I turned in circles before running toward the parking area, hoping maybe someone saw her leave. I turned the corner just in time to see her scoot into a limousine.Why would she leave on her own?
I took off for the vehicle, but it pulled off with a roar, leaving me in the dust. The back of my neck tingled as I stuck my hand into my pocket to get my phone. Then I felt an excruciating pain on the back of my head, but it didn’t knock me out like I’m sure they intended it to. I twirled around to face my aggressor, and he backed up and pointed a gun at me.
“We intended to leave you here or kill you, whichever was more convenient.” He used the gun to wave me toward another limousine that was just pulling up. “But we think she’ll be more complacent if you’re with her. Do I need to tell you what would happen to her if you resist?”
“No,” I replied stiffly. “I'll go willingly and quietly.”For now.
RILEY
I waited patiently for Axoular to go get me another drink. I would’ve gotten it myself, but he jumped up and went before I had a chance. He was an old-fashioned gentleman, and I loved it. Our first date was going very well. The conversation wasn’t awkward, and even though the roast ended up looking like more of a rave than a roast, I’d had fun so far.
Someone tapped on my shoulder. “Excuse me, are you Riley?”
“Yes,” I replied as I turned. “Can I help you?”
An Indonesian man in a black suit held out a note for me to read. I thanked him and unfolded it.
Riley Effler,
We have your friend. Leave the table and walk outside. Get into the limousine waiting at the gate you entered through, and we'll allow him to live.
Do it quickly.
Rage poured through me like lava. Fire flickered on my palm, and I smacked my hand down on the table and wrestled it back inside. Rising from the table, I made my way to the entrance. Sure enough, as I turned the corner, a black stretch limousine waited.
A uniformed driver waited by the door. “Ms. Effler?”
“Mrs. Effler,ifyou please.” I was married and proud of it.
He nodded and opened the door. Blinking, I tried to focus on the interior of the darkened room. I looked around, and seeing no one else in front of the building, I allowed fire to hover over one finger, holding it out in front of me as I attempted to slide into the seat. My gargantuan stomach prevented me from sliding very gracefully, but I managed.I’m gonna incinerate every person in this car.
The flame was just enough to let me see the car was full of men, but none of them were Axoular. I took a deep breath and found the fire hovering under the surface. As I was about to release it and burn them all, I felt a little pinch in my neck and knew no more.
***
Thud, thud, thud.I squinched my eyes to block out the light.Thud, thud, thud.I moaned, rolling onto my side. “Anthony? I think I’ve caught a stomach bug.” I moaned and tried to crack one eye. As soon as the sunshine hit my retinas, I regretted it. “Oh God,” I whispered. “It’s a migraine, not a stomach bug.”
The room was silent. “Axoular?” Where were the guys? They never left me completely alone. They knew I hated it. I’d been alone for so long I never wanted to be by myself again.
I forced myself to crack an eyelid. Where the hell was I? I grunted as the baby gave a particularly strong kick to my ribs, surprising me and snapping my eyelids all the way open. “Hello?” I sat up, one hand on my head and one on my stomach.
The room was obviously someone’s bedroom. It was beautiful, a room I’d decorate for myself. The walls were heather gray with a maroon accent wall. The furniture was soft and comfortable, in reds and grays. The focal point was the enormous bookshelves lining one wall from end to end. They weren’t built-in, but they were stuffed full.
It was like someone built the room just for me. “Where the hell am I?” Scooting to the side of the bed and standing, I turned in a circle, looking for any clues. My headache slowly faded, and my memory quickly rushed back to me. “Oh, my God.”
The flames returned, whispering to me to let them out. They hovered just beneath my skin. I ran across the room to the door, steam rising from my skin.
Shock.It was locked. “Can anyone hear me?” Silence. I went to the only other door in the room. It opened into a windowless bathroom. Closing it, I addressed the empty room. “I’m going to set this room on fire in five minutes if someone doesn’t tell me what the hell is going on.”
I backed up, gaze on the locked door, and sat in one of the recliners positioned around to wait.One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three Mississippi, Four Mississippi…When I got to four and a half minutes, I held my hand up and allowed it to be engulfed in flames. A hidden intercom crackled, and Axoular’s voice came over the loudspeaker.
“Don’t burn it down, Riles. Theysaythey’ll hurt us if we mess up their place. I think we could take them down though.” There was a bump, and Axoular let out an angry roar-yell. The intercom went silent for a few seconds then he came back. “I’ll be there soon, just sit tight.”
I pulled my flames back inside and with nothing else to do—except eyeball the books—I sat tight. When sitting tight got boring, I started talking. “Whoever you are, you have to know that you’ll die for your crimes today.”
I got no reply. Standing, I began to walk slowly around the room, working kinks out of my back and hips. I wondered nervously what they’d used to knock me out and if it would hurt the baby. He’d been kicking up a storm, so I doubted he’d have any lasting damage, but the potential danger made my rage all that much worse.
After what felt like hours, the intercom crackled. “Mrs. Effler, are you paying attention?”
