“You still love me. Next up there’s Nick and Daniel.” They both had buzz cuts and were of similar height, Nick was just an inch taller, but Daniel appeared to have more muscle mass. “and last is Jack.”
Jack had close cropped blond unruly hair. It looked like if he grew it out it would be curly. He looked like the youngest of the group but just as physically fit.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I can’t thank you enough for helping me.”
“Think nothing of it.” Greg said taking on the leader of their group personality. “Really we should be thanking you.”
“I second that.” Sam added leaning across the counter from her. His blue eyes reminding her of her of sapphires. “It’s brave what our doing.”
Shay felt her cheeks warming under all their praise.
“If you’re all done braiding each other’s hair let’s sit down and hear Shay’s story. Afterward, Greg you need to have a talk with your contact. He was way off.” Drew said glowering from his seat.
“Don’t mind him,” Greg leaned over to whisper in her ear. “His bark is worse than his bite.”
Shay wasn’t so sure about that but he knew Drew better than she did.
Chapter 14
Despite the urgency for her to start talking Drew waited for her to finish a sandwich and eat half her bowl of soup before she was ready to talk. It was the first time she’d felt stuffed in days. Sitting back in her chair she rubbed her Buddha belly. As hungry as she was she’d managed to eat slowly and gracefully.
She noticed that the sandwiches that she thought were too many looked to be not enough. Only the three remaining on her plate were all that were left.
“Are you going to eat those?” Nick asked while reaching across from the desk and snagged one before she could reply.
They were all surrounding Drew’s desk. Each had dragged over their chair and sat around reminding her of King Arthur’s famed round table even though this table was rectangular.
“Hey,” Drew snapped.
“It’s alright. I was full anyway.”
“Sorry, Shay.” Nick said regardless looking chastened. At least she wasn’t the only one affected by Drew’s attitude.
“Do you want more water or anything else?” Drew asked her.
She shook her head. She was to the point of busting. If Shay consumed anything else she might throw up. “No, but thank you.”
“Alright, well if your ready to talk.” He waved at her giving her the floor.
Shay cleared her throat. She could do this. “Five days ago I was taken from the campus parking lot. I had just left my study group so it was around eight at night. I was grabbed from behindand a bag was thrown over my head. I heard the squeal of tires and next thing I knew I was tossed in the vehicle. They tied my hands and legs until we made it to our destination.”
“Do you know how long you were driving for?” Jack asked.
Shay thought back to that time. It was amazing how much her brain had already tried to repress the drama. “About twenty minutes. I was dumped into a cage and the ropes came off. I was kept there for two days until I was brought to the club. I was taken to a nice bedroom. I only saw people when I needed the bathroom or the twice a day I was fed. I didn’t eat much because I was afraid they were drugging it. Last night the owner of the club came to me and told me I was leaving in an hour. My dad had paid the ransom and I was going home. After he left I heard him talk to someone in the hall. The guy was nervous about the club owner selling me instead of waiting for my original buyer. Sykes, the owner, said he’d make more money by selling me than waiting.”
All the men tensed up. Several clenched their fists. It was sweet everyone was upset on her behalf. Another affirmation that she was doing right by telling these men what happened to her.
“A woman came in to help me get dressed. I stole her lighter when she left I set a small fire as a distraction and snuck out. That’s when we met.” She nodded at Drew. His eyes flashed at the reminder turning molten.
It was the first hint of a reaction she’d seen from him besides anger since they were cooking together.
“Can you tell us about anyone you saw or the places you were held. Were there other women?” Jack asked questions rapid fire, she had trouble keeping up with them.
“Jack, ease up.” Drew said gently. “One question at a time.”
“Sorry,” Jack said but there was no apology in his tone. He reminded her of a dog with a treat dangling in front of him. his eyes were lite and animated.
Jack stared at her expectantly. Oh yeah, his questions.
