He grabs my waist and sits me on the table, before going to toss the spent condom. He cups my face and plants a soft kiss on my lips, before leaning his forehead against mine as our breathing calms.
“What are you doing to me?”
“I’m not doing anything.” I giggle.
He throws on a pair of gray drawstring pants, discarding his work clothes. I stare, taking in how his tan skin looks against the black ink that adorns his perfect body. The way his messy black hair has fallen over his emerald eyes makes me melt, and his half-smile causes my stomach to flutter. I wonder if I’m falling head over heels for this man.
Needing a distraction, I reach my hands up and tickle him.
He jerks, looking at me in surprise before attacking me. “Oh, you messed up now, angel.”
He throws me over his shoulder, his hands on my sides as he tickles me. I laugh obnoxiously, loving this playful side of him. He’s normally so serious, I have a feeling he hardly ever loosens up.
Aiden throws me on the couch, climbing on top of me and tickling me until I scream from laughter. I let out an extremely embarrassing snort, which causes him to double over in laughter.
“You sounded like a little pig.” He laughs.
I blush. “Shut up.”
But I don’t want him too, not wanting this moment to end.
But alas…all good things always come to an end.
I should have known better. I should have tried to stay in that moment a little longer before disaster struck.
I should have ran.
But I didn’t.
Twelve
Complete darkness surrounds me. The shuffling of feet and the ice-cold concrete floor beneath me are the only signs that I’m not dreaming. But I still don’t know where I am. Fear I’ve never experienced envelops me as I tremble against the cold ground.
A voice speaks up, heavily accented. “Aiden Scott will be here shortly; I don’t doubt that he has trackers on them.” I’m breathing heavily, what kind of business is Aiden into? What do these men want with us?
It feels as though hours have passed before someone finally rips the blindfold off, revealing a dark, damp room. I squint my eyes, seeing only concrete walls. A slight movement jolts me, and I turn but I’m bound tight. My eyes adjust to the dim lighting and, to my horror, unfamiliar male faces dot the room. Staring at me, their guns slack.
I tuck my legs in against my stomach. Trying frantically to remember the things my dad told me about staying calm in dangerous situations. That’s when I notice my back is pressing against something warm that’s shaking. A sob penetrates the fear that has settled around me. Ashley.
“It will be okay,” I whisper through a dry mouth, my trembling voice loud in the tiny, sparse room.
I flinch as a man with a greasy ponytail walks up. His face is set in an ugly scowl as he yells in another language. Unable to move away, I brace myself as his hand lifts and hits me squarely across the cheek. My head snaps to the side from the force of his hand. I scream as the sharp crack rings through the room. I feel something wet trickling down my chin. He drew blood. I bite back a sob as my cheek throbs painfully.
I shrink into myself, putting my head down. That’s when I realize my state of undress. I’m only in my bra and panties. A wave of nausea washes over me, knowing that these men had stripped me down while I was unconscious and vulnerable. I shiver as fear floods me. Who knows what else they might have done to us.
I squeeze my eyes shut, wanting to block out the horror.
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Not.
Ashley and I had just finished shopping that morning and were heading to the parking lot where our driver was waiting for us. Thinking back on the oddly quiet lot and the echo of our footsteps, I should have known better. Dad always said to have your keys out and tucked between your knuckles like a weapon. I didn’t know anything would happen, and I wasn’t prepared.
As we approached the car, a dark spot pooling on the pavement caught my eye. Stepping closer, I rounded the car to examine it and gasped at the gruesome sight. I vaguely heard Ashley let out a chilling scream. I will never forget those cold, lifeless eyes of Maxon staring up at me from where he lay splayed on the ground.
I swallow as I recall the bullet wound in the middle of his forehead, still oozing blood and other yucky stuff. Guilt overwhelms me. He’s a nice guy, although a little serious. And he’ll still be alive, if not for us.
I remember spinning around when I heard doors opening. My face paled when four mean-looking men jumped out of a black suburban. Shouting for Ashley to run, I moved to do so as well. But a large hand yanked my arm back roughly before a cloth was placed over my mouth and nose. The last thing I remember was a slightly sweet smell and a sinister laugh before the world around me went dark.
I send a prayer up to Heaven.
Aiden, please come get me soon.
I jerk as something cold and hard presses roughly against my temple, my eyes flying open. A gun, my mind helpfully offers.
“Look at me!” Ponytail demands in a heavily accented voice.
“Leave her alone you fucking greaseball!” Ashley screams, her cries echo through the room. He removes the gun from my temple, bringing it in front of her. Fear courses through me, is he about to hurt her?
The sound of metal
