Read Online Secrets and Scars: A Gripping Psychological Thriller (Fatal Hearts Series Book 3) by Dori Lavelle - Free Book Online Page A

we do? Should we—”
    “We have no choice. We’re here for one reason only. We’ll get in there, take what we need, and get out.”
    “Okay. Let’s do it.” The thought of fresh water on my tongue banished the fear of getting caught. “How far do you think your yacht is from here?”
    Owen rubbed his chin. “From here to the beach it should be around two to three hours. After that, it shouldn’t take us more than an hour to reach the dock.”
    “That doesn’t sound too bad.” I undid my tangled ponytail, knotted strands of hair snagging on the elastic band, and retied it.
    “But we have to get going. We should try and get to the beach before dark.”
    The low fence was easy to climb over. Owen went first, and then helped me over it.
    The moment my feet touched the ground, an invisible weight slid off my shoulders. On the other side of the fence, Alvin felt far away.
    Exhaustion and thirst had dragged us down, and we had to hold on to each other as we trudged down one of the paths.
    “Stop!” A warning voice behind us ordered, not even ten minutes into our walk.
    “Shit,” Owen murmured.
    Panic spurted through me as Owen and I spun around.
    “What are you doing here? This is private land.”
    The short, muscular man had dark brown curly hair that was tied on top of his head in a bun. The hair on the sides of his head was shaved. He looked to be in his early forties.
    My gaze ran over his grey t-shirt and dirty jeans, stuffed into what looked to be secondhand combat boots. Both his hands were planted on a rifle, aimed straight at us. He was chewing something, maybe gum.
    A cold knot formed in my stomach that pulsed with each step he took toward us.
    “Put your hands up.” Owen dropped our now empty burlap sack to the ground. He lifted his hands, palms facing outward. I followed his lead.
    The man stopped walking about six feet away from us, dropped the rifle to his side, and stood with his legs spread apart, feet planted firmly to the ground. His chocolate eyes studied our faces, eyebrows meeting in the middle. “I asked you a question. What business do you have on my land?”
    “We didn’t come to bring you trouble. We need your help. Someone is trying to kill us.” Owen injected strength and boldness into his voice, but I heard the tremors, felt the cracks between the letters. I hoped the stranger didn’t.
    The man bent his head to the side and narrowed his eyes as his gaze traveled from the top of my head to my sandals. I gritted my teeth so tight my jaw ached. The man’s eyes told me he didn’t believe Owen. Time for me to step in. Maybe he would listen to a frightened woman.
    “He’s telling the truth. My husband is a murderer. He's after us.” Alarm bells still rang inside my head. Alvin couldn’t be dead.
    “Chloe, don’t.” Owen’s voice was firm, but I refused to listen. He had risked his life enough for me—now could be my chance to save us both.
    “If you don’t help us,” I continued, “we’re going to die. Please help. I’m begging you.”
    The man spat his gum into the cannabis plants. “I hate liars. How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
    “He hurt me… my body. I have proof. I can show you the wounds on my back.”
    “You came from there?” The man glanced in the direction we came from.
    “Yes,” Owen replied. “Her husband almost killed her, but I got to her in time. Now he’s after both of us. We’re not asking for much. Just some food and drink, then we’ll be on our way.”
    The man made a sweeping movement with his rifle from back to front. “Walk.”
    Hands still raised, we turned and walked. He and his rifle followed us.
    Whether he planned to kill or save us, we had no choice but to do as we were told.
    “Faster,” he said, and we picked up pace.
    We soon reached the group of huts we’d seen from a distance.
    Three men sat on white plastic chairs in front of one of the huts, playing cards. They looked up as we approached. One of them, a