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She couldn't understand why Jake wasn't getting up to stop her as she successfully got Mia's hands free. The two women worked together feverishly to untie the ropes on her ankles, finally freeing Mia.
With relief they pushed to their feet, Mia leaning heavily on Hannah as her legs cramped. Jake still wasn't moving to stop them, but Hannah wasn't going to question it as they rushed to the door, yanking at the knob only to find it locked. Feeling like a caged animal, Hannah grabbed the handle with both hands, yanking at the door with all her might—to no avail.
The haunting sound of Jake's laughter chilled her blood. "Did you actually think I'd let you leave? I didn't take you for a fool, Hannah."
She spun around, feeling braver with the full room length's distance between them. "Fuck you, Jake. You got the ledger back. I held up my end of the bargain. Now you need to do the same. Mia and I are leaving. Now!"
The feel of the door at her back opening jarred her forward. She turned as Mohammed's large frame darkened the room. Pulling Mia along with her, Hannah rushed the man, catching him off-guard with a hard kick to his groin, doubling him over in pain. She moved out into the hall back in the direction she had come from, only to be stopped at the security door.
What a fool she was. She stood still, looking at the retina and thumbprint scanners, knowing she would never get through the door. The building was a labyrinth she'd never be able to navigate. She heard Dylan in her ear. "Turn around and run the other way!"
She tried to stay as far away from the entrance to Jake's office as possible, but the foyer wasn't big enough. He was on her before she could move past his door. He rushed forward, tackling the women against the far wall hard, pressing his angry body into them, containing them easily.
"You're gonna pay for that, you little bitch. You just don't know how deep of a hole you're digging yourself here."
She felt rather than saw Mohammed coming near. As soon as Jake released her, Hannah moved to bolt, but Mohammed stopped her with his own backhand across her face, snapping her neck with a crack. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to cry out.
He leaned close, his black eyes piercing her like daggers. "I'm gonna enjoy hurting you when Mr. Davenport is done with you." With a final glare, he turned his attention to a dazed Mia, picking her up and lugging her over his shoulder just as he had her sister before. She was limp, and Hannah suspected she might be in shock.
Hannah didn't have time to worry about Mia. Jake was too busy dragging her unmoving feet back in the direction of the office. As hard as she tried to dig her heels in to prevent their forward movement, Jake was stronger, yanking her along, slamming the door behind them.
In her ear, she heard Dylan speaking softly. "Hannah, hold on, baby. We have him. He's keeping you against your will. We have him threatening Mia and Lucy on tape. Lukus is on with the police. Just stall him as long as you can, honey."
It was hard to camouflage her relief at Dylan's words. The small tether of communication to the outside world was the only saving grace keeping her from truly losing it. She forced herself to take a cleansing breath, determined to be brave until the cavalry arrived as Jake shoved her hard into a chair near where Mia had been kneeling, before calmly taking his seat behind the desk as if he were about to conduct an interview.
Her skin crawled as the psycho steepled his long fingers together, staring at her with his harsh eyes as if he were deciding the best way to torture her. Little did he know she was happy with any delay, as it gave Dylan more time to rescue her.
A full minute passed in uncomfortable silence, Hannah becoming more confused by the second.
"You think you're going to get out of here without bending to me, don't you?" he taunted her.
She stalled. "I don't know what to think. I'm sure there are a lot of women who would love to work here. I don't understand why you even want me here."
"Let's just say I feel like I owe it to your good ole dad to take good care of his kids."
What the fuck does my dad have to do with Jake Davenport?
Bile rose up in her throat. She had to swallow fast to avoid throwing up. Nothing had prepared her for him mentioning her father. She refused to meet his gaze, wringing her hands in her lap, trying not to let him see how badly she was shaking.
It didn't work.
"I see that got your attention." When she didn't answer, he continued. "How is Connor doing?"
Oh my God. What game is he playing?
"Connor who?" Her voice shook with emotion.
His laughter almost sounded joyful. "Come now. Don't dig yourself deeper in lies. You've been dealt a shitty hand in life, Hannah. I think it's time you let someone take care of you and Connor. That's all I'm trying to do. You believe that, don't you?"
She almost asked how the hell he knew her father, but then realized she didn't want to know. There was only one kind of person who might be acquainted with her father, and that was the most evil of evil. The only comfort she got was knowing the vile man who had raised her was behind bars for the rest of his life, where he wouldn't be able to hurt her or Connor ever again.
She steeled herself to look up at her captor. Hatred bled into her words. "You leave Connor alone. If you so much as come within a mile of him, I'll kill you myself, you bastard."
"Such strong words. You almost make me believe you. You're doing an admirable thing, taking care of your brother." His eyes danced with mirth at his ability to cut her to the core with a truth she'd worked hard to bury. "Or do you prefer to think of him as your nephew? Too bad about your sister, Holly. Last time I saw her, I just knew she wasn't doing well."
Alarm bells were going off like firecrackers in her brain. She choked out her words. "You saw Holly? When?" Unwanted tears flowed down her cheeks. She'd mentally prepared herself for the sights she'd see inside this hellhole of warehouse, but she hadn't been prepared to deal with digging up her hellish childhood in Ohio—a past she'd moved across the country to run away from.
"Oh, I don't know. A few months before her untimely death, I guess. Your father was nice enough to share her hospitality with his guests upon occasion, although I had rather hoped he would share you instead," Jake said.
