“Shit.” Still in my PJ’s, my phone pings and I scroll to the messages.
Sienna: We need to talk. Don’t tell Suds.
Me: Okay. Meet me at the salon.
Her cryptic message probably has something to do with her relationship with Calvin or maybe the fact she hasn’t told Andy she’s expecting. Because of my guy’s confusion, I’m more understanding than I might’ve been. Maybe the ladies at work can help convince her honesty is always the best policy… at least for shit like this.
Suds places scrambled eggs in front of me and I push them back. “Not pregnant.”
“Keeping you healthy, just in case.”
“Fine. But no weird candy vitamins.” I empty the bottle of bears down the sink, turn on the garbage disposal, and murder them all.
“Whoa, there. That’s downright hostile, girl.”
“Those things taste horrible. They had to go.”
He holds up his spatula. “Remind me never to cross you. I’ll pick you up at lunch?”
“Okay. What’s on today’s agenda?”
“I’m gonna find Dahlyla. I’m a damn fine detective.”
“Uh huh. Let me know how it goes.”
I finish a normal breakfast and hurry along my usual route to my aunt’s place. It’s one block south, two west, then I hang a ralph at the laundry mat.
In front of the salon, I rattle the door handle and finding it locked, dig into the bottom of my purse for the keys. Just as I’m wrapping my fingers around them, a car pulls to the curb behind me, and Sienna shouts out, “Sam, watch out!”
My gun, which I wanted to keep in my bag, is in my holster because that’s where Suds fucking insists I keep it. Too slow, someone grabs me by the neck, shoves me into a car, and forces my arms high behind my back.
“Ow.” Sharp pain shoots from my shoulders and zip ties bite into my wrists.
Tires burn rubber, hands grope, and upon finding my gun, a female laughs. I wish I could say it was Dahlyla, but it’s really hard to tell with my nose stuck in the seat cushion.
Somewhere in the car, a gagged Sienna curses up a storm which is preferable to tears.
I’ve read hundreds of stories of how brave women survive being kidnapped. First, they keep their shit together and don’t panic. Then, they do smart stuff like listen for noises that give some indication of where they are.
Me? I lose track after ten stoplights and twenty-five turns. I’m pretty sure we enter a tunnel because of the fumes and the unique echo off the tiled walls.
When the air becomes breathable again, I conclude we’re in Jersey. For a long time the highway is smooth and the traffic heavy. At some point, I catch a whiff of salt. That, along with the lone cry of a seagull tells me we’re near the Atlantic.
No one speaks, nor even grunts. Even Sienna quieted down. My guess is professionals nabbed us and we’re going to need all our wits to get out of this thing alive.
With my head down, and adrenaline racing. It’s hard to know how much time has passed. The radio plays a country song and the sad twang reminds me how Suds will freak out when he learns I’m missing.
Thank God, my aunt’s a stickler for being on time. I’m sure, if she’s not able to reach me, she’ll call him. By now, he’s no doubt checked the camera feed above the door to the salon and found a license plate. I’ll bet he’s called my dad, Uncle Vinny… and maybe even Frankie.
Someone is going to find us.
But, just in case they don’t, I need to get free.
Chapter Sixteen
Suds
“Sebastian. Tell Sam to haul her ass to work. It’s busy and my mom’s about to have a cow.” Rose’s voice rises over Mia’s telling her she should watch her language.
