Free The Rules for Breaking by Ashley Elston Page A

air and I take comfort in the fact he is still breathing. I cover Ethan’s body with mine, offering him any protection I can. I’m praying one of the dads will appear, shotgun in hand, but so far it’s just us out here. Even if our families hear something, they probably won’t come looking since they think Ethan is teaching me how to shoot a gun.
    The masked man stands over us but doesn’t move toward Ethan. He looks back at Thomas as if asking how he’s supposed to pick Ethan up since I’m draped over his chest.
    Thomas pulls me off of Ethan, restraining my arms. As much as I struggle, I can’t move an inch. “If you continue to fight me, your boyfriend will pay the consequence,” he growls.
    I stop moving instantly.
    The masked man struggles lifting Ethan until he finally gets him over his shoulder.
    “You don’t need him! Take me! Leave him here!” I shout.
    Thomas squeezes my arms so tight behind me I think they’re going to pop out of the sockets.
    “Be quiet. This isn’t just about you anymore,” he whispers in my ear.
    Thomas pushes me in the back and we follow Ethan and the masked man into the darkening forest.
    “Where are you taking us?”
    “Those nasty bosses of mine…they’ve hired my replacement to finish the job,” Thomas sneers.
    I suck in a deep breath and stumble over a small log.
    He steadies me before pushing me again to keep me moving.
    “What does that mean?” As afraid as I am for him to answer this question, I have to know what we’re up against.
    “That means,” he grits out in a harsh tone, “not only are there contracts out for you and your boyfriend, but for my friend and me as well. My boss decided the best way to clean up this entire mess is to get rid of all of us.”
    I crumple to the ground. Oh. My. God.
    Thomas jerks me back up and pushes me forward.
    “But I don’t understand. Why are you here? Are you turning us over to them?” My mind is racing and I can’t seem to get a grip on what’s happening.
    He ignores my questions completely.
    It only takes a few more minutes until we reach an all-terrain vehicle similar to what Ethan uses on the farm.
    “Where did you get that?”
    “We borrowed it from one of the camps last night.”
    Last night? How did they get here? Or know we were here to begin with?
    Masked man dumps Ethan in the cargo area, but Ethan doesn’t even flinch. There’s no telling how sore and banged up he’s going to be when he finally comes around.
    With gloved hands, Thomas grabs a small black object from the front seat of the vehicle.
    It’s a video camera.
    “You will say exactly what I want you to say and nothing more. Do you understand?”
    My body is shaking so hard, it’s tough to nod.
    “You will tell them I have taken you from this island. You will tell them they have my word I will not kill you unless my orders are disobeyed. Your father and the Landrys are not to leave the island. They are not to contact anyone in any way. If they do not follow my orders, then I will break my word.”
    He presses a button and a little red light blinks on, then a bright light beams from the top of the camera, chasing away the impending darkness. I’m staring at the lens and everything he just told me to say jumbles in my brain.
    “Umm…Thomas wants me to tell you he is taking us off the island.” My voice sounds rough…unfamiliar and I have to brush away a stray tear that slips out of the corner of my eye. “He said…”
    Oh God, I’m drawing a blank!
    I look at Thomas and he is mouthing the words he wants me to say.
    “Um…he said you have his word he won’t…kill…us if you follow his rules.”
    I swallow the lump and try to remember exactly how he worded the next part.
    Thomas moves the camera in closer and the bright light blinds me for a second. He’s moving his finger in a circular motion, wanting me to get on with it.
    “Rule number one: You are not allowed to leave the island. Rule number two: You are not allowed to