I swallow down bile. “You’re sick,” I manage to say through my choked throat.
He shrugs like my insult means nothing. “Only telling you how it is.” He flicks out his wrist to look at his watch. “Lover boy should be here soon.”
“You’ve called Kade?” I sag with relief. Thank God he’s on the way. “You won’t get away with this. He’ll call the police.”
“Told him if he wants you in one piece, he’ll keep the cops out of it.” His eyes flick toward the trees like he’s looking for anyone hiding in the shadows. He shuffles his feet, and sweat beads on his forehead.
“Then what? You get the money, and where will you go?”
“I’ve got places.”
“There’s a good chance you’ll get caught. Do you want to live your life looking over your shoulder?”
He straightens. “Not going to happen. Not when I’m loaded up with Kade’s cash. Maybe I’ll buy a secluded island. No one will find me then.” He grins like he’s said something funny.
“As soon as you take the money and run, you won’t be able to leave the country. Sooner or later, the police will find you.”
The confidence on his face drops. “I told you—”
“Not going to happen,” I finish for him. “Although it might. If you let me go, I won’t tell the police about this, and you can go and freely live your life without worrying about the consequences.” I’m trying desperately to say anything to him so he’ll let me go.
His brow furrows. Is he thinking about it? I hold my breath, hoping he’ll change his mind, then he shakes his head. “No. You’re staying here, and I’m getting paid.”
Heavy with disappointment, my shoulders fall forward. “But if you’ll consider—”
“I’ve had enough of your fucking chit-chat.” His face screws up with anger as he grabs the van’s door handle.
“No,” I cry. He can’t lock me in here again.
But the door shuts in my face, and once again fear clutches at my chest as darkness closes in on me.
thirty-six
CHAINS
“Thebastardisn’tgoingto get away with this.” I white-knuckle the steering wheel as I swerve through traffic to get to Daisy. “If he lays one finger on her, I’m going to kill him.”
A car horn blares at me as I cut him off. “What the hell was Bruce thinking? He’s not getting away with taking Daisy.” Lincoln grips the handle above the passenger side door window. He usually likes the thrill of fast driving, but I’m guessing I’m going too fast even for his comfort. I don’t give a fuck if he’s going to piss his pants with fear. Getting to Daisy as quickly as possible is all I care about.
“I won’t let him get away with it.” Once the security guard at the apartment told us about the abduction, seconds later, Natasha was on the phone telling me about the text message Bruce sent her. He detailed where he wanted to meet and to come with enough cash for him to live in luxury for the rest of his life.
In a flash, I’d emptied the club’s safe and jumped in the car. Lincoln, Asher, and even Daisy’s father all piled in after me.
From the back seat, Jude clutches the headrest and leans forward. “We need to call the police.”
“When I’m through with him, there’ll be nothing left for the police.”
“How can you let something like this happen to my daughter?” he accuses. “I was right when I said you’re not good for her.”
“Don’t blame me for this sick bastard’s actions. I’m going to get her away from him.” Daisy better be unharmed, or Bruce will pay.
“I don’t trust that you can help her on your own. We need to call the police,” the pastor says again.
Asher says, “He’s right. The police need to lock the fucker up.”
“He said he’d hurt Daisy if we call the cops.”
“He’s too chicken shit to hurt her. Because he knows we’d kill him,” Asher states, like he wouldn’t even question it if I asked him to help.
