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Being dismissed, I order a beer from the bar and slide onto the stool, spinning so I’m facing everyone.
Cas is giving nothing away as to what’s running through his head. With Kyle’s story ringing true, brothers are going to be looking at one another again, wondering who the rat could possibly be.
“Hey, I’m back.”
Holly climbs onto the stool to my right and goes on about her day, but I’m not really listening. My focus is on Cas. I hear her talking to me and I do try to communicate back with her, but I can’t miss a single thing with Cas. A wrong look or a shifty nod to Sparky could be all I need to get out of here alive.
Chapter Eight
Holly
So much for Tal wanting to have some fun. He could’ve at least called and said he didn’t want to hang out. Him ignoring me hurts more than it should, but I tell myself that anyone would be hurt at being ignored. Hell, I’d rather be at home, getting lectured by my father. At least he’d be talking to me. Slamming my fist against the steering wheel does nothing to alleviate my frustration. Suddenly, my car starts to bunny hop, and I manage to pull over before it conks out completely.
“No, no, no!” I cry out, slamming the back of my head against the head rest.
The needle on the gas meter is hanging on Empty, and I curse myself for driving out to the middle of nowhere, just to see a guy who wasn’t even fucking interested.
I grab my phone from the passenger seat, but there’s no signal.
“Of course there isn’t,” I mutter sarcastically.
Plenty of battery, but no signal. I don’t know why I bother sometimes. Throwing open the door, I climb out of the car and lean against the door. Taking a deep breath, I exhale slowly and look up and down the deserted road. Realising I’m closer to the club than I am to town, I decide I’ll just have to walk back and ask Tal for help.
Leaning inside the car, I grab my purse and phone before locking it up as I set off for the club.
My feet already ache from working at the diner for eight hours today, and I’m sure as hell not in the mood to be ignored a second time.
I hear the engine before I see a blue, beat-up truck coming toward me, slowing to a stop beside me.
There are two guys inside, but only the driver jumps out and asks, “Can we help you?”
Though he doesn’t look much older than me, I can see he’s lived more of a life than I have. His eyes are dark, and the scar running along his cheekbone is distinct.
“I ran out of gas,” I tell him, pointing to my car up the road.
“We’re heading into town. Can we drop you off somewhere?”
Growing up in this town, you know most people, and the one’s you don’t, you at least recognise. I’ve never seen this guy before, not even in the diner. A stranger is a stranger, and I won’t be trusting his offer of help.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m just going to walk back to my friend.”
“There’s nothing out this way apart from that biker club.”
“I know. That’s where my friend is.”
“Oh, right.”
Knowing instantly that was the wrong thing to say, a shudder runs down my spine. I start to walk away at a brisk pace, but remain calm. I only make it ten steps before I smell a heady cologne, and feel sweaty hands curl around my arms, yanking me backward.
Before the realisation sinks in as to what’s happening, I’m being crushed in a bear hug and dragged toward the truck. I thrash and kick as hard as I can, but it doesn’t help to loosen his hold on me.
“Get off of me!” I scream.
The second guy jumps out and opens the back door where I’m thrown inside. I twirl, and immediately try to climb out when the first guy pulls his fist back. It’s funny, I see the punch coming, but it all happens so fast, I don’t move out of the way. Another punch, and my body collapses, then everything goes black.
* * *
I open my eyes, remembering everything that happened: the blue truck, the dodgy guy asking if I wanted his help. Taking in my surrounding, I find I’m in a bathroom. A small, not too clean bathroom. My wrists are bound with fraying rope, and my ankles are tied together with a plastic zip tie. With my head aching, it takes a minute for the fear to sink in. I don’t recognise where I am, and I don’t know how long I was out for. I could be far away from Willow’s Peak for all I know.
