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25
EMILIA
My teeth chattered as I remained tied to the chair in the middle of the large warehouse. It was late at night and I was cold, hungry, and exhausted. Janet and Helena were in the office, doing fuck knows what. What had they demanded of Jase? Was he going to give them what they wanted? If he did, would they truly release me or would they take the large sum of money they’d no doubt asked for and kill me anyway?
I wriggled on the chair. I’d needed to use the bathroom for a little while now and I couldn’t wait any longer. “Hello!” My voice wasn’t as loud as I’d hoped it would be, but it still got the attention I wanted.
The only two women related to me by blood in the entire world came out of the room, wearing warm jackets that only served to remind me just how cold I was. Janet stood in front of me. “What is it?”
“I need to use the restroom. I can’t hold it any longer.”
She studied me carefully before nodding. “Untie her, Helena. Take her to the restroom.”
Helena crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at me. “We should tie her hands together, just in case.”
Janet tutted. “Don’t be ridiculous. Look at her! Does she look like she’s in any sort of shape to be going anywhere? Just do what I told you and stop questioning me.” Her tone was cold, and Helena reluctantly loosened the ropes around my hands and ankles.
I stood up slowly, trying to work out the kinks, but when I went to move my body wouldn’t obey my command. I’d been tied up for hours and all my muscles and joints ached. I forced myself to move, Helena behind me, but I could only limp slowly toward the bathroom.
“Move!” A hand slammed into my back and propelled me forward, but I lost my balance and fell onto the ground, smashing into the hard concrete. Tears welled up as my hands, knees, and hip ached. “Get up, idiot!”
“Get in the office, now.” Janet’s voice was cold, and as I looked up I saw her hand connect with Helena’s face. “I fucking told you not to harm her. Are you deaf or just stupid?”
Helena’s eyes shimmered and she glared at our mother before looking at me. “I hate you!” Before I knew what was happening, she lifted her foot back and kicked me in the stomach with enough force to knock the breath from me. I groaned and curled up into a ball, cradling my belly.
Another smack over the head from Janet had Helena bolting for cover in the office. Janet waited until she’d slammed the door shut before she bent over me and held out a hand. “I’m sorry, baby girl. She’s got a terrible temper I can’t control sometimes. Let me help you up.”
I didn’t want to touch the woman who’d given birth to me, but I had no choice. I wasn’t able to pull myself to my feet, so I had to allow Janet to help me get up again, the movement making me groan in pain. She didn’t let me go even after I was finally upright, and she didn’t try to rush me as I hobbled over to the restroom.
The room was covered in plain white tiles and was surprisingly clean for a warehouse that had looked to be abandoned for years. There were three urinals along the left wall next to three cubicles, one of which had a missing door. On the right was a mirror which ran the length of the wall and three sinks on the counter. A paper towel dispenser sat at either end.
“Do you need help?”
I stared at Janet blankly for a few moments before I realized what she meant. “No.” I limped over to the first cubicle with a door and entered it, pushing the door closed but not latching it. Janet didn’t say anything, so I undid my pants with shaking fingers which were so cold they were blue.
Once I was done, I tried not to cry as I slowly stood up again. I opened the door and washed my hands, hope blooming in my chest at the idea of being able to run hot water over my fingers but disappointment crushing my chest when I discovered there was none.
The soap water stung the scrapes a little, but I washed them thoroughly anyway and used enough paper towels to ensure they were dry.
Janet took my arm as we stepped back out of the restroom. I was dying to shake it off, because her touch left me colder than I already was, but I needed help to get back to the chair without falling over again. Every single muscle in my body seemed to ache and all I wanted was a hot bath, something to eat, and Jase.
Jase. Just thinking of the man I was going to marry, the man I shared every aspect of my life with, made me want to cry. I would have given Janet every penny we owned to be in his arms right now. Blinking back tears, I wished I had the strength to fight against getting back in that chair.
But I didn’t.
Janet looked at the ropes lying on the ground beside it before gazing up at me. I don’t know what she was looking for, but she eyed me carefully before nodding, as though she’d made a decision. “Come on, we’ll go into the office. It’s too cold out here for you and I can keep an eye on you in there.”
She took my arm once more and guided me across the cavernous space to the office door, which she opened. Helping me across the threshold, she reached over and flicked some switches which plunged the warehouse into total darkness. The only light source came from the small room I now stood in.
I looked around. There was an old desk pushed up against the back wall, one drawer missing and the other two clearly broken, with two black duffle bags on top. A couple of portable cots were against the perpendicular walls, facing each other. They were neatly made with sheets, blankets, and pillows. I ached to be able to lie down on one of them, just to rest. Sleep would be impossible, despite how fatigued I felt.
Helena had parked herself on an office chair, which she’d swiveled around on when the door had opened. “What the fuck is she doing in here with us? Tie her back to the chair!”
“You’re not in any position to be making demands, baby girl.” I cringed at the use of the nickname she’d also bestowed on me. “It’s too cold to leave her out there, and we have a better chance of remaining undetected with the lights out anyway. It’s unlikely anyone will notice the light on in here unless they’re looking in the windows.”
That made sense, but the idea of it being harder to find us here had despair coursing through me so strongly I almost lost it. How on earth was Jase ever going to find me now? Had he called the authorities, or was Connor taking the lead? Had they been able to track my cell before Janet smashed it, or had the photograph she’d texted Jase given anything away?
I started to shiver, even though it was warmer inside this room than it had been in the main part of the warehouse. My mind wouldn’t stop wandering to Jase. He must have been frantic with worry by now. Had Janet threatened to kill me if he didn’t meet her demands? How much had she asked him for? What else did she want?
