My heart sinks, and my stomach churns with nausea. How will I get out? There isn’t a partition between the front and back of the van, so I can’t plead with whoever is driving to let me out.
“My phone.” How was that not the first thing I thought of? I haven’t found my bag, but I give the space another look in case I missed something. When I don’t find it, I dig my fingers into my scalp. I must have dropped it when I got tossed into the van.
I suddenly remember watching a show where a woman knocked out taillights and stuck her fingers through the hole to get the attention of any cars behind her. Crawling to the back of the van, I search for taillights.
There’s nothing.
I scream and slap the wall.
Is this it? Is this the way my life is going to end? Just when I finally got free of everything restricting?
Finally found the man I love?
It can’t be.
When we stop, I’m going to fight with everything I have.
***
The van pulls to a stop. I have no track of time. We could’ve been driving for a few minutes or hours. My fingers are bleeding and bruised from punching windows and pulling at doors to get free.
A cold sweat breaks over my skin, and fear grips my chest. This is it. It’s time to fight.
Hurrying to my feet, I brace myself. The plan is, once the door is open, I’ll throw myself toward whoever has trapped me and hopefully get them off guard. Then I’ll make a run for it and wave down someone to help me.
What if there is more than one person? I’m not exactly skilled in any kind of martial arts. Why didn’t Sally and I include combat training in our ‘try something new’ month?
There’s the sound of the door, then footsteps crunch outside. My hands shake, and I take deep breaths. The door screeches open, and I blink against the bright light of a flashlight. As I take a step to barge forward, something shines from the person’s hand, and I stop suddenly.
He has a knife.
“You’re not going anywhere.” The sinister voice has me dragging my attention away from the weapon and squinting past the light. I look into the eyes of my abductor.
“Bruce? Why are you doing this?”
I glance over his shoulder to try to get an idea of where I am. It’s too dark to see much, but from the shadows of the tall pine trees, I’m guessing we’re somewhere in a forest. There’s a dilapidated cabin to the left of him. There isn’t a main road or any other cabins that I can see. There are no city sounds, no traffic or voices. Just the occasional song of insects.
“I told your boyfriend Tash needed to come home. I have bills.”
“No one knows she isn’t living with you. You’re still getting paid.”
“Yeah, but she’s eighteen tomorrow. She’s on her own, and I get fucking nothing. Now that my wife’s left me, there’s no chance they’ll give me another kid.” Thank God for that. I send up a silent prayer. “You’re gonna get me my money.” He waves the knife at me.
“I don’t have any. I dropped my bag when you threw me into the van.”
He scoffs out a laugh. “I don’t want your pathetic change. It’s the big bucks I’m after, and your boyfriend is going to give it to me.”
“You think Kade will give you money?”
“If he wants his pretty little girlfriend in one piece, he will.” Fear coils in my chest. It suddenly feels too real, and I need tosomehow take control of the situation and get myself away from him.
Like he’s done with the conversation, he makes to slide the door closed. I hold out my hand. “Wait.” I have to keep him talking. It’s the only chance I have to escape. I don’t want to be locked in here again. “What makes you think he’ll give you money for me?”
He gives me a sly smirk. “I’ve been watching. You’re spending a lot of time in his building.”
The thought of him stalking me makes my skin crawl. “So? I visit Natasha and the baby all the time. I’m not with Kade.” I lie. If he thinks I don’t mean anything to Kade and he won’t get money for me, maybe he’ll let me go. Or just kill me. Fear trickles down my spine.
He laughs. “You think I’m stupid? I know what you’re getting up to. That man looks at you with one thing on his mind, and that’s to fuck you. And I’d bet you wasted no time dropping your panties.”
