He pushed the gun to the side just as it fired. Drew kicked up his leg dislodging the gun from the man’s hands and spun it around so it now faced the masked intruder instead of himself. He pulled the trigger and the man collapsed to the ground.
“Shay?” Drew called out, his eyes darting around the dining room table looking for her.
Shay stood on shaky legs. She couldn’t believe it was over so easily and quickly. It was just further proof of how deadly and effective Drew could be.
Her eyes stayed rooted on Drew instead of the bodies on the ground. She may not mourn the loss of their lives but that didn’t mean she wanted to stare at dead bodies.
“You okay?” He asked in a calmness as if what he’d done had been nothing more than taking a walk in the park.
She didn’t want to know how many people he’d killed in the military.
“I’m good.”
Drew let out a sigh of relief. “We need to get moving. There could be—” His words ended on a groan as a gun shot rang out and Drew fell to his knees then dropped face first on the floor.
A strangled cry broke from her mouth as she watched in horror as blood seeped out form under Drew’s prone body.
No, he couldn’t be dead.
She watched in a daze as more masked people piled into the room. They fanned out around her. No one was in a hurry to grab her. She didn’t have anyone to protect her now. The group parted allowing one person to pass who hadn’t bothered with a mask. She recognized him instantly. “Billy,” She hissed. She thought about mentioning the other name she’d found. Hemman, but she didn’t want to give away she knew. They team would come soon enough and find Drew and the clues she left behind. They needed that element of surprise.
“Did you miss me, doll?” He asked with a cocky grin. He stopped just in front of her. His eyes raking over her body making her skin crawl. “I sure missed you.” It wasn’t the first time he’d looked at her like this. In captivity the one thing she’d always feared was rape. She’d held out hope that it was a quick kidnapping and she’d come out unmolested.
After escaping and now she was back in their clutches she didn’t allow herself the delusion. If they took her, she’d never see her father again. She’d be dead or worse. Sold to trafficker. She’d rather die.
Shay took with her back straight glaring up at Billy. She wouldn’t allow him to get the best of her. He may have won the battle but not the war. She knew where they were taking her.She’d left the clues on the tablet for the rest of Drew’s team to find.
They would come soon and find Drew. She swallowed back a lump of bile. Drew. Her love. He dead protecting her. There would be time to mourn his death. For now she had to be smart and stay alive. Drew’s team would find her and save her.
She didn’t like the damsel in distress routine but she knew sneaking out again would be near impossible. They’d watch her even more closely.
“You’ve kept me waiting long enough, perhaps a small sample.” Billy leaned down. His rotten breath fanned her face.
Shay stood rim rod stiff, waiting for the right moment to strike. When he was least expecting it. He’d seen her as the perfect hostage. She hadn’t spoken. Was always serene and did what she was told. No more. They would rue the day they ever took her captive.
Shay refused to ever be that woman again. Not even in her own household. There was no way she could come out of this experience unchanged, but it wasn’t for the worst. This experience showed her what a strong woman she could be. That she could overcome many obstacles. That she didn’t need to father always guiding her every move. She didn’t need anyone.
A warrior bellow burst free before she brought up her knife and sliced across Billy’s face. She allowed herself a moment of victory catching him unaware and causing him pain. “Don’t even think about touching me.” She hissed.
Billy turned his face back toward her, blood streaming down it. A large gash stretched from under his eye to the corner of his lip. It looked like she’d cut straight through his cheek. Murderous hate in his eyes.
Shay waited for him to attack her. Whether with fists or take a gun from one of his men and shoot her on the spot. She didn’t think for a second she was safe now. She didn’t care. Letthem do their worse to her. She’d escaped them once. She would do it again.
Billy took small, measured steps toward her, forcing her neck back to look up at him. He wasn’t much taller than her so it wasn’t that intimidating. “If Sykes didn’t need you in one piece, I’d show you what real pain was.”
For her buyer. They probably wouldn’t appreciate damaged goods. At least there was that small saving grace.
“How unfortunate for you.” She replied. A wry smile on her face. She couldn’t help but poke the bear. He’d just revealed he couldn’t do anything to her without facing the wrath of Sykes.
“Bring her.” He told his men before spinning around and marching out of the house without a backward glance.
Shay took a deep breath as two men came forward, one of each side of her. Neither touched her, just waited for her to start moving. They knew she couldn’t escape. Billy waited outside and she would never escape six men.
If an opportunity presented itself, she would take it, if Drew’s team didn’t get to her first. Shay started forward and almost tripped. Surely, she was hallucinating. Shay blinked, it happened again. Drew’s fingers twitched. He was still alive.
Shay kept her features schooled in case one of the men was watching her. She wouldn’t help Drew if she revealed he was alive. They’d only kill him. When she neared him, she pretended to trip over one of the dead bodies and fell next to Drew. She leaned close to his head and whispered, “Find the tablet.” She climbed back to her feet and walked outside hoping Drew had heard her words.
Chapter 28
