Cut Too Deep(61)

She shook her head, frantic. “No, please, Garrett. I won’t make any noise, I swear.”

He took another step closer and laughed. “You don’t think I’d believe you, do you?”

“Use the tape then,” she pleaded. “Tape my mouth up. Just please don’t gag me with that thing.”

His brow drew together as he glanced at the rag he held in one hand. He gave it a shake. “What? This?”

“Just use the tape. I won’t yell. Please.”

But he must have realized using it would cause her more distress. “Uh-uh. I intend on doing things my way.”

He put down the tape and reached out toward her. Jenna clamped her jaw shut, breathing in frantic gasps through her nose. She pressed her lips and teeth together so hard it hurt, but Garret grabbed the bottom of her jaw and squeezed his fingers together, pressing the insides of her cheeks between her back teeth, trying to get his fingers in there to get her to open her mouth.

Jenna squealed and tried to twist her face away, but he was too strong. He forced her mouth open, and a second later, the dirty cloth was stuffed between her lips. The cloying taste of oil and sweat lay thick and dry against her tongue. She retched, but managed not to be sick.

“Now, now,” scolded Garrett. “You’ll choke on your own vomit if you do that.”

In her mind, a billion germs and bacteria swam across her tongue, the roof of her mouth, and down her throat. She imagined them swarming into her bloodstream, ready to attack her remaining organs like a microscopic army. The edges of her vision went black and the world started to swim away.

But a sudden crack across her face, following by a sharp sting of pain in her cheek, brought her back, and she realized Garrett had slapped her again.

“Don’t go spoiling my fun,” he said with a grin. “I already told you you’re boring when you’re unconscious.”

He picked up the roll of tape and yanked her feet so they lay straight out in front of her body. She was too stunned to fight back, and sat still as he taped her ankles together, winding the tape around and around so she stood no chance of getting free without something sharp to cut the bonds.

A tear slipped down her cheek and dripped off the end of her nose.

He rubbed his hands together. “Right. My car is parked out back, so we’ll take the back door. You ready?” He made a swiping motion with his hand as if to allow her to go first, and then laughed. “Oh yeah, you’re not exactly able to walk right now. Guess I’ll have to carry you.”

He wedged his foot against her bound feet, then bent down and grabbed the tops of her arms, hauling her up, before he shoved his shoulder into her stomach and lifted her off her feet. The movement winded her, but she had no choice but to hang over his shoulder, breathing best she could through her nose. He let go of one of her arms and thrust his hand into her crotch in order to hold her steady as he straightened up. Thankfully, he removed his hand from her most private area in order to grab the back of her leg and get a firmer grip.

Garrett stomped toward the back of the garage, and out into the back room, Jenna bouncing uncomfortably across his shoulder. Another door was at the end of the room, which led out onto a small corridor. The exit leading to the rear of the property was positioned at the end. In the corridor, they passed another couple of doors on the right, one of which she assumed was the restroom which now held Sam’s body.

Garrett banged out of the back door and into fresh air and bright sunlight. Jenna squinted in the glare. She prayed someone would see them, but there was nothing out here except the carcasses of a couple of old vehicles and, in contrast, a new, shiny white Ford Explorer. The windows were blacked out and the vehicle looked conspicuous in its run down surroundings.

He shifted her weight, clearly starting to struggle, but managed to reach out and open the back door of the Ford. He bent over and half threw, half shoved her onto the back seat, so she lay across the soft leather.

The new car smell filled her nostrils, combined with the scent of leather. It helped to combat the taste of old oil that coated the inside of her mouth, but only a little.

“You like the wheels?” he said, patting the top of the roof. “Another perk to being in jail. I got contacts for great stolen vehicles, and for a new driver’s license—in a fake name, of course.” He looked down at her almost pityingly. “You could have done with one of those as well, and you probably wouldn’t be in the position you are now.”

And with that, he slammed the door shut on her.

Jenna tried not to cry. Tried not to let the panic take over so she lost all rational thought. But she didn’t want to be in a car with Garrett driving.