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Taking one more deep breath, I answer the phone. “Yeah, boss?”
TWO
Keyera
My breaths are coming so fastthat for a second, I’m afraid that I might hyperventilate and pass out. The scarf in my mouth certainly isn’t helping things. The plastic of the zip tie is cutting into my wrists and my fingers are starting to go numb as I lay on my side on the bed.
What the fuck is going on?
My head is still spinning as I watch the intruder walk out of my bedroom and into the hallway. Trying to piece together the last few minutes, all I can come up with is this is a huge mistake. I’ve hardly been here a week and already my life is danger. Shit.
At first, the only thing I could focus on was that the intruder was wearing gloves. But then I saw the syringe and nearly passed out for real. This isn’t some random robbery. The man who tied me up means me serious harm.
I try in vain to escape, but as expected, my restraints don’t give at all. The ties on my ankles are just as tight as the ones on my wrists and panic starts to claw at my throat. I know it’s pointless to fight, but I didn’t come this far just to be kidnapped and tossed back into my old life.
My whimpers are muffled by the gag but something tells me he can still hear them from wherever he’s hiding in my apartment. He has to be able to feel my fear.
I take advantage of the precious moments I have alone in the room and flop around on the bed, rolling slightly so I’m right at the edge of the mattress. The only sounds are my ragged breathing and the rustling of my sheets as I squirm and try futilely to loosen my binds.
I try swinging my legs over the side of the bed, but the zip tie around my ankles bites into my skin and I feel a trickle of blood trail down one side of my foot.
“Goddamnit, stop moving before you hurt yourself again,” the man growls as he steps back into the room. The sound comes from somewhere deep in his chest. I’m confused by his words or why the man who tied me up is concerned about me hurting myself, but my brain is too scrambled to dwell on that for long.
I can only make out half of his face. The other half is still covered in shadows, making the already intimidating man look even more menacing. He stares at me, one gray eye and a thick, dark eyebrow visible in the light. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes that color before. He’s...beautiful in a brutal way I don’t understand.
The man reaches for me and I try to recoil from his touch, but my restraints make it hard to move. He wraps his fingers around my leg and pulls me closer to him. It’s then I notice he grabbed a tissue from the box on my nightstand.
Silently, the intruder wipes up the few drops of blood, looking angry and...ashamed? No, that can’t be right. But those eyes betray him. Those gorgeous gray eyes...
Snap out of it! Are you seriously attracted to the man who is in the middle of kidnapping you?
The giant of a man grunts, pulling me from my thoughts. His touch is almost tender, though I can feel the underlying strength simmering just beneath the surface. He could easily overpower me and do anything he wants, but somehow I know he won’t. Why else would he care about something as insignificant as a cut on my ankle?
I’m so confused about what’s happening or why. I’ve been hiding from monsters my whole life it seems, but one of them found me. Could he be someone from Las Vegas? He must be. My past finally caught up to me, though I don’t know why it took so long.
The man looks too young to be one of the guys my dad used to hang around with, but I haven’t been part of that life for so long I don’t know who the new players are.
We stare at each other for a moment, and I almost recognize him, though I know we’ve never met before. Something about his presence feels familiar, as crazy as that sounds. Was he the shadowed figure sitting in the car across the street from my apartment tonight? I felt his eyes on me, though it didn’t creep me out. Turns out it should have. Very much so.
My mind is scrambling, trying to remember everything he's said or done since I woke up to him in my bedroom. Maybe he gave me some clue as to who he is or why he's here. Nothing comes to mind, though. It all happened too fast. One moment I was asleep and then the next thing I knew, I was being woken up by the plastic tie biting into my skin.
I refuse to give in to his demands, whatever they may be. I'm made of tougher stuff than this. I've fought through hell to get to where I am today. Telling myself all of that doesn't seem to stop the fear pumping in my veins, however.
I knew the deal for this apartment was too good to be true. The woman I sublet it from had looked respectable but there was something about her that seemed sketchy. I desperately wanted to believe her, though.
I was scrambling for a place to stay. I had finally attained my bachelor’s degree in accounting from Boulder Community College and my savings is all but depleted. I need a job, like, ASAP.
The man clears his throat, drawing me out of my thoughts. He takes several steps away from me, and for some reason, my chest feels tight the farther away he moves. He drags his gloved hands down his face and for a second, my spirits lift. Maybe that call was to let him know that he was at the wrong apartment and he’s going to let me go. I can forget all about this terrible night.
“Shit,” he mumbles and my body stills. “We need to have a talk. I’m going to take off the gag, but if you scream…” He pulls out the syringe, letting his sentence hang in the air between us.
My eyes are wide and wet from my tears but I nod once, trying to be brave. I’ve been in some precarious and dangerous situations before in Vegas, but I’ve never had my life threatened quite so pointedly.
He nods and comes closer to me, reaching for me again, slowly this time. I jerk my head away, but he grips my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. His other hand reaches for me, his fingers lightly brushing against my cheek before tugging the scarf down. The man lingers for a moment, then backs away once again, as if being next to me is too much for him to handle.
I gulp down fresh air, so much so that I start coughing. With my hands tied behind my back, I can’t cover my mouth or get a glass of water, so I just sputter and cough like an idiot for a few seconds before getting myself under control
The man takes a step toward the bed and reaches one hand out as if he’s going to pat my back. He freezes and pulls his hand away, bringing it to the back of his neck instead.
