.”

“I know. Look, this is your decision to make, and we respect that. You’re going to come with us and help track this place down. A deal’s a deal.”

He clutches my hands to stop them from shaking. The cold air of the basement is slipping beneath my skin, chilling my thawed heart back into an icy, impenetrable lump. I barely survived escaping.

Can I really go back there? Will I be able to cope with seeing it again? I honestly don’t know. This seemed like a good idea, but the reality is another thing altogether.

“I have to do this,” I say nervously. “You’ll be there, right?”

“Of course.” Hunter’s fingers link with mine. “You’ll have us and the Cobra team to support you. We’ll triple security to make sure it’s safe. I can’t control what we may find inside though.”

“You think… another prisoner?”

“Perhaps, if he snatched a girl immediately after dumping the last body for us to find. I don’t want to rule it out.”

Pastor Michaels has an intricate process, weeks of scheduled beatings and recited scripture to take the sinner from evil, soulless scum to a willing vessel for the Lord’s divine retribution.

If there’s someone else in there, she’ll be knee-deep in her own blood. Nausea engulfs me as I realise what else could be waiting if they haven’t bothered to move her yet.

“Laura,” I whisper in horror.

Hunter’s mouth is an uneasy slash. “She hasn’t turned up. You need to be prepared. If we find this place, she might still be inside.”

Swallowing the bubble of acid stinging the back of my throat, all I can do is nod. If I open my mouth, something else might slip out. A gnarly, twisted secret that could bring my whole world crashing down.

“We will be home for Christmas at the weekend,” Hunter outlines. “We’ll head out tomorrow on a private plane.”

“Got it,” I squeak.

Leaning close, his lips lock on to mine and swallow my silent screams of panic. I don’t deserve the hidden sweetness behind Hunter’s impenetrable façade, but his kiss pulls me back from the edge.

Pecking my lips again, he tucks me into his side. “Everyone’s downstairs. We can go over introductions.”

“Can you give me a minute? I need to splash my face and grab some painkillers. My head is killing me.”

He scans my face with concern. “Go home and rest; it can wait until tomorrow. Leighton will have to drive you. We’ve got a lot of planning to do tonight.”

“You’re sure?”

“We need you rested and ready. Can you find your way to my office from here? There are some tablets in the desk drawer. The code is 041022.”