Check out this aesthetic that was created for me above. Also, this chapter is dedicated to my wattPad friend tuillaxoh. Not only is she sweet, but she also VERY creative. She made this for me. Click on her name if you need book covers or anesthetic created.

As he throws LeAnn's body into the pool, I take the opportunity and run towards the front door. I am trying so hard not to sob! I muffle my cries with my hands while grabbing the car keys and LeAnn's phone.

I drop the keys and quickly pick them back up, not bothering to turn around and see if the man hears me.

As I am running out of the home, Sergio is coming inside, which startles me! I point the gun and shoot him in the stomach!

Bang!

"Oh my God!" I yell as I reach for him. He puts his hand on his stomach and examines the blood on it, a look of terror on his face.

"I'm so sorry," I cry! "It was a mistake! I didn't see you! I thought you were-!"

He staggers and drops a huge bag. Stacks of euros pour onto the ground. I look at the bag and then back at him in confusion.

Sergio falls to the ground immediately afterward and tries to reach for me.

What is he doing with all that money? Wait a minute!

He must've told the man we were here! He is the reason LeAnn was just killed!

I wipe my tears and look around. Did no one hear all that noise?! The hail of bullets? The fight?

I turn and leave him there, taking his last breaths.

I begin to run down the mountainside. Not once did I look back. I can't stop sobbing! That maniac had just killed LeAnn! What makes this situation worse is that the man said he had Ryder.

I don't know if he or my parents are alive or dead!

I see a group of teenagers walking up towards me. I wipe my tears and tuck the gun into my pants. I slow to a jog. They never look over at me.

Once I pass them, I push even harder to hurry and get to the parking lot. I don't want to risk the man grabbing me.

A couple of minutes later, I make it to the truck. I jump in and look around, making sure no one will surprise me once I drive off.

Hitting the ON button, I put the truck in gear and high tail it out of there!

I drive for almost half an hour. I make so many twists and turns that I should be lost.

However, I've been keeping to the main streets. I don't need to end up in a field and invite more trouble for myself.

Eventually, I find a restaurant that has tons of cars in the parking lot. I need a public place where I can think for a second.

I drive around back and skid to a halt on the dirt trail. Once I turn the ignition OFF, I notice how violently my hands are shaking.

Suddenly I start to think of Ryder and begin to sob.

Maybe the man is bluffing and Ryder is safely away with my parents?

I grab LeAnn's phone from my pocket and look for Ryder's number. I place the call and hold my breath, hoping he picks up.

Nothing! I redial, praying he or one of my parents will pick up.

Once again, nothing.

I exhale loudly and put my hands to my face.

Oh god, I tell myself!

LeAnn was murdered in front of me, I can't get a hold of Ryder, and I don't know if he or my parents are still alive! I have no idea where I am or if someone is following me.

It then dawns on me. Freddie!

Of course, he will know Ryder's whereabouts! Wiping the tears away and praying, I search through LeAnn's phone contact list again.

"Please, please, please, LeAnn! Have Freddie's number!"

It is!

The phone rings.

After three rings, a very tired sounding Freddie answers. "Girl you know not to call me at six in the morning. What do you-"

"Freddie! Oh my God!" I start to sob again.

"Samantha?! What's wrong!? Are you okay? Where's LeAnn?!"

"No!" I cry out. "LeAnn, she...she..." I can't get the words out.

"Calm down, honey! Take a deep breath. Tell me what's wrong."

I continue to cry and take a shaky breath. I hear someone yell behind me and I immediately turn around terrified. It's a group of teens playing around.

"Sam?! Are you there?"

"I don't know where I am Freddie! LeAnn was murdered in front of me! I still haven't heard from Ryder and there's a lunatic behind me!"

Freddie makes a horrid gasp.

I then continue to tell him everything that has transpired in the last twenty-four hours.

I feel like I'm trapped in this horror show with no way out!

"Listen to me, Sam! Tell me exactly where you are. Are there any buildings around you?" He sounds calm.

I know it's just a front. If he panics, who knows how I will react.

"I'm going to see how far away you are from Ryder."

I hear a door open and close through the phone.

Continuing to look around, I see the sign for the restaurant. A big white and red sign on the side of the brick building. "La Maison," I say shakily.

"Good Job, Sam! You're doing great! Give me a minute. I need to get into Ryder's office."

I keep looking around to make sure I don't see the man. I decide to turn the ignition ON, and put the car in drive, just in case he ambushes me.

I've seen way too many movies where the victim is sitting in the car, and the killer breaks the window, grabbing them.

"All right! It looks like you are two hours away from Ryder's last known coordinates. Listen to me, Sam..." Freddie begins.

I already know what he's going to say. Nonetheless, I listen intently.

"If LeAnn was killed, then that means whoever they have after you won't stop. Ryder probably might be gone too."

My heart skips a beat at his words. I close my eye as tears slide down my cheeks. Freddie is right!

"As a friend, I will advise you to come back to New Jersey," Freddie says sadly.

Ryder is all he has in this world.

But I can't leave Ryder or my parents behind!

Dead or alive!

