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LILY
Darkness.
I wake, confused and in pain. I’m crammed in a confined space. My head is throbbing, and I can’t move, and I struggle to put together what’s going on.
I was at the club, and then—
Kyle.
Oh my God. The fear crashes through me, recalling the blood-splatter, and the blank look in his eyes as he fell to the ground.
Whoever shot him, they hit me over the head, and brought me…
Where, exactly?
I force myself to breathe, squinting around in the dim light. I’m lying on my side in a dark space, not big enough to stretch out. My hands are tied behind my back, and I can feel motion, and hear the sounds of traffic.
A car, I realize. I’m locked in the trunk of a car. I wriggle, trying to move, just as the car travels over uneven terrain, making my head bump into the floor of the trunk. Sharp pain slices through the back of my skull, and I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out.
Who took me? And where are they taking me?
I try to think clearly. Is it the Kovacks? Did they really betray Nero and come after me? Or is it some other threat?
Will they kill me, the way they killed Kyle?
I feel my anxiety rise, until I can barely breathe. I panic, struggling wildly, but that just throws me around the trunk, bashing painfully at the interior.
Focus, I order myself. I can’t just give up, no matter how grim things are.
I need to get free.
Forcing myself to take a deep breath, and then another, I flex my wrists behind me, testing the bonds. It’s some kind of electrical tape, too solid to break. Dammit. Trapped behind my back, my hands are of no use to me.
Unless…
I twist onto my side in the small space, bringing my knees up tight against my chest. By curling tightly into a ball, I’m able to bring my bound hands underneath my ass and legs, so they’re tied in front of me, instead of behind.
Now, at least, I can use them.
Carefully, I feel all around the interior of the trunk. It’s empty, save a blanket, and some papers. But don’t trunks have a wheel well?
I scoot to one side, running my fingertips around the edge of the fabric floor until I can peel it up. I reach around blindly underneath, until my hands land on something metallic and hard. I run my fingers over it eagerly, gripping it in both hands.
A lug wrench.
I lie back, clutching it to my chest. I have a weapon. Now, all I can do is wait as the car keeps moving. Eventually, we make a turn, and the smoother ride of the highway turns uneven and rough. We bounce along, slowing, until finally, it comes to a stop.
I feel fear slip down my spine. This is it. My heart is racing as the engine is cut off. I hear the car door open and close, and I adjust my sweaty palm on the lug wrench, heart pounding.
I’ll have one chance, that’s it. The benefit of surprise.
Footsteps crunch around the side of the car. There’s the small sound of metal on metal as the trunk is unlocked. Then the trunk pops open.
I don’t hesitate. I rear up, swinging wildly with everything I have. There’s a dull THWACK of impact as I hit someone, and they go reeling back.
“You fucking bitch!” The man howls. I scramble out of the trunk, as he straightens, fury on his familiar face.
It’s Chase.
