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This doubt isn’t helping me any.
Shaking the thoughts from my mind, I move slowly and stick close to the walls down the hallway until I see the front door. The entrance to another room is right next to it, and I peer slowly around the corner. A burly body sleeps on the sofa, and Iinwardly curse. I figured he would be here, but I was hoping he wasn’t.
Weighing my options, I dart across the opening quickly and peer outside to see where I am. One vehicle sits in the driveway, city lights burn the night sky, and I breathe for the first time in days. It seemed like I wasn’t in the vehicle long enough to be out of the city, but after the fog I’d been in, I wasn’t sure.
Searching the walls for an alarm of any kind, I flick the locks open before glancing back outside to make sure there isn’t anyone patrolling. I know I should try to find a phone or the car keys, but I don’t want to risk my captor waking up.
Opening the door slowly, I slip through the scant crack and quietly shut it behind me. Slinking down the steps on tiptoes, one creaks, and I jump off, making a mad dash for the bushes along the sidewalk. Hidden, I crouch down to remain out of sight and move as fast as I can until I’m three houses down.
Tears flow down my face as my body aches, and I know I must think quickly. Noticing an alley, I move stealthily through the streets, in random order so they don’t find me, before finally spotting a pay phone. A rare commodity in this age of technology.
With no money, I make a collect call to my brother. He’ll know exactly what to do. Instead of saying my name, I rush out,please help me, Saint,knowing he’ll hear the urgency.
“Scotlyn?” he barks, and I cry, my body nearly collapsing. “Where the fuck have you been? We’ve been searching for you for days. Danny can’t find you either.”
“I don’t know what to do, Saint. He took me, and I couldn’t stop him.” Leaning against the brick wall, I struggle to stay on my feet.
“I’m putting you on speaker, Scotty. Everybody’s here.” The fury in his tone doesn’t bode well for my abductor.
“Baby girl, where are you?”
“Daddy!” I cry so hard I begin to hyperventilate.
“Breathe, Scotlyn; we need to know where you are.” I can tell he’s barely holding onto his anger.
Gathering my composure, I tell him, “I’m still in Baltimore. Sergei Tumarov, Daddy, he did this. He was going to take me back to Russia. Force me to marry him.” I still feel sick about it.
“He owns the theatre,” Dad responds, and I nod, realizing they can’t see me.
“Scotty girl, it’s Easton. Give me your location. Do you have somewhere safe you can go? Not home.” Looking at the cross streets, I tell him what they are and the name of the store I’m in front of.
“I do, but I don’t know where he lives.” Jaxson is the only person I can think of.
“Give me their name, and I’ll get you there,” Easton says, and I can hear him speaking to someone.
“Jaxson. Jaxson Slade. He works in private security with his dad and uncle. He said they live about forty-five minutes out of town on a large parcel of land.” I know Easton will come through for me; this is what he does.
“A town car is on the way. We’ll stay on the phone until it gets there. The password is gravity on Pluto. If he doesn’t say that, you scream bloody murder, kick him in the dick, and fucking run. You got me, Scotty?”
“Scotlyn?” Saint barks my name.
“I understand.” I feel weak. Exhausted. “I’m so tired, Daddy.” To the world, he’s a cold-blooded killer, to me, he’s a hero.
“We’re coming, baby girl. I’ll slit this motherfucker from balls to neck.” And I know he’s serious. Sergei is going to rue the day he touched me. I just need to survive the night first.
“Scotlyn, we’ll be there in the morning. Make sure this friend of yours knows it.” This isn’t going to be good.
“A car is here.” Standing taller, I wave him down.
A man in all black, with a gun holstered to his side, steps out and says, “Gravity on Pluto.” Relief makes my knees shake, and I can’t stand up anymore.
The man catches me as Easton speaks. “He’s got Jaxson Slade’s address and will take you there. You'll be given an envelope when he drops you off; take it and call us when you get settled.”
I hang up, and the man places me in the back of the car. I lean against the cool window, shivering, and watch the night crawl by as we leave the city. Time passes, pain increases, and as we pull into what surely isn’t your typical old acreage, I feel sick to my stomach.
The driver helps me out of the car and hands me an envelope before I tell him he can leave. Staring up at the house and then over to the barn, I know where I’m going. Sluggishly, I stride towards the barn, hoping it is the one Jaxson said he has an apartment over. As I reach the heavy doors, I barely get one open before slipping through and sliding to the ground. I make it inside just as it begins to rain.
Crawling over to a bench with a blanket on it, I lie on the floor and silently cry as I open the envelope. Finding a new phone and some cash, I pull out the cell and turn it on.
