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She stands her ground, another screw-loose smirk plastered across her smug face. I’m let in on her secret when I’m a foot away and my chain snaps tight, halting my progress to beating her ass.
With my foot dangling behind me, I inch as close to her as possible, before threatening, “Youwaituntil I get my hands on you.”
“Now, now, if you can’t behave, you’ll force me to take drastic measures to silence you.” She pulls a needle from her pocket and waves it in the air. The threat doesn’t slow me down as I stretch my body as far as possible to slap her. But I’m not close enough, and she easily swats my hand away, picking up her conversations without acknowledging my attack. “If you’re good, I’ll bring a TV, so you can watch Jax beg for whoever has you to return you safely.” The sparkle in her eyes tells me this is a breaking tactic. She has me physically caged, but she wants to crush my spirit too.Never going to happen. I’ll fight until there’s no breath left in my body.
But fight or not, my heart constricts, thinking about Jaxton. The images of what he’s going through—the panic.How’d he figured out I was gone? Are there any clues?Everything happened so fast, I can’t recall what condition we left the house.
Sarah’s irrational, but she’s definitely not stupid. Getting under my skin is her primary goal, and the superiority written across her face tells me she knows she’s succeeded. Anger punches my gut as I lunge toward her again, ignoring the shackle cutting into my skin. She’s just out of reach. The attempt is pointless but doesn’t detour my effort.
With a roll of her eyes, her right hand snaps out quickly, blasting me into another universe.
I collapse on the floor as wave after wave of excruciating pain pumps through my body. The throbbing inside my skull matches the pounding of my heart, torturing my eyes tightly closed. My hands press to temples, creating a force to lessen the instant agony blooming from every inch of my head, and curl into a ball to protect myself. My fingers become slimy, coming away red, and wet with blood.
“Fucking bitch.” I slur sluggishly.
She kneels next to me, comfortable knowing I’m harmless. “I warned you to settle down or there’d be consequences.” The thick black metal bar she’s grasping is her weapon of destruction.
A sharp poke to my arm rips my attention away from the weapon and focuses on the now empty syringe. There’s a slight burn running the length of my arm, numbing my fingertips, and creating a fog that’ll likely suffocate me.
She curls her fingers in farewell. “Bye, bye.” Her singsong tone is the last thing I hear before consciousness falls away and everything goes black.
~~~~~
My eyes snap open, immediately aware of the situation. This time around, there’s no groggy awakening. The room is completely dark—no windows for light. There’s no adjusting my vision because it’s pitch black, which doesn’t help the pounding protest in my skull. There’s a bandage wrapped around my head, but the bump still mounds the dressing. A quiet moan slips through my pinched lips, trying unsuccessfully to remain quiet. Deciphering the time of day is impossible surrounded by shadows, so it’s hard to say if the small blunder will go unnoticeable.
After checking jerking on the chain and realizing there’s no escape, I give in for a moment. Mental stability is going to be what keeps me grounded and saves my life, so giving my brain a moment to decompress is important. As capable of a woman as I am, I’m helpless.
I slump against the wall, envisioning Jaxton. Sarah said I’d been out for a couple of days. Who knows how long I’ve been gone and the hell he’s going through. They obviously don’t have leads since Sarah’s here. Then there’s dad, Roman, and the shop. The weight of it all collapses, pricking tears until they fall in rivulets. The breakdown is silent, refusing to tip her off to my vulnerability.
After a handful of minutes, I wipe my tears and dry my eyes. Crying won’t solve the trouble I’m in, so I stare into the darkness, and problem solve instead. Only, there’s nothing I can do. I’m literally chained to the bed.
The drugs that Sarah shot me up with still linger, tugging me back to the darkness. But at least there I can be with my family.
~~~~~
Persistent prodding drags awareness to the surface, but the syringe cocktail plays havoc, fighting a war to drag me under. My name’s being incessantly repeated in a nasal voice that reminds me of nails on a chalkboard. “Shut the fuck up.” The words slur, but the voice understands, because it increases in pitch. “What?” I growl harshly, slowly cracking my lids like the light will dissolve me as if I were a thousand-year-old vampire.
Sarah’s standing in front of me, hands on her hips, chin jutting out. She looks like a fucking chicken holding a metal pipe. Laughter bubbles free, picturing her bobbing her head and pecking into the air, concurrently irritating her at the same time. “Is that any way to greet me? What’s so fucking funny?”
Clearly, she doesn’t hear the wordnooften, because she’s practically stomping her foot and begging for cooperation.
“Nothing. I’m out of it from whatever the fuck you shot me up with.” Words form easier by the second.
She doesn’t acknowledge my accusation and continues, “Let’s play a little game, shall we? If you’re good—and don’t try anything stupid—you’ll get rewarded. We can even start today!” She claps like this is a game show and she’s offering the chance of millions. Hell, I’ll settle for freedom. “If you behave today, I’ll get you a blanket. No more chilly nights.” Her voice pitches at the end, trying to sound enticing.
“What’re you planning on doing with me?”Why keep me? What good am I to her?
She rolls her eyes. “Honestly, I don’t know yet.” She paces a moment, eyes to the ceiling, internally debating. “I’d like to keep you alive for a while, just in case you come in handy. Otherwise, I’m probably going to kill you.” Her tone is so conversational I take a moment to absorb her words… and thennotfreak out. “The night I took you was in the heat of the moment. I didn’t think it through completely. I mean, I’d already gotten all the stuff, but wanted to wait. But then I saw you kissing him…” She growl-squeals some ungodly noise, clutching her fists. “And I lost my shit!” Her breathing becomes ragged, another red flag concerning her mental state.
I’m on borrowed time, and as much as it goes against my nature, compliance is the best route. “Fine.” I mumble, distracting her from her fit.
“Fine? So, you’ll be good?”What the fuck is wrong with this chick? What the fuck is wrong withJaxton?
“Yeah, fine. Not like I’ll be going anywhere.”Play into her hand.
“Okay then, you’ll get the blanket at the end of the night when I get home. But only if you’re good.” She glances around, checking the room. “Your lunch is on the table. Make it last. You’ll miss dinner tonight, since I won’t be home.” Her eyes travel the length of me. “I’ll be doing you a favor. You could drop a few more pounds.”
Fucking bitch.
