I’m spinning slowly, like I’m hanging from something. Frantically, I tug at the rope that binds my wrists and holds meup to the ceiling.Come on, come on, come on. It has to come loose. Now. My heart’s racing, and I’m breathing fast. Where the fuck am I? My eyes dart through the room. Gray concrete floors and bare concrete walls create a stark space. I swallow. There’s a large grate under my feet. Patches of reddish-brown discoloration appear on the silver steel in places. Blood. The disinfectant partially masks the smell of urine and mold, but every now and then a whiff passes by. My first thought is,as long as they don’t have Rebel.
I tug hard at the ropes again, but it’s useless. I take a deep breath and hang my head.
The room’s only door bursts open with a loud bang, sending my heart racing once more. I look up with wide eyes, but say nothing. For a few seconds, no one appears, until a woman stumbles into the room.Jen.
Again, I tug at the ropes.
She falls to her knees, her blond hair falling around her face, and she breathes heavily. A lot of mumbling comes from behind a scarf tied around her mouth. The sound of heavy footsteps is getting closer; they’re coming from the hallway.
My whole body shakes uncontrollably when I hear that sound.
Without warning, Jen is pulled to her feet by an arm, and a moment later a broad, bald man enters the room. His facial expression urges me to hold my breath in a foolish attempt to make myself invisible. Which is pointless, since I’m hanging in the middle of this room and someone brought me here. Probably the same guy.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I close my eyes and try to control my breathing. Meanwhile, I hear Jen struggling fiercely in an attempt to get free.
When I open my eyes again, a blond man enters the room behind the bald man. A stoic look remains on his face until he comes to a halt beside me. Jesse. The man from the parking lot.He fixes his gaze on me and a nasty smile appears that sends shivers down my spine.
His hand rises, and I brace myself against the impending touch. Holding my breath, I wait for it to happen, but it doesn’t. Instead, there’s a sudden sharp rattling sound. Glancing up, I notice him bringing down a similar hook next to me. I struggle to push myself away, my feet dangling, causing me to wobble uncontrollably.
They pull Jen toward the hook, and fasten the rope. With a tug, Jesse raises the chain, leaving Jen suspended next to me, just as I am.
My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest as I continue to shake uncontrollably. Our eyes meet and I gaze at her.
“Well, well, well, Mrs. Hayes,” Baldie says as Jesse leaves the room without saying a word. My ears are ringing, making it hard to concentrate on him. “It was difficult to get you here, thanks to your friends from that motorcycle gang.” He flashes a crooked grin that sends an extra shiver down my spine. Did you and your boyfriend figure out who you’re looking for yet? Did my friend reveal the secret?” He approaches me with a menacing look, and I shrink back.
“I don’t even know who you are,” I stammer. I pull myself together as best I can and, miraculously, manage to look at him.
He raises his eyebrows and chuckles. “Connor never told you who I was?”
“You probably weren’t important enough.” Somehow, my voice remained steady as I speak.
The bald man’s mouth drops open for a sec. “So he never told you what he found out at work? About his boss’s activities?” He tilts his head and stares. “What a shame.” He leans toward Jen and loosens the scarf that is gagging her.
She immediately starts screaming. “Let me go, you lunatic. Do you have any idea who my husband is?” She spits the words at him with an angry look on her face, but if you look closely and know her better, you can see the panic and fear in her eyes. And I know her better than I realized a few weeks ago. A glimmer of the girl I vaguely remember from my teens shines through in this insecure woman.
The man bursts into thunderous laughter, causing my body to shake even harder. “That’s half of the fun, Mrs. Paisley.” With an amused grin, he tilts his head. Jen turns pale and goes silent.
Shit, shit, shit. Why Jen? I understand why they want me, but why her? She and Brooks got nothing to do with this, and Brandon… Oh, God, Brandon. My breathing quickens.Rebel.
“Then you know damn well you shouldn’t have done this.” Her shoulders are straight as she speaks, yet a wavering voice gives away her fear. She pulls at the ropes and makes a futile attempt to break free. ”I have a son. I have to go to him.”
Baldie ignores her and turns his attention to me. My eyes burn, but I’m not going to cry. No way. I lift my chin and take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my heart.
“So neither Hayes nor Young ever told you who I work for?” He rubs his thumb and index finger along his jaw, where stubble is visible. “Interesting.” Then he turns his attention back to Jen. ”Ballistic?”
Jen presses her lips together but says nothing. It’s obvious that she doesn’t know anything either and that Brooks hasn’t said a word.
“You’d think they would have informed their key women. So old-fashioned and so easy.” Suddenly, he turns around and disappears through the door, slamming it behind him.
“What’s going on?” Jen screams at me. Her eyes are wild and she’s swaying dangerously back and forth.
I close my eyes and try to concentrate on my breathing.
He’s gone.
We’re still alive.
