“Careful of the equipment there.”Finn chuckles.“I swear it’s not a weapon and I’m quite attached to it.”
Lurch grunts as he pulls Finn’s hands behind his back and zip-ties them together.
“This seems a lot for a first date.”Finn turns and winks at me.“Save me a spot, pipsqueak.I’ll be back soon.”
Lurch takes him out of the room and the older guy follows, closing and locking the door behind him.Why did Finn call me pipsqueak?The only one that calls me that is Dante.Fuck, Finn gave me his phone.
I wait for a moment to make sure no one is coming back, then I go into the bathroom and close the door.I turn on the fan and the shower.Locking the door, I take out the phone and turn it on.
I pull up Dante’s contact information and check his texts.There’s nothing from today.I can’t exactly send him something that says this is Sara in case someone checks later.
Me:
Boss?
I sit on the edge of the tub and watch for anything.Maybe Finn meant something different.Maybe he was telling me Dante would be here?I stand and pace the small room.
What if he meant to call Dante?I call and it goes right to voicemail.
Fuck it.I wait until the tone.
“Dante?Fuck.I’m here.I’m safe.Some house outside the city.Peter took me.Finn showed up.They took him away from me, but I hope they bring him back.I don’t know where you are, but I hope you’re close.Finn says they won’t do anything to him, but…”
My hands shake and I drop my head down as tears flood my vision.“Dante, I need you.I’m trying, but nothing is working.And if they hurt Finn, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
I bite my lip to keep from telling him I love him.Just because Finn said it in the heat of the moment doesn’t mean anything.This can’t continue after this.Not once Mom and Tom are home.
I don’t know how I would explain any of this to them.But what if I don’t get the chance to tell Dante how I feel?What if this is the last he ever hears from me?
The phone buzzes in my hand and my heart skips a beat.
Unknown:
Got you
* * *
Finn
They lead me down the hallway, down the stairs, and through the house until we come to another office.Lurch, who Sara did a great job of naming, puts me in the chair across from the empty desk and steps back to stand beside the door.
The other guy stands on the other side.The dutiful soldiers.I almost laugh.My dad has a dozen of these guys.Loyal and determined to make their boss proud.They loved to drag me in and sit me before my old man when I did something he didn’t like.
I shake my head.This Peter guy has nothing on my dad.Just his name can make people shiver in their boots and piss their pants.
If Peter is going to try intimidation, that won’t work on me.I’ve stood up to the scariest man on this planet.
“Mr.Lawson.”Peter’s voice is jovial as he enters the room.Almost like he invited me here, or I’m an unexpected but welcome guest.“May I call you Finn?”
He lowers himself into the chair and leans back in it.
“Sure, Peter.You kidnapped my girl, we can be on a first-name basis.”I smirk.I’m no longer playing at being her brother’s friend, or even her friend.Nope, she’s mine and I don’t care who knows.
“Your girl?”Peter smiles and taps his pen on his desk.“I was curious, given your close proximity to Ms.Morris, if there was something more going on.Though Drew seems quite taken with the girl as well.”
I give him a cocky grin because fuck him.“Sara’s free to enjoy whoever she likes.”
Peter straightens in his chair.The easygoing attitude is gone.“You came to my home?—”
