Free Seven Days by Shari Richardson

remembered how I’d felt when Lane had invaded Xavier’s birthday party in Florida and I began backing slowly toward the stadium.
    “I don’t believe Elise would like me to visit,” he said. “I’m not really family, am I?” Lane took a few steps toward me and my heart rate cranked up another notch.
    “Elise is pretty open minded,” I said. I scanned the crowd, hoping to see Mathias turning the corner of the stands. I was pretty sure that as soon as he realized he couldn’t see me, Mathias would come looking for me. I was just praying he would be quick about it.
    “Who are you looking for?” Lane asked, stepping closer to me. He moved quickly, surely and silently. He made my skin crawl and I considered screaming, but I didn’t want to drag anyone else into whatever Lane had planned.
    “My sister,” I lied. “She said she was going to join me here in a sec.”
    “I don’t think so.” Lane’s grin sent chills up my spine. “Why don’t we take this discussion somewhere a bit more private?” He closed the distance between us and put his hand under my elbow. I felt the strength in his hand and realized how much danger I was in. He could snap my arm easily and his look told me he wouldn’t hesitate.
    “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said, jerking my arm even though I knew it was futile. Lane didn’t release me, but grinned more broadly.
    “Oh, I think you are. Unless you’d like to explain to everyone in East Hampton and Highland Home about what kind of monsters live among them and play football with their children on that field.”
    Lane’s revelation stunned me. How did he know about the panthers and the demigod? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I insisted.
    Lane began pulling me toward the gate that led to the parking lot. I tried to set my feet to stop him, but he was so much stronger than I was it was as though I did nothing. I kept casting panicked looks over my shoulder and praying to see Mathias‘ dark head above the crowd.
    “You know more than I do, I think,” Lane said. “There are a lot of strange creatures in this area. More than I’ve ever encountered before. I wonder why that is.”
    I shook my head and continued to struggle against Lane. I could see the dark panel van toward which he was dragging me. The side door was open. I knew if I let Lane get me into that van, I’d never come out of it alive. As he pulled me toward the van, Lane’s body began to jerk and tremble. We were about ten yards from the van when I realized the hand holding my elbow had claws and was covered in dark fur. I’d had enough of trying to remain calm. I screamed.
    Lane growled at me and pulled me toward the van faster. I was convinced I was going to die in the parking lot if I couldn’t get away from him. “You’ve been hunting me,” I said. “Why?” Xavier had been right that the panther who had hunted brown haired girls had been looking for me, but now that I knew it was Lane, I couldn’t imagine why. “Xavier is your son. You know if you kill me, you’ll kill a part of him.”
    Lane grinned and I could see his teeth had begun to elongate. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve taken something from him and he survived,” Lane said. “Xavier is strong. He’ll survive this as well.”
    I shuddered at the cold, distant tone in Lane’s voice. He really meant to kill me and intended to do it to hurt his son. Lane was sicker than I’d thought and definitely deadlier.
    “Release her, cat.” I had never before been so glad to hear Mathias‘ voice. I looked over my shoulder and saw Mathias moving quickly and smoothly across the parking lot.
    “Buzz off, leech,” Lane snarled. He tightened his grip on my arm and I gasped. “This one is mine.”
    Mathias reached over me to grasp Lane’s hand where it held my arm. “I think not,” he said. “Release her and I may let you live.”
    Lane laughed. “You’re not going to expose yourself in front of all these people