He sounded so defeated. She was so stupid! Why had she ever doubted him? Hot tears spilled from her eyes.
“See, even your boyfriend knows we’re dangerous. Now remember,” Aaron said, “not a sound from you.” He pushed against her injured shoulder for emphasis.
He moved away from her and put the phone to his ear, his back toward her. “Well, hello there, Blayne. Sorry to disappoint you, you sounded so excited, but this isn’t Kaylee.”
He paused and listened for a second.
“Good job. I’m so flattered that you recognized my voice.”
Another pause.
“No need for name-calling. She’s right here, wanna see?” Aaron turned to her, Carl looking on with a grin. “Remember the rules, princess.” He switched it to speaker and hit the Facetime icon, holding the phone up in front of him as he turned his back again, the camera capturing Kaylee in the background.
“Wave to your boyfriend, princess.” He and Carl laughed. “Oh, wait, you can’t. You’re all tied up at the moment.”
“Aaron,” Kaylee had never heard Blayne sound so furious before. “I will kill you.”
“Now Blayne, I think we can reach a non-homicidal solution here.”
“Let me see her close up!”
“Now hold on,” Aaron said. “I believe I hold all the cards here and I’m not done speaking.”
Kaylee could see the murderous rage in Blayne’s eyes from several feet away. Seeing him made her cry even harder.
An inhuman roar rose from the depths of Blayne’s bowels and he ripped at his hair with his free hand, his camera shaking around violently.
“Calm down, man.” A touch of fear sounded in Aaron’s voice. Carl even backed away from the phone like Blayne would come lunging through it at any minute. “Look, we just wanted to get your attention. The chick is fine, see?” He backed up closer to her and tilted the phone so the camera captured more of her face than his.
Hoping that Aaron’s attention was solely on the rage-filled Blayne, Kaylee mouthed the words, “Bowling alley. I’m at a deserted bowling alley.”
“Let me see just her, up close.” Blayne’s voice had changed slightly. Had he seen her attempt to communicate with him? “Now!”
Aaron jumped then tried to cover it up with a laugh. “Fine, but then we negotiate.”
He shoved the phone close to her face.
“Kaylee,” he breathed. “Are you okay?”
She glanced at Aaron then back at the phone. She nodded.
“She ain’t allowed to talk,” Carl yelled from behind Aaron.
Blayne’s eyes narrowed. Anger and frustration painted lines on his forehead. He signed: I’m coming. Kaylee shook her head, her eyes widening with the fear running rampant inside her. Fear for him, not for herself. They have guns! She wanted to yell. She bit her lips and cried harder, audible sobs erupting from her throat now as she shook her head harder.
Blayne pleaded, “I’m sorry, Kaylee. I’m so sorry you got brought into this mess.” He swiped an angry tear from his cheek.
Aaron pulled the phone back to his own face. “Enough. You seen that she’s fine—”
“Fine?” Blayne interrupted. “She is not fine! She has bruises and scrapes all over her face!”
“Well, she ain’t dead yet.” Aaron’s voice deepened ominously.
“What do you want?” Blayne asked.
Aaron turned off the Facetime but left it on speaker. “I just want you to come back to the fold, brother. You were our best dealer before that old hag got ahold of ya. Just help us unload this shipment. The cartel gave us three days and we know you can do it in two.”
“And what about Kaylee?”
“Oh, we’ll keep her here with us until it’s done. Insurance. Carl will take good care of her.”
“Don’t you let that bastard anywhere near her!”
“Hey! I thought we were friends.” Carl laughed.
“Okay, okay,” Aaron said. “I’ll send him to you with the product, and I’ll stay here with the princess. Do we have a deal?”
Blayne growled. “Yeah. We have a deal. When and where will Carl make the drop?”
“No!” Kaylee shouted.
Aaron backhanded her. “I told you to stay quiet!”
The quiet, low rumble of Blayne’s voice was more terrifying than any outburst Kaylee had ever heard. “Touch her again, and I will skin you alive and feed your own flesh to you.”
Blood trickled down her chin from a cut on her lip. She was glad the camera was off. She didn’t want Blayne to endanger himself for her.
“Sorry,” Aaron mumbled. “I won’t touch her. Sorry, man.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Meet Carl tonight at ten at the old drop off.”
“Blayne…” Kaylee wanted to tell him about Mama C. Maybe that would keep him away, convince him to just call the police to find her.
Aaron ended the call and stepped up close to her. “I told you to shut up.” He slapped her again.
Kaylee narrowed her eyes and spit in his face.
A bloody glob of spit dripped from the corner of his mouth. He raised his hand again, but Carl grabbed it. “We got what we want, dude. Let’s not make Blayne any madder.”
Aaron jerked his arm out of Carl’s grasp. “Fine. Let’s get it all sorted and packed into the bags. We have three hours before the drop off.”
Kaylee had to think of a way to escape before then. The low-life men walked toward the closed door where she assumed they kept the drugs. “Wait,” she said. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
“I’ll take her,” Carl quickly volunteered with a leering smile.
“No,” Aaron shoved him toward the door. “You get started and I’ll take her.”
He pulled out a large pocket knife and cut the ropes near the knots Carl had tied.
