“Chill,” said the masculine voice. Why was it familiar—or was it?
She couldn’t be sure of anything, but the vehicle came to a halt, sending her rolling into the captor yet again. Willow squirmed to avoid his grip, wriggling and kicking as much as was possible.
His rough hands found her anyway and hauled her upright. Her head spun as the sound of the vehicle door—the van—opening sent her into a panic. This was it; she was done. She had pissed off thewrong person.
Her legs were weak as they pulled her outside into the cold. Her feet met damp ground and she could smell the faint scent of the woods through the bag. They must have taken her out of the city.
“What the fuck is happening?” she muttered.
No answer. Instead, they continued to lead her somewhere, her feet crunching against twigs and leaves.
Finally, they halted and a hand urged her down to the ground.
She twisted away. “Fuck you.”
A sound of incredulity came from the left as the hand all but threw her to the ground.
Willow steadied herself on her knees, trying to find the resolve to accept what was to come. A strong burst of wind whipped through the trees and made her shiver.
Maybe they could be reasoned with. “I’ll give your money back,” she said. Her impending death was quickly chasing away the drowsiness from the drug.
One of them mumbled something.
“For real,” she continued. “Just take me back home so I can get my laptop. I’ll give it all back.”
Footsteps approached and the bag was yanked off her head. It was so bright, after spending however long in the darkness. She blinked repeatedly, trying to focus her eyes as she looked up at her captors.
They were wearing balaclavas and one had a heavy black pistol in his hand. Bile climbed up her throat. Maybe it would have been better not to see the weapon.
The one who had pulled off the bag bent down and grabbed her chin. He turned her head, hard hazel eyes finding the long scar. Then, he looked her over more intently.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Willow…” It was a bit strange for them not to know that—unless they hadn’t meant to grab her.
He released her face and she snapped her teeth at his gloved hand. Something flashed in his gaze as he stalked off to join the other man standing menacingly with the pistol.
Whatever their plan was, she wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
Chapter 6
Ezra
“What the fuck, man!” Ezra spat. “You grabbed the wrong fucking girl!”
Ryker frowned, eyeing their captive still obediently on her knees by the tree. She was surprisingly calm for having been drugged and taken into the woods by two guys with a gun.
“What are you talking about? She had shortish black hair and came from that apartment,” he replied.
They had staked out the place, keeping close watch for the witness Xan said they had to dispose of. Ryker was in charge of grabbing her while Ezra stayed with the van, ready to drive off once she was caught.
Ezra gave him an incredulous look. “Samanthadidn’t have a five-inch scar on her fucking face.”
“I didn’t get a good look at her! You’re the one who saw her close up.”
He paced back and forth, unable to keep still.
“We can’t kill her, Ez.”
