“Where are we going?” Jessica asked, wanting nothing so much as longer legs or faster feet ... or a gun. She despised this feeling of helplessness and not knowing what was going on.
“A meeting’s been called. You’re the guest of honor,” Nardo said behind her, snickering. She felt his eyes bore into her back and buttocks, and it took supreme effort of will not to cover her cheeks with her hands. Or turn around and knock his head off.
Gabriel said nothing to Nardo, but his tension was evident in every move of his body and the angry clench of his jaw muscles. He seemed ready to snap at any moment.
Jessica didn’t know what to think about what was happening. That intuitive warning she’d ignored before came back full force. She should not have ignored her inner voice. She should’ve left town without answers. But then, she would likely have never met Gabriel....
Nardo pulled the back gate of the truck down, and Gabriel helped her climb up. She settled down in the back, the metal cold against her back and buttocks, making her shudder. Gabriel climbed up and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her tightly against him. His heat made her feel better, warmed her when she felt unaccustomedly cold. Jessica appreciated his comforting, protective gesture, but she didn’t know how much good it would do them.
Nardo closed the gate and sat across from them, ever watchful. Jessica drew her knees up to keep her feet from touching him. He noticed her movement and sneered at her before turning slightly to the driver. He tapped the back window and the driver took off, heading West, further down the road that passed in front of Gabriel’s house. The truck picked up speed, bouncing them in the bed and sending plumes of dust into the air like a thick fog.
The dark swallowed them whole as they left the lighted yard and drove down the oak shrouded road. The moon’s light pierced the thick canopy marginally as they progressed, and Jessica gave up trying to keep up with where they were going, since it didn’t seem to make any difference--they were headed in a straight line.
She snuggled against Gabriel, comforted by his presence and fearful of what would happen. The nervous fear had her stomach tied in knots. She hated the feeling.
Normally, she could handle herself pretty well, but there was something infinitely bizarre about the whole situation. She was completely out of her depth. If she’d known from the start what trouble she would dig up by trying to find her birth parents, she damned well would have brought her gun ... and enough ammo to take out an army of Rambos.
Jessica closed her eyes and tried to ignore the piercing stare across from her, not that she could see him, but she inherently felt that he could see her. Her skin prickled like she was being watched. She felt like throwing dirt in his eyes just for the satisfaction of it.
The truck slowed and swayed as it turned, and Gabriel tightened his arm around her. He still hadn’t said anything, and hadn’t tried to kill their abductors. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but she’d rather see anyone’s blood but their own spilled.
They moved down a road narrow enough the tree branches scraped the sides of the truck. She thought perhaps they were going down some hunter’s trail, or possibly a long, winding driveway. The truck stopped after several more minutes of driving.
Jessica looked around but even with her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see nothing but trees and more trees, and little patches of light striking the ground.
“Get up,” Nardo said roughly, kicking the gate open and jumping down.
Gabriel hopped down and Jessica sat on the edge, her legs dangling. He wrapped his warm hands around her waist and lifted, helping her gain her feet on the ground.
A woman came up, startling Jessica with her sudden presence. “I’m to take you with me,” she said in a cold, angry voice, grabbing Jessica’s wrist with a bruising grip.
She’d never felt more violent in her life than she did tonight. Everywhere someone attacked her. She’d had enough of it. Screw being a lady. Jessica pulled back. “No.”
“You mus’ go with her, chere. It’s d’only way. I’ll come for you soon,” Gabriel said reassuringly.
Jessica didn’t feel the least bit reassured. “I said no.”
“You don’t have any choice,” the woman ground out, tugging her forward.
Jessica dug her heels in, grabbing Gabriel with her free hand. She was just before ripping the woman’s hair out.
“Please, chere, for me.”
She sighed and released him. “Okay. You have to come back for me. I don’t want to be wondering if you’re dead or alive all night.”
“You know I live ta please, cherie,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice.
“I’ll kick your ass for you if you’re lying.” She felt a little assured that he wouldn’t run off and die on her. But not much. She refused to dwell on it.
Grudgingly, she went with the woman, who pulled her through the woods at a pace too fast for her to easily keep half blind. Brambles tore at her exposed legs, dirt and pebbles skittered into her sandals and under her heels. She kept up as best as she could, since she had no other choice.
She said nothing as the woman brought her to a lighted tent that looked big enough five adults could easily spread out inside.
The woman released her and opened the flap, gesturing for her to move inside.
When Jessica didn’t move fast enough, she pushed her. Jessica tripped over the opening and fell on the floor, sucking in a sharp breath as her knees bruised on the hard ground.
Jessica whipped her head around, giving the auburn haired woman a scathing look.
“You bitch,” she gritted out, her hands clenching with the need to rip that shiny red hair from her skull. She’d taken as much of this shit as she was about to take.
“Fuck you,” the woman sneered and raised her hand to slap Jessica.
Jessica lunged for her, her fingers curved into claws, digging into the woman’s legs as she dragged them out from under her. The woman went down and rolled instantly, slashing at Jessica with her nails. She growled primitively, missing Jessica’s eyes by a hair’s breadth.
Jessica drew back in a split second, crouching on her haunches, sidling past the center pole of the tent, keeping the woman distant. She eyed the tent opening, wondering if she could make it past. She decided to risk it. She dove for the opening, running into the dark. The woman’s fingers scrabbled at her dress, pulling her back just as Jessica ran into a meaty wall.
Cruel fingers dug into her arms, making her gasp as she fought the hold. Jessica kneed him in the groin, and he barely grunted before crushing his fingers into her biceps.
“Lavinia, can’t you do any fucking thing you’re told? Are you so weak you can’t hold on to a human?” the man sneered the last word like it left shit in his mouth.
The woman, Lavinia, came up behind her and snatched her hair, pulling her head back until she thought her scalp bled. “Kiss my fuckin’ ass, Lado,” she ground out and dragged Jessica back inside.
Jessica growled in impotent fury as her arms were forced behind her back and tied to the center pole. She kicked out as Lavinia came around her, connecting with her shins. Lavinia cursed and grinned maliciously before slapping her hard across the face. Bright light exploded on the left side of her face, and Jessica tasted blood as her teeth rattled.
The woman chuckled and tied her feet together while she sat there, stunned. Lastly, she gagged Jessica, then zipped the opening closed as she left.
Jessica blinked the pain back, focusing on her surroundings. There was nothing inside but sleeping bags rumpled from their fight. She craned her head around, looking for a weapon or something to cut the cord, but still found nothing. The tent was empty of anything even remotely useful. Obviously, they’d been expecting to house her inside it. The thought left her cold and miserable.
She couldn’t sit there and worry about it. She refused to worry about it. Worrying caused more harm than good.
Jessica wiggled her fingers, thankful the rope was at least loose enough the blood flow hadn’t instantly cut off. No amount of wiggling could free her, however, and trying to rip her hands loose only made her shoulders and muscles ache. She tried pushing against the tent pole, but the post was so secure, it didn’t move no matter how hard she pushed--almost like it was mounted in a cement foundation. If that was true, then they routinely stayed
