“Bobby tell you that?”
I can feel his smirk in the darkness.
I smile. “My dad. And if you hurt me, he’ll make sure you’re sent to the prison he’s in. You’ll never have peace. You’ll always be looking over your shoulder. He’ll beat you within an inch of death, but never to the point you die. He will dole out his version of your personal hell on earth. Now, let me go!”
“Never.”
I laugh.
He lurches and knocks me to the ground with his fist. My head hits the ground. I see stars. Laughter shoots from my raw, scratchy throat.
“Never say never,” I croak in between coughing. “Your words will come back and bite you in the ass and rob you of your heart and soul.”
He grabs the front of my shirt, lifts my head off the floor, and brings his face close to mine. The moon is bright, highlighting his eyes. They are so like Gwen’s that it’s like she’s in the room with me.
“Are those your father’s fucking words?” he growls.
“Nah,” I say, sounding like Bobby. God, he’s rubbing off on me. “They’re Bobby’s, and he will burn your world down to get to me.”
“Let him.” He lets go of my shirt. My head hits the ground.
Gunfire erupts from around me. I don’t lift my head. Dad always said to stay low when there’s gunfire. Why would Dad tell me that? I was ten.
A dark shadow looms over me.
He stumbles.
Then he falls.
In front of me.
With a loud thud.
My kidnapper stares at me, wide-eyed, takes a breath, and lets go of whatever it was he hung on to. His body stills.
Mine moves.
“Ever?” I’m picked up by my waist. My head lolls from side to side. “Ever!” I’m clasped tight to a large, muscular body. Bobby tries to stand me up. My knees wobble. My feet slip from beneath me. “Look at me, sweetness.”
I blink. “Bobby?”
“Yes, baby, I’m here.”
“Your brother . . .” I look over my shoulder. “Is he?—”
“Stunned the fuck out.”
“Thank you.” My tongue is thick. My words slur. I lift my arm to cradle his face, but I can’t move it.
“Fucking uncuff her. Now!”
Someone rushes past Bobby.
“My wrists hurt.”
“Too tight. He put them on too tightly.”
Muscular arms go under my knees, and I’m picked up and cradled against a heavily covered chest. “What’s this?” I toy with the straps.
