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“I’ll be okay. Promise.” My eyes snap back to Stacy who’s already in motion; she’s unsteady but moving aside a discrete area of wall behind Liam’s dead body. It opens to a small cupboard-like notch in the wall where a human can hide inside. A tight fit, but she’s small enough to be comfortable. “Get out, sweetie. Listen to her and go.”
“Are you sure?” Adrenaline is pumping through my system. I’m jittery yet hyper alert.
“Go,” she urges, already slipping inside. “Save yourself.”
Those are Stacy’s last words; they slip past her lips mere seconds before another round of bullets comes from the direction of the other room.
I’m scared, shaking as I look over at Gina, but as soon as she mouths run…I do so.
36
THE WORLD AROUND ME dissolves into chaos.
Noise and destruction as I run out of the house with the unadulterated sense of fear lodging itself in my throat. Feet follow me—run behind me—but I can’t tell who it is.
It might be Gina.
Might be worse.
All I know is that I don’t look back. I run.
Run until the door opens with force, slamming against the outside concrete wall as I pass the threshold, and still I don’t stop.
All I know is that it’s not safe. That I must continue moving.
“Head to the car, London. Don’t look back and get inside.” Her words are comforting, give me hope as I hear the lock click on the van up ahead. The lights flash, and I extend a hand out to open the door.
I’m so close.
Just a little bit more…
The sound of screeching tires meets my ears, and the loud sound of a crash follows. From my periphery something—a large mass moves and falls to the ground, and it takes everything in me not to confirm my fears. In my heart I know it’s Gina.
“Don’t stop. Just don’t stop,” I mutter to myself, but the reaction is automatic, and I do so. She’s there. Just there. Lying a few feet from me and to the right, unconscious and unmoving. A sob catches in my throat and I turn toward her, wanting to help or make sure she’s breathing, when I am taken from behind.
Whoever bumps into me tackles me to the ground, and the hard pavement digs into my flesh. Breaks the skin.
A hiss escapes as pain shoots through my body and I buck my hips, try to wiggle out from beneath him. Because of that, there is no doubt.
It’s a man. A large man at that, and his scent is familiar.
Oh God. Please help me.
Panic churns within, and I scream.
“No one left to hear you, little sis. Yell all you want…it only excites me.” That’s the last thing I hear as he covers my mouth with a dirty rag, and all goes black.
Hushed whispers and the feel of the car I’m in meeting a large pothole awaken me. I have no idea how long I’ve been out or where we are at this point, and I pray that we’re still in Chicago. Darkness surrounds me, my body lying awkwardly on a bench seat inside of what I think is a van or truck, as I try to open my eyes.
I can’t. There’s something covering them, and my hands are tied behind my back.
Whatever road we’re on is in bad shape. In need of repairs, and with the areas that Alton likes to frequent, that could be anywhere.
He likes the dirty and dangerous. Where no one will bat an eye and calling the police is forbidden.
Criminals don’t snitch. They don’t involve themselves with what doesn’t concern them.
I’m a dead duck unless…
