“Make a sound and Steve here will go into that little shop and kill everyone in it, including your friend and your kid.”
I held perfectly still. When Rush’s fingers bit into my arm and began propelling me forward, I didn’t fight him. I had no idea which guy Steve was, but since the other two guys stayed with us, I had to hope it meant that no one was going to pursue Aleks into the store.
As we walked, I tried to figure out what to do next. I had my phone, but no way of reaching it to call Jace. Of course, it wasn’t even an option not five seconds later when Rush pulled it from the back pocket of my jeans and dropped it to the ground. A crunching sound followed.
Fear engulfed me as Rush steered me toward a waiting sedan. I knew I should scream or try to run, but the fear that Rush had someone watching Aleks had me keeping silent.
I was shoved into the sedan. The two guys with Rush flanked me in the back seat as Rush got into the front passenger seat.
We drove for a good twenty minutes before the car pulled to a stop outside what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. Rushdragged me into the small building. One of his men followed, the other two stayed outside. There was a bunch of assembly line equipment, but I couldn’t tell what it was for. Rush shoved me against a conveyor belt. He took the gun the other guy handed him and put it to my forehead. I managed to stifle my cry of fear, but I couldn’t help but close my eyes.
“Where is it?”
When I didn’t answer, he jammed the gun against my head. “Where is it?”
“Where’s… what?” I croaked as I forced my eyes open.
It was just in time to see the blow coming.
Pain radiated out from where the side of Rush’s fist had slammed into my temple. I managed to stay upright, but I couldn’t keep from crying out in pain. I could feel blood start a slow slide down my face.
“Don’t make me repeat myself,” Rush warned.
“I swear, I don’t know what you’re looking for.”
“I want the fucking location!”
Pain seared through my brain as he hit me again. I couldn’t keep myself upright. But it didn’t matter because the other man hauled me to my feet and slammed me back against the conveyor belt behind me.
“I don’t know what location you’re talking about,” I said.
“Did you think that son of a bitch’s death would be the end of things? He gave you up, Caleb. Said you had it.” Rush asked.
I could only assume he was talking about Jennings or my father. I shook my head, but before I could say anything, Rush’s fingers wrapped around my throat, instantly cutting off my air. I instinctively clawed at his hands, but my efforts were futile.
“Or maybe you were thinking that you could take up where he left off? That you could milk me like he did?”
Understanding dawned at his words, but it didn’t matter because I couldn’t say anything with Rush’s hand slowly stealing my life away. My vision started to dim and spots danced before my eyes when Rush suddenly released me. I collapsed onto the ground and tried sucking in air, but I couldn’t seem to manage it.
“You were a good fuck, but not worth anywhere near the amount of money that fucker was getting out of me. But guess what, I paid in full. You want even a cent out of me, it’s going to cost you a lot more than a quick fuck in the dirt.”
Rush yanked me to my feet and then turned me and bent me over the conveyer belt. Terror ratcheted through me as he blanketed my body with his. I could feel his dick pressing against my ass. “Maybe I ought to get a preview to see if you’re even still worth it.”
I dug my fingers along the underside of the edge of the conveyor belt and winced when I felt something pierce my skin.
Something sharp.
As Rush began grinding against me, I closed my fingers around the object to see if I could work it loose. I didn’t make much progress because Rush chose that moment to reach for the zipper on my pants. “The phone! You’re talking about Dad’s phone!” I screamed, though the words came out in a strangled rasp since my throat hurt so bad from Rush choking me.
He stilled, then jerked me upright and turned me around. “So you’re done playing innocent, huh? Where is it?”
I wasn’t even sure if my father had kept the phone he’d used that night. The cops had confiscated his phone when he’d been arrested, but it wasn’t the one he’d owned while on the camping trip. But it didn’t surprise me in the least to learn he’d told Rush I had the phone. Something like that would have been sure to get Rush to come after me, even if it wasn’t true.
“If I tell you where it is, will you let me go?” I asked, knowing full well what Rush’s answer would be.
But he didn’t actually answer me. Instead he grabbed me by the throat again, but he didn’t apply enough pressure to cut off my air. “Do you know how many good men I lost because of you? I mean, there I am, minding my own business, when I get a call that you’re dredging up the past.”
“Did Mr. Jennings call you? Or did he call my father? That’s what started it, right?”
