Page 57

Tanner drugged me! Jack was down on the ground. Fuck.

Wherever I’m at, Jack is with me, and neither of us should be here. I test my fingers, stretching them ever so slightly to see if anyone notices the movement. When no one says anything and whoever carries me keeps moving, I stretch my feet next. Somewhere along the way, I lost my shoes.

I put them on before we went outside. Didn’t I? Are they outside the school? Do the others know we’re missing? Are the others okay or are they hurt? I force those thoughts into the back of my mind.

No time to panic. Focus. I need to act before they restrict my movement somehow.

I inhale. Caden’s voice is in my head. Breathe, never forget to breathe. If they’re holding you, move as much as possible to make sure they can’t hold on. Scratch, bite, hit, anywhere you can hit. Understand? Gouge their fucking eyes out if you have to.

I tamp down my fear for what Caden might be going through. The others. Did they make it out of the gym? Have they been taken too and just aren’t in any shape to talk? It might not be just me and Jack in here. Cold washes through me.

But they haven’t bound my hands or feet. If we’re captured, it’s up to me to free us. Hopefully they haven’t taken my batons out of my hair either.

Before I can think anymore, I jerk my fist up and strike toward where the face should be on the person carrying me. I open my eyes as I connect with his throat. He gasps in a breath, his hands going to his throat. Instantly I’m dropped.

The ground is hard beneath my ass, but I don’t pause.

Pulling my batons from my hair, I scramble to my feet and assess the situation. I’m a little shaky. The hallway is narrow. The guy who had been carrying me coughs as he tries to get his breath back. I grip the baton in my fist and punch him in his junk before he can really recover.

While I pulled punches on Caden when we trained, my adrenaline is so high that I imagine punching through this asshole’s pelvis. Gasping and groaning, he topples over. Behind him, there is one other guy and then Zach and Jack.

The other guy charges me. I hold my ground, waiting. They’ll have reach, little nympho. You’ll need to step in when they grab for you.

This is the worst part, knowing I have to let him close enough to touch me. I can’t leave without Jack. I won’t. Once he’s free, he can help. I can see Jack struggling with Zach. Good.

The guy charging me doesn’t expect me to slam into him. I hit him everywhere I can reach as his hands grab my arms. He has a mask on, and when I thrust my knee into his crotch, his groan sounds weirdly modulated.

I shove him into the wall, and he slides down it to the floor.

“Run, Harper,” Jack yells.

“What the fuck is going on out here?”

I spin at Tanner’s voice behind me, ready to do more damage.

“She’s a wild cat when she wakes up. Aren’t you, darling?” Zach’s voice is taunting.

I back against the wall so I can keep an eye on both of them. Zach has a knife pressed against Jack’s throat. My heart catches in my throat. My eyes widen as I meet Jack’s blue eyes. His wrists are tied behind him.

“I wouldn’t if I were you, darling.” Zach chuckles. He presses the knife against the side of Jack’s throat and blood trickles down. I hiss at the pain that must cause as Zach continues, “Unless you want one less plaything.”

“I thought I was too valuable to hurt.” Jack’s eyes remain locked with mine. There’s urgency in them. He still wants me to run. He wants me to leave him here with this devil. My breath heaves in and out as my chest tightens. There’s no way. I can’t leave him with this sadistic fuck.

Zach will follow through.

“You can be patched up.” Zach shrugs. “What’s it going to be, darling?”

Every darling out of his mouth is a mockery. My heart is pounding.

Breathe, baby. Caden’s voice helps center me, even if it’s only in my mind. I tighten my grip on the batons. Tanner is still down the hallway, but the guys on the ground are recovering.

“Bring one of the others out.” Zach smirks. “Show our guest what’s at stake.”

Tanner’s eyes narrow on Zach before he pulls a mask from his belt and puts it on. “Any requests?”

“Surprise me.” Zach’s smirk makes my skin crawl.

I can only imagine what else he has in store for us. The things he might have said to Jack when I was passed out. My light and breezy dress clings to me like a second skin. I wasn’t fully aware of it when I was kicking ass, but now a shiver flows through me as the cold seeps into my blood.