LeAnn's death is because of me also. They are all here because of me!

"What would you do if you were in my place, Fred?" I ask. I put my head down, my hand covering my eyes. All I have, this very moment, is Freddie. Whatever he says, I'll follow.

He doesn't quickly response. Instead, I hear him exhale deeply.

Freddie then scoffs. "I'd find my family." He pauses. "And give my crazy husband hell!"

I nod. His words give me a new sense of confidence.

"Give me the coordinates Freddie..."

I am grateful for this drive. I'm halfway there and the sea is always to the left of me. If anything happens, I can always find my way back.

Grabbing the phone, I see it's one in the morning. I wondered why Freddie sounded so annoyed when he picked up the phone. It's a seven-hour difference. He must've still been sleeping.

As I follow the GPS, I remember I'm going into this with only one weapon. The gun that is tucked into my pants. How am I going to fight Max and his goons with only a handful of bullets?

I pull the escalade over onto the grass.

LeAnn was highly trained. She wouldn't drive a vehicle without having a way to protect herself. Especially on this suicide mission.

I jump out of the vehicle and begin searching through it. I open the glove compartment and check under the seats. I check everywhere. I then open the trunk door.

I am disappointed to find...nothing.

It's completely empty.

She wouldn't have weapons exposed anyways. Ryder wouldn't even have his weapons lying around for someone to find. Maybe there's a secret compartment in here?

Then I think of something! This is a rental.

Of course, it's not going to have any special compartments or a palm scanner!

There is, however, the storage door underneath, where the spare tire is stored. I pull it up!

Yes!

There are two black duffle bags where the spare should've been. I unzip them both.

One bag has a bunch of guns and ammunition. The other has knives, grenades, and a suit jacket.

I remove the jacket and find a gun holster that can hold four guns and what looks like knives.

Suddenly a sense of dread washes over me. What am I thinking?

I'm not an assassin! If anything, I'll get myself killed.

I lean against the car. Tears start to pool in my eyes.

"This was crazy, Sam! So crazy!" I tell myself as I rake my hair.

Hopelessness, despair, it's all I have right now. Nothing else!

I'm just some rich girl from California who has never even been in a fight. Let alone an argument. What do I know? I think to myself as I turn back and look at the bags.

No! Ryder, Mom, and Dad need me!

I have to put away sweet, innocent Samantha Hallowell! I have to do what needs to be done! I have to stop Max and hopefully save everyone I love.

Staring at the bags, I begin to wonder what type of advice would Ryder give me at this very moment.

I look to the left of me. The calm sea, highlighted by the moon above it. A perfect night.

To the right of me sat a couple of feet of grass and a bunch of trees. No houses or cars for miles and it's heavily lit by the street lights.

Target practice!

I pull out the first gun I see from the duffle bag. There's actually a bunch of these same ones. It looks like the gun I used to practice on the scarecrow months ago. I try to recall the name.

Nine millimeter?

I grab it and walk closer to the group of trees. There's one that is farther back than the others.

I will aim for that one!

"Okay," I say exhaling. "Open your legs slightly, inhale, squeeze the trigger lightly, exhale."

Aim for the tree, I close one eye. The second I pull the trigger, I get scared and shut my other eye. A loud bang echoes around me.

As soon as I open my eyes again, I see that I clipped the tree that's furthest to the left.

I look around to make sure no one sees me shooting at the tree. I'm sure I must look crazy. Nevertheless, I am a bit happy.

I managed to hit something. It's not the intended target, but something is better than nothing.

Then I remember LeAnn had shown me a silencer earlier. It was before that monster came in and killed her.

I run back to the truck and look for a silencer. I have to dig but I find one.

The gun itself is bigger than the nine millimeter. It's black but also has a cylinder extension in the front.

I remove the safety and try again. "You can do this, Sam. Your life depends on it. Open your legs a little, inhale, aim, shoot!"

Staring at the tree, I imagine it's Max.

The way he made it seem like he loved me! How he lied! How he had LeAnn killed! How he kidnapped my parents and set their boat on fire! Ryder...

I aim the gun and hold my breath as I walk towards my target. I press the trigger lightly.

I hit the side of the middle tree.

Yes!

The excitement makes me screams out loud! I run back to the truck and grab three knives.

LeAnn was holding them a certain way when she threw them at the man.

I need to do that!

Standing a few feet from the trees, I throw it!

The knife bounces off of the tree and hits the ground.

I groan as I pick it up and walk back to my spot.

LeAnn held the tip of the knife between her thumb and pointer finger. She also had one foot in front of her, as she threw it.

I close my eyes and exhale.

I open my eyes. Again, I am aiming for the middle tree.

I throw it with all my might, just as LeAnn did it!

I stab the tree! It isn't deep enough, it stays attached for a couple of seconds, and then it falls to the ground.

Yes! I know it isn't a kill shot, but it will be enough to slightly injure anyone coming at me.

I retrieve the knife, shut the trunk, and get back inside the truck. "I'm coming, guys!"

Right as I pull off a car skids to a halt in front of me! My heart jumps into my throat as the driver side door opens.

No! I think to myself. The man found me!