He hung up and Igave myself about three seconds before I hauled my ass back into the store.After helping Louisa out to our mom’s car, we made our way home.
“Where’s Daisy?”Mom asked when we walked inside.
“We don’t know,”Louisa said.
“What do youmean, you don’t know?”
“She’s beentaken,” I said.
“What?” Momgasped. “By whom?”
“I’m not sure,”I said. “But I’m gonna find her.” I jabbed a finger at her and Louisa. “Stayput, lock all the doors and windows. Do not go anywhere until I say it’s safe.Got it?”
They nodded andI headed into my dad’s office and grabbed his 9mm Pinfire Revolver, loading it,then filling my pocket with extra ammo.
Whoever thisasshole was. He was mine.
And if it was,in fact, Cyrus.
He was a deadman.
* * *
Daisy
I came to in theback of a van.
At least, Ithink it was a van. I was hooded and had obviously been drugged, so I was alittle woozy and discombobulated. Luckily, I’d had enough time to press thebutton on my bracelet before I passed out.
A lot of goodthat would do me all the way in Montana, but at least it would tell my dadwhere I was, and he could direct Huck and the authorities.
I hoped so atany rate.
My hands werebound behind me way too tight for me to work loose, but that didn’t stop mefrom trying. I felt around to see if there was anything sharp, but didn’t wantto draw any attention, so I had to be careful.
God, I feltnauseated. I had to figure out hownotto puke into this hood.
I closed my eyesand took deep breaths, through my mouth, because I did not want to continue tosmell whatever was in the back of this van as I tried to think of somethingpleasant. Something like Huck and our efforts the night before to have sex insilence. It wasn’t easy, but we’d managed, and ended up in fits of laughter atthe end because the whole thing had been both hot and silly.
I bit backtears.
Okay, maybethinking about Huck wasn’t the right move.
I was jarredforward as the van came to a stop, so I made myself go limp when I heard a doorslam. Another door clicked and then air rushed over me, and I swallowed. Iforced myself to take slow, even breaths and then rough hands grabbed myankles.
“Still out, huh?Good,” the male voice said. “The Wiltons think they can fuck with me? They’regonna regret ever trying.”
Who the hell isthis guy?
I tried not tocry out as my body was dragged roughly across the metal floor of the van. I wasprepared to be dumped onto the ground but was relieved when the man threw meover his shoulder instead. This did not help my nausea, but it did give gravitythe chance to work, and my hood slid off. I took several deep breaths, at thesame time trying not to move enough for this asshole to notice.
I glanced aroundand saw nothing. Nothing but field, basically. I couldn’t see any other homeswithin shouting distance, or anywhere I could hide. Other than the house to myleft and what looked like a shop or old outbuilding next to it, there wasnothing else here.
I was screwed.
And now I had topee.
* * *
