The van rolled to a stop.
Beth straightened off the wall, straining to hear. When the driver’s door didn’t open, she scrambled across the vehicle toward Melody, who lay sprawled in the center of the van. They’d either stopped at a light or hit some traffic.
“Come on, Mel,” she said as she slid her hands beneath Melody’s shoulders. “Let’s get you secured somehow.”
Beth’s abraded knees screamed as she kneeled on the unforgiving floor, tugging Melody toward a wall. It took more strength than she had, but inch by inch, she managed. Melody tried to help, bending her knees and pushing off the floor, but every movement made her cry harder.
Beth’s back hit the van wall just as it began moving again.
“Okay.” She breathed in heavy gulps of air. Her shredded palms felt on fire after dragging Melody across the floor. “Almost there. I know it hurts, Mel, but help me one more time. Then you can rest.”
Melody must have heard her through the sobs. She dug her heels in and pushed once more. Beth’s ass dropped to the floor, and she was able to pull Melody’s head onto her lap. Then just as the van took a turn, she braced her feet against the ridge in the floor once again. They jostled through the turn but stayed where they were instead of mimicking a pinball machine.
Melody groaned, but her crying lessened with the more stable position. “T-thank you,” she managed between sobs.
Beth nodded. Melody probably couldn’t see her through those swollen eyes. “We’ll be okay. The club will come for us.” She glanced down at the battered woman with a wince. Melody’s hair stuck to wet cheeks. Mascara mixed with the bruising under her eyes gave her a grotesque horror movie victim appearance. Gently as possible so as not to add to the pain, Beth brushed the hair back from Melody’s face.
“Why are you being nice to me?” Melody mumbled.
Beth sighed. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re kinda all we got right now.”
Melody made a noise Beth chose to take as an acknowledgment.
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll call you a bitch and a bunch of other names after we get out of here.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“I’ve thought a lot about slapping you, but someone obviously beat me to it.”
Melody surprised the hell out of her with a bark of laughter that turned into an agonized groan.
Gallows humor. Who didn’t love it?
They spent the next stretch in silence, save for Melody’s labored breathing and occasional whimpers. Beth closed her eyes and tried to figure out where they were by feel. All she could determine was they’d hit a section of switchbacks, but that could be any hundred roads in these mountains.
Where are they taking us? What do they want? How long until the club realizes I’m gone?
They turned left, and the road changed, becoming consistently bumpy and jarring the van so much her teeth rattled. Her ass bounced on the hard floor, sending jolts of discomfort shooting up her spine. It had to be torture for Melody.
And then, without warning, the van stopped.
The engine cut.
Beth’s heart slammed against her ribs.
This is it.
“We’re not moving,” Melody mumbled. “The van isn’t vibrating.”
“No.” She straightened and stared toward the back doors. “I think we’ve reached our destination.”
The doors opened, sending in a flood of sunlight. Beth squinted against the searing brightness. A large man she didn’t recognize filled the doorway, blocking out the sun. She couldn’t see his face, just his silhouette, massive shoulders, arms like tree trunks, and legs as wide as her hips. He radiated the kind of confidence that came from knowing no one could stop him from doing whatever he wanted.
He grabbed Melody’s ankle and yanked.
Melody screamed.
“Hey!” Beth scrambled after her. “Be careful. She’s injured.”
