Chapter 1347

As Gabriel spoke, he gave his men a subtle signal. Roxanne still didn't know what kind of punishment awaited her, but she had heard enough about Austin's ruthless methods to feel her stomach sink. His men rushed forward. They were clearly trained fighters, and whatever skill she had in hand-to-hand combat was useless against them. They bound her easily, pulling her arms and tying the ropes tightly around her wrists. Then, when they yanked hard in opposite directions, pain ripped through her body. Just as Suzanne stepped out of the abandoned house, a scream of agony tore from inside. Roxanne's voice was raw with pain, but Austin didn't slow his stride. He kept walking forward, holding Suzanne in his arms tightly. Suzanne realized then that they were in a mountain hollow, no longer in the outskirts but well beyond the city. They were deep in the wooded hills. Trees pressed in from all sides, and the only path was a muddy, rutted track overgrown with weeds as if no one had passed t