“Why?”
Liam punches him in the face, and the man drops to his knees just as I’ve unwound the last rope. “Because I said so, fuckface.”
I look frantically around for a way out other than the front of the building, rejoicing when I spot a small side door a few feet behind me. I wonder if Hennessy positioned the chair here so I could escape?
“Here ya go,” Hennessy says, throwing the cell at Liam. In the same instant, he slides a gun across the floor toward me and pulls out another gun he points at Liam. “Run, Gia,” he yells as all hell breaks loose.
I don’t need to be told twice.
I dart forward and swipe the gun before ducking down as bullets whizz over my head.
“I want her alive!” Liam yells as gunfire rings out in the warehouse.
I don’t stop to look, racing toward the door and fleeing into the darkness outside.
I’m slammed back against the wall of the warehouse by a snarling man with a bald head and a straggly beard. “Where’d you think you’re going?”
“Home,” I snarl, bringing my knee up and burying it between his legs. He goes down like a sack of potatoes, but it won’t hold him for long. “Sorry not sorry,” I say as I lift my gun and fire. “Fuck, ow,” I hiss, only now noticing the prick stuck me with a needle just before I put a bullet in his skull. I yank it out, paling at the clear liquid that is almost gone. That cannot be good, and I need to get out of here.
I take off running, fleeing toward the lights in the far distance. It’s pitch-black with no streetlamps guiding my way, but I recognize the boardwalk ahead of me, confirming I’m back in Atlantic City. Reaching up, I touch my ears, almost crying in relief when I feel my earrings. I press down on them and repeat my codeword. “Dancer, dancer, dancer. I’m in Atlantic City, on the northern end, but I’m heading toward the boardwalk.”
A shot flies by my side, and I scream, pushing my limbs harder. My breath oozes out in panicked spurts at the sound of approaching footfalls. There is nothing but grass all around me and the ocean on my left as I run. There is no one to run to for help and nowhere to hide. Although it’s dark, I’m still exposed and outnumbered. Maybe my best bet is the ocean. I’m a good swimmer, and maybe they won’t be inclined to chase after me if I’m in the water. So, I detour left and head in that direction.
“It was Liam,” I say, keeping my voice low. Liam doesn’t seem to be aware of the audio device, and I want to keep it that way. I glance briefly over my shoulder, spotting several shadows advancing on me, and I know I can’t outrun them, so I turn around and fire off a few shots, buying myself a little more time to reach the water and to explain. “He knows who I am, andhe knows who I am to Joshua. He’s planning to kill me. One of O’Hara’s men helped me to escape, and he paid with his life. I might not make it.” I stumble a little as my legs turn to Jell-O. “I was injected with something. I don’t feel too hot,” I add as nausea churns in my gut. “Tell my family and Joshua I love them.”
Tremors wash over me, and I sway on my feet as they threaten to go out from under me. I push my failing body forward, stumbling and almost tripping over my feet as my vision blurs and my limbs give out. Footsteps approach as I collapse on the ground, only a few feet from the water. My body shakes as nausea swims up my throat and drowsiness consumes me. I attempt to drag my body forward on the ground toward the ocean, but it refuses to cooperate. “I love you, Joshua,” I whisper as the shadows approach. “You make me really happy.”
“Fucking bitch!” Liam kicks me in the ribs, and a sleepy cry flees from my lips.
“Boss, they know where we are,” someone says as I fight to stay with it. “Hennessy texted our location. We’ve got to assume they’re on their way.”
“Joshua,” I mumble.
Liam emits a furious rage-filled shout as men surround me. They’re all a blur, and I can’t see properly.
“Guess we’re going with Plan B,” he says in a calculated voice as he leans down and begins ripping my clothes away.
I will my limbs to cooperate as I try to slap him away, but my body is hijacked under whatever drug is infiltrating my bloodstream.
“Fuck. I just came in my pants looking at those tits.”
Laughter surrounds me, and I’m drifting in and out as hands grope me everywhere. I open my mouth to tell them to stop, but my mouth won’t cooperate now, and I’m silently screaming as my legs are pried open and pain shoots through me. I’m barelyconscious as someone pounds into me and fingers dig into my flesh.
I drift in and out of consciousness.
“You promised us a turn,” an angry man says.
“Plans change,” Liam hisses. “But if anyone wants to risk getting caught for some mediocre pussy, go for it.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” someone says, and I hear the telltale sound of a zipper lowering. Laughter ensues as warm liquid flows over my body.
I barely feel it when they kick and punch me, but I push through the barrier, screaming and screaming when intense pain bears down on my arm.
Then I black out.
I wake with a jolt as freezing-cold tentacles poke at my flesh. My entire body is shaking, and my teeth are chattering. My eyelids refuse to open. For a few seconds, I don’t remember anything, and then it all comes back to me. My eyes pop open as the most excruciating pain flays me everywhere. I throw up, retching as my battered body is bathed in ice-cold water. I blink my eyes repeatedly, trying to adjust to the darkness, to get some clue on my whereabouts, when another wave of freezing water laps at my chest.
“Fuck.” The word comes out garbled, but at least my tongue appears to be working again. I’m shivering and in incredible pain. It’s hard to remain conscious, but I push through because I know this is life or death. I have no clue how much time has passed since I blacked out and no way of knowing if Joshua has come and can’t find me.
