How to Escape an Assassin

Felix was now on the phone with Tristan—my crush, my obsession who I had been dreaming about for nights on end.

I didn't know if Tristan was evil like Felix was. But Tristan saved me from him once before. He had also warned me to stay away from him.

He was the only strand of hope that I had left. So I took a chance on him—one that would result in either my rescue or a faster death.

I let out a blood-curdling screech in desperate agony. "Help me please!" It echoed back painfully in my own ears.

Felix accidentally dropped his phone upon hearing my outburst. "Damn it," he grunted. "Kid, I'm about at the end of my patience now." He pointed a threatening index finger at me, his face set in a murderous glare. He took a whip off of one of the hooks. It had sharp spikes embedded in the leather.

Before he could take a step in my direction, the garage door violently burst open and nearly fell off of the hinges from the impact.

I twisted my head around trying to see who it was. I was currently looking at the person who entered from an almost upside-down perspective, but I knew who it was. Seeing him sent a wave of temporary relief coursing through me. It was Tristan. He wore dark jeans and a fitted navy blue sweater that hugged his toned muscles. His hair was wet and it fell messily over his smoldering jet black eyes that were locked onto mine. But his gaze held disgust. It was hurtful, I couldn't understand why he would look at me that way.

"Fel, what is this," Tristan asked while still scowling in my direction. His gaze fell first on my necklace, then traveled down to my unbuttoned jeans.

"What does it look like Ghost?" Felix snapped. He had such a short fuse when it came to his brother. "Do I have to report everything to you? She's a target. A dead man."

Tristan walked over to Felix and whispered something in his ear. He then shot me one last disdainful look, then stormed out and slammed the door shut behind him.

Felix stood silent for a moment, likely contemplating whatever Tristan just told him.

After a while, he began to speak. "Good news for you, kiddo." He walked over to me and crouched down then began untying the rope around my wrists. "You don't have to die anymore. Not by my hands at least." Then he moved to untie the rope around my ankles. "How about we just pretend none of this happened and start fresh, yeah? I think I know just how to make it up to you. My cousin Lydia's getting married Saturday. I know ladies love weddings. You can go as my guest, whaddaya' say?"

I shook out my hands and ankles, finally free from the rope. I let out a shaky breath of relief, then curled my knees up to my chest to form a protective ball. "I won't be going anywhere with you," I said timidly while looking up to his towering stature from my position on the floor.

"Sorry kid, it was phrased as an offer but it was really a demand. You see, you are now a liability to me because you know way too much and you've seen way too much. So I can't just let you go like that." He pensively rubbed the stubble on his chin with his thumb and index finger. "Let's make a deal. You go with me to the wedding, and I might not kill your parents. And don't even think about reporting to the feds. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

That monstrous rage was building up inside of me again at his words. "I know I seem like someone you can push around. But I'm going to set one thing straight. Don't threaten my parents. Don't mention them to me ever again, and don't even think about them. If you ever harm either of my parents I will come after you and kill you myself, you pathetic asshole," I spat menacingly.

Felix smacked the ground with the whip as a warning. "Watch how you talk to me little girl," he hissed. "Do we have a deal?"

I wept angrily, feeling powerless.