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There will be time to explain everything later. In person.
Not having any other plan at the moment I accept his offer and agree that we will meet him at his penthouse apartment as soon as possible. Blake will set up a command center and together we will review the data and narrow down where our girls may have been taken. Xavier, having the advantage of already being in Vegas, is already sending out all of his available men to watch the main roads for the armored truck. With enough eyes watching, we feel confident that we will be able to locate them.
I have to find them. I have to find Faye. I will not accept less from myself. They should never have been taken while under my protection, and without Faye, I know that I don’t have a life. Nothing matters but bringing her home, unharmed if possible.
Acid burns my stomach and throat. I don’t even want to go down that road. If I start thinking about all the ways she could be harmed I will lose my mind. I have to keep it together.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Faye
Time in the back of the stuffy truck feels endless. Ana and I both need to pee so bad that I don’t think I can stand another minute. Climbing to my feet, I bang on the wall, yelling until my throat is sore. Ana and I are both sweating and miserable, voices raspy, by the time the driver stops.
My heart in my throat, I wait to see what will happen when the doors open. I can’t decide if I should try to make a run for it or not.
I’m desperately praying that there are people around, that they are stupid enough to take us somewhere public so we can call for help or attempt to escape.
My disappointment is gut-wrenching when the door opens a crack. It’s dark outside and I can’t see any light at all other than the stars. One at a time they let us out into a small dusty parking lot. Standing next to Ana, I know that there is nowhere to run. Nowhere at all. Maybe if I was alone I could try, but with her being pregnant there is just no way.
I’m not going to abandon her. It’s my fault that she is caught up in this mess anyway.
One of the men grasps my bicep in a bruising grip, propelling me forward toward an abandoned-looking vault toilet on the far side of the empty lot. There are no lights other than the headlights to illuminate the way. The building is filthy and smells like a sewer.
Ana and I gratefully hurry inside with a flashlight one of our kidnappers pressed into her hand, to take care of our business.
“What are we going to do?” she whispers in my ear, her voice trembling with fear.
I wish I knew, but I want to be strong for her. I have to be strong for myself too.
“There is no way we can escape right now. We are going to have to get back in the truck and take any opportunity we can once we get where they are taking us,” I murmur back. It sounds good to me. Like I have a plan. I don’t, but Ana doesn’t have to know that.
Shining the light around, I look for anything we could use as a weapon, but there is nothing. Not even toilet paper. Isn’t that just dandy? Ana nods and scrubs the back of her hand over her watering eyes.
It’s not just the fear, I wish it was. It really stinks in here. My eyes are watering too.
Screwing up my courage, I push the door open and take Ana by the hand. Together we ignore the waiting goons and trudge back to the waiting vehicle.
Our asshole captors follow closely behind. They must know we realize there is nowhere to run, but that doesn’t stop one from wrenching the light from my hand and manhandling me into the back of the truck. I fall to my knees, my palms scraping against the rough floor, and I bite my tongue at the impact. The rusty flavor of blood floods my mouth, making me feel a little sick.
The other man seems to be handling Ana more gently. Maybe it’s because she is clearly with child. Before they can lock us back in I take a chance, calling out.
“You know who she is, don't you?” I ask, hoping they may not want to risk crossing her husband.
The meaner man opens the door again, his gun held ready at his side, a smug smirk on his ugly face.
“Yeah. She's Analise Cerelli. You're the one we haven't figured out yet.”
My stomach falls. His response takes the wind out of my sails. I was counting on me being their target. They were after Ana all along, not me. I was not expecting that. At all.
The rapid intake of breath behind me means that Ana didn’t suspect that she was the target, either.
“Mrs. Cerelli is pregnant, in case you failed to notice.” I force my voice to be snarky. I’m going for bravado here. What do I have to lose? Other than my life? Hysteria bubbles up inside me but I shove it down ruthlessly and continue in the same snotty voice. “I'm sure that her husband will not be happy to have her returned to him damaged.”
“Probably not.” The man c
huckles in the darkness. It’s a sinister sound that prickles my skin. “We’re not returning her to Xavier,” he states as he starts to close the door in my face.
“Wait, please,” I call out, reduced to begging. “At least give her something to drink. For the baby.” It can't hurt to appeal to whatever conscience he has.
