My stomach lurched in my throat as a cold chill broke out across my skin.
Something was really fucking wrong.
JADA
My head felt like a bomb had exploded inside it, and my eyes struggled to open against my heavy lids. The pain on the left side of my head was almost unbearable, and I couldn’t figure out why.
What was going on?
I tried to reach up to touch it, but I couldn’t move my hands. When I tried to roll over, my legs wouldn’t work, either.
A wave of panic hit me as I finally forced my lids to lift and saw that I was in a real-life nightmare.
This can’t be happening!
I struggled hard against the restraints holding me tightly to thechair. My eyes darted around the room, and I recognized it as Cane’s office. The glow from his computer screen and the light from the security lamp outside were the only light. My eyes were swollen and hazy, and I had trouble making out much detail.
I fought to breathe around a bandana wrapped around my mouth. With it, I couldn’t make much sound.
What was happening?Trying to see through my swollen eyes made the pain pulsing in my temple worsen, but
I scanned the office, too scared to even cry. I worked my hands back and forth as I tried to yell for help.
This isn’t fucking happening to me.
“You should sit still. You’re only making things worse, bonita.”
Fear and panic mixed in one volatile concoction. I choked back the rising vomit as I scanned the room for the source of the voice.
A large figure dressed all in black stepped from the shadows. As he approached, I could make out a bit of silver coming toward my face.
A gun.
It took every ounce of energy I could dig up not to pass out.
CANE
At the word “bonita,” my first instinct was to race upstairs, burst into the room, and rip his heart out with my bare hands. I wanted to watch his heart beat as I held it while his blood dripped onto the floor.
I forced air into my lungs, knowing I had to stay calm and think fast.
I had to get to her.
The floor creaked above me again, and I moved a few steps to the right, directly beneath the sound.
“Ah, bonita. How are you feeling? Frustrated, yes?”
I clenched my hands at my sides as I listened for some sign from Jada.
Please, baby. Where are you?
The man chuckled, and the floor creaked as he moved across theroom toward the back of the house. I stepped in time with him and stopped as the sound stopped. He stopped where I figured was right in front of my bookshelf.
I heard my desk chair roll a few feet and stop directly above me.
“It’s okay. I’m just waiting on your boyfriend to come home and then things will be better for you. I’ll release your bonds to that chair. I know it hurts, bonita. And I am sorry. It wasn’t you I was after. It was him.”
He began to laugh maniacally.
