Hidden Truths (Violet Chain Book 2) (26 page)

I smiled. “Yes, I will always keep this memory close to my heart. I love you.”

He stroked my cheek gently. “And I love you, Violet Townsend, forever and always.”

Thank you for reading Hidden Truths (Violet Chain #2).

As a special gift I have enclosed the prologue for the next book in the Violet Chain series, Blu (Violet Chain #3).

Prologue – Pearl

The thundering sound of glass splintering into pieces pierced my ears as my hand brushed a large vase, causing it to crash to the ground. I knelt down to pick up the shattered remains when I heard footsteps and glanced up to see the fierce flames of anger and rage storming in his eyes.

Without a thought, I ran out the door.

I leapt over the three steps of the porch, landing on the sidewalk, twisting my ankle and falling to the ground.

The sound of boots hammering against the concrete stairs caught my attention and I hurriedly rose up, biting back the pain and sprinted across the grassed yard.

“Get back here!” his voice bellowed from behind me.

I ignored his scream. Not looking back. I couldn’t look back. I had to keep running, I had to get away.

The crunching sound of the stones turning, the earth rattling behind me, indicated he was near, very near. I had to lose him, somehow, someway.

The forest had always been my playground, a place I would use to escape from the man that held me captive, the house that kept me prisoner. I knew it well and intended on using it to my advantage. I veered left and ran expeditiously into the thick of the dark forest, slapping away the branches that blocked my path until I reached the clearing on the hill near the creek.

A sharp pain wrenched through my ankle as I jumped down the hillside and quickly tucked my body into a small hole buried in the side of the hill.

Sliding on my backside, I pulled my knees in as I curled my body into the back of the hole, trying to disappear in the small dirt cave.

I heard the sound of twigs snapping above me.

Terror swept through me.

My heart pounded in my chest.

I could hear his feet wrestling with the dirt and grass as he stomped back and forth. Then silence. Sweat beaded on my forehead, my breath quickened, as I waited with dread and fear.

Minutes passed without a sound. Quietly and slowly I moved towards the entrance of the hole.

I peeked my head out, glancing up and around, and when I didn’t see him, I emerged completely from the hole. I climbed up the hill and as I set my feet down, I heard him scream and my head jerked sideways just in time to witness him charging full force towards me. I had two seconds to make a decision, two seconds before he would be upon me. As his arms descended towards me at a dizzying speed, I ducked and his big body lurched over and past me, tumbling down the hill and into the creek. I gazed down at his body lying across the water.

He sprang to his feet and that was my cue to exit. I turned on my heel and dashed away.

After running for what seemed like forever, the footsteps that had once followed so closely faded into the wind, the sound dissipating into the darkness.

The air in my lungs grew thin, forcing me to stop.

Bending down, I placed my hands on my knees and took small, short breaths, attempting to calm my rapidly beating heart.

After getting my breathing in check and calming my erratic heart, I continued my journey onward down the dirt trail. I saw a small opening at the end of the trail and knew the road was close. I had seen the road only one time, when he drove into town with me to get supplies. He was nervous when people began to take notice of me. He cursed to himself, swearing he would never take me into town again, and he had kept that promise.

I traveled through a ditch and up and out into the road. As I stood in the road, I glanced up and down. It was a never-ending black path to freedom. I walked to the middle and felt a sense of relief. I was free. I was finally free.

I heard a loud noise and turned to see a light shining so brightly, I had to use my hand to shield my eyes.