“I brought coffees.” She smiled, handing the cups out.
“Amazing, thank you,” I replied gratefully. “I’m just going to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” I held up a finger that I’d just be a minute and hustled back to the restroom.
When I emerged from the back, for a moment I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing. Both Joanie and Lanie were slumped over, with Kelly standing at my station, pointing a gun at me.
“What did you do to them?” I exclaimed in horror.
“Drugged their coffees,” she replied easily. “You were supposed to drink yours too, but I guess we’ll have to go about this the hard way.”
“What do you want?” I demanded, glancing around in a bid to figure out how I could alert Lincoln to what was going on. With her back to the window, he wouldn’t be able to see the gun. And she’d already been vetted and approved as a client, so his guard wouldn’t be up that she was in the salon.
“Pike and I struck a deal. He was having a hard time getting to you, so I volunteered to give him a hand. The price was right.” She shrugged.
My eyes bulged at the casual way she referred to life and death.
“Now, we’re going to leave through the bathroom window,” she instructed. “Give me any trouble and we’ll move to Plan B.” She waved the gun for emphasis, making it clear what Plan B entailed.
A spot of hope lanced through me as she shoved me toward the bathroom. The panic button Cason had installed at my station was just out of reach, but the bathroom window was alarmed.
I’d just need to hold on long enough for help to arrive.
When we reached the small bathroom, she threw the street-level window open, shoving me through and into the waiting arms of a man dressed as a delivery driver.
He immediately started to drag me backwards toward a waiting car.
“She was supposed to be drugged!” he boomed as I fought against his grip, letting out a blood-curdling scream.
“She didn’t drink it,” she explained as she climbed through the window. “You said you had a plan B and here she is. My part’s done; I’m out of here,” she added, slipping the gun in the back of her jeans and striding quickly around the building and out of sight.
I slammed my heel into my assailant’s foot as he held me tight from behind. I knew if he got me in that car, my chances of survival were slim, and I had way too much to live for.
I elbowed him in the ribs just as a cloth was held over my face. I tried not to breathe, tried to fight, but the blackness began to take over.
My last thought was of Ruston’s face before I knew no more.
When I came to, I was first aware that my head hung at an awkward angle as I sat tied to a chair.
My first attempt to lift my head was unsuccessful; it felt far too heavy. I’d been in this state for quite a while, if my aching muscles were any testament. I hung there limply for a few breaths, my throat raw and heart pounding in panic.
When I opened my eyes, zeroing in on the boots I’d put on that morning, oblivious to the nightmare that would follow, I wondered if I would have chosen differently had I known there was a possibility I’d die in them. I immediately dispelled of the thought, knowing I couldn’t lose hope.
It was with that determination, after two more tries, that I was able to lift my head, squinting blearily before zeroing in on the video recorder pointed in my direction, the innocuous red light sending a shudder of dread through my already shaking frame.
“You’re awake, finally.” Brian Pike snorted in exasperation, as though my unconscious state had inconvenienced him. He came to stand behind the camera, checking to make sure I was in the frame. “I’ll give it to your man, he had you locked up tight. Good thing I’m so creative.” He tapped his head for emphasis.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
He came to stand in front of me, staring down at me with a malicious glint to his eye. “I want exactly what I already told you, gorgeous. I’m going to take from the Royal Bloods as they have taken from me. And that starts with you. He’s going to watch you suffer. And ultimately, he’ll watch you die. But first…” He leaned down planting his mouth on mine when I was helpless to prevent it. “He’ll watch me do whatever I want to do to you,” he vowed as he pulled away with a grin.
“You’re disgusting,” I spat, earning a slap so hard, it sent my face flinging to the side, my ears ringing. I tasted blood as I forced myself to look him square in the eye. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of pleading for my life. It wouldn’t make any difference anyway; that much was clear.
“You’ll suffer for all the Bloods’ sins,” he hissed, clearly incensed that I wasn’t going to beg. “Bet Ruston King doesn’t seem so appealing now, does he?”
“Most amazing man I’ve ever met,” I replied without hesitation as he pulled a knife from behind his back, sliding the back of the blade over my cheek.
“Do you think he’ll still want you scarred? Do you think he’ll still want you after I’m done with you?”
“Yes.” I answered with conviction.
