“Coincidence,” I say. Because honestly, that’s the damn truth.
“Coincidence or not, you’re associated with a cop and so is Emmett and so is your father. Now, you and your father might make it out of this. The man has a skillset that is useful to me, and I can use you to control him. But Emmett and your boyfriend are going into a shallow grave here very soon.”
He nods to the guard closest to me. “Tie her up and gag her. Put her in one of the empty rooms and then come back out here. We need to prepare.”
I immediately stand and try to run but it’s useless because a guard is on me a moment later. I try to kick and scream but he picks me up like I weigh nothing and then covers my mouth with his hand.
I only stop fighting when I hear the boss man tell his guards, “All three should be here soon.”
He drags me through a door, down a hallway, and into a room.
The guard doesn’t speak while he slaps a piece of duct tape over my mouth and then duct tapes my hands behind my back and my feet together.
He leaves without saying a word and locks the door behind him.
He left the lights off, so I can’t see anything. But when we first came in, I could tell that there was nothing in this room anyway.
I wiggle my hands trying to see if I can get the duct tape to loosen but it’s no use. Instead, I scootch my hands underneath my butt and bring them forward, praying that I’m still flexible enough to get my legs through my arms.
Holy shit.
I did it.
I rip the duct tape off my mouth and then off my feet. It’s enough freedom to reach for my phone in my pocket.
The idiots didn’t think to body search me.
Ishouldcall the cops, but I hit Lucas’s number instead.
He answers on the first ring, but I speak first. “I’ve been kidnapped, Lucas.”
“I know. I’m on my way to come get you. Are you okay? Are you safe?”
I swallow against the knot in my throat. “I’m fine. They put me in another room by myself for now. They said they were going to kill you, Lucas,” I whisper into the phone.
“No, they’re not. I promise you they won’t.”
“Yes… they are. They’re going to kill you and Emmett, and then keep my dad and me for their sick games.”
“I need you to listen to me, Jordan. Just stay where you are and do as they say.”
I put the phone between my shoulder and ear and try the doorknob with no luck. “I’m trapped, Lucas. I’m so scared.” I lean against the door and slide down onto the floor. “I think…I think they’re going to use me…use my body to control my dad.” I sob into the phone and tears start to fall from my eyes.
“I promise you I won’t let that happen. I need you to trust me, beautiful. Do you trust me?” His voice is calm but firm, a stark contrast to mine.
I nod my head even though he can’t see me. “Yes,” I whisper back. Because I do. He’s always kept me safe, and I have no reason to believe he won’t do anything in his power to keep me safe now.
“I’m going to hang up the phone, but I need you to stay strong for me. I’ll be there shortly. Just do what they say and don’t resist them.”
I swallow through the knot in my throat. “Okay.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
Before he gets the chance to hang up, I have one last thing I need to tell him. “Wait! I –”
“No. You don’t get to say it first or over the phone,” he interrupts, “save it for when we see each other next.”
And then the line goes dead.
