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“Get up.” He’s holding the rope, and my neck moves into an awkward angle. Pain radiates down my spine worse than my ankle, and I bite my lip.
Trying to get up, I fail. The pain is just too much. “My ankle is twisted.”
“Have it your way.” He tugs me along, and I yelp. My face lands down in the dirt as we move. Twisting, I move until I’m on my back. This seems to alleviate some of the pressure on my neck.
Every blade of grass, stick, and rock seems to find its way toward me, punishing my skin. By the time the man stops walking, I’m barely able to keep my composure.
“Are you ready to walk now?” He looks down at me with his intense green eyes, and all I can see is his hate shining back at me.
My patience is gone. “And exactly how do you expect me to walk?” I point at my swollen ankle. The way he pulled me along the trail, my hose have runs through them, and my skin is rubbed raw along my legs.
“Don’t be a baby. Get the fuck up.” He puts his hand out to help me.
I want to tell him I can’t reach his hand because he has me tied up, but I don’t. Instead, I roll my eyes and try to turn away from him.
“For fuck’s sake.” He huffs and pushes me to my stomach. “I see you’re going to be a goddamn stubborn bitch about things, huh?”
I ignore him and struggle to get to my knees. He pulls on the rope, and I whimper.
“Be still, and I’ll help you up. I can’t be tugging on you the rest of the way.”
No shit.I don’t say that, of course, but I sure think it. He puts his hands under my arms and lifts. I stand there, unable to put pressure on my foot.
“Now, fucking move.”
Putting weight on my foot, I gasp in agony. Still, I move. It’s excruciating, but I limp forward.
“Oh my God. It’s not like you broke it.” He shouts at me, and my mind immediately goes back to my father. Sucking in a deep breath, I square my shoulders and look at him.
“You’re right. It isn’t broken, but I have five-inch heels on, and I’m on rough terrain. Even if I take my other shoe off, the sprain is severe. I’m sure you know all about sprains. If I try to walk on it, I could damage it further.”
He steps closer to me, and I swear he looks familiar. Olive skin, a strong nose, soft petulant lips. It’s clear he’s young and is used to getting his way. The man has at least a foot on me, and I’m five foot eight inches without heels. With them, I stand at six feet one inch. As he towers over me, I take in the way his black utilitarian suit is filled out.
If this was any other time, I’d have asked him to be a model or bodyguard. Before I can stop myself, I blurt out what I’m thinking.
“What’s your name?”
Shaking his head, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. I try not to let my vertigo make me faint. The man doesn’t answer my question. Hell no. Instead, he walks at a pace that bounces me up and down. My head spins, and I feel myself shaking inside.
“Stop,” I tremble out, but he picks up pace. How he can carry me like this and still walk like God is after him, I’ll never know. My eyes swim, and blackness takes over as I lose consciousness.
* * *
Jackhammers wake me.Groaning, I slowly wake up and realize that noise is in my head and the pain is everywhere. Focusing hard on my surroundings makes me come to the realization that I wasn’t dreaming.
“Jasper.” A sob leaves me as I think about his death. “Boris.” The blood seeps into my vision, and my body shakes as I think about why this all happened.
Moving isn’t an option. I’m in a chair, and the ropes from earlier are still around me. Additional chains have been placed around my legs and abdomen to keep me upright.
Who are these people, and what do they want?
In the back of my mind, I feel like I know the man, but he doesn’t work for me. I don’t know anyone outside of my employees that young.
“Good, you’re awake.” The pain in my neck is almost suffocating, but I move my head up to look at my kidnapper.
“What do you want?” I can’t imagine him wanting anything from me. Then again, I didn’t expect to ever be kidnapped either.
“For you to pay for your crimes.” His full lips are gnarled in a devastating frown.
