“You won’t need this,” he said, tossing the bag aside.
“Hey!” I shoved him, and he took me by the arms. My heart pounded, blood rushing in my ears. His hands were like vices, squeezing me with no mercy. I could feel his fingers digging into me, and I yelped before I could stop myself.
“Stop! Stop! Don’t hurt her!” Gigi cried out from the bed.
I shook and fought against him until he let go, laughing at me.
“Sweetie.” I rushed to her before The Scarecrow could reach for me again, throwing my arms around her. I could have wept with joy. She didn’t look hurt, but there was no way of knowing just by looking.
“Did he hurt you?” I whispered, looking her over.
“He grabbed my arm, and that hurt.”
“Anything else?” I searched her face, willing her to tell me the truth.
“I don’t touch the merchandise, if that’s what you’re asking her,” he snarled from behind me.
“What’s that mean?” she asked.
“Never mind, sweetie.” I turned her until she faced me. I didn’t want her even to see him if she didn’t have to. “Just look at me, okay?”
“Okay.” Her chin wobbled.
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight against me. I glared up at our captor. He looked just like I would imagine a drug dealer to look. Scratch that—he was worse than a dealer. He peddled human beings. I wondered what else he was capable of, with his grungy clothes and dirty hands. His nails were filthy. What the heck did he do with himself?
“Don’t you ever bathe?” I shot him a withering look.
“Sometimes you gotta blend in, bitch. When I’m doing business, I gotta look like other people in the business. I don’t wanna stand out.”
“Right.” I rolled my eyes, patting Gigi’s head. She shivered, and I heard her crying softly.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here with you. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.” I didn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth, but I had to comfort her in any way I could.
When she looked up at me, her eyes were huge, haunted. “He killed Erica,” she whimpered.
“What?” I brushed her hair back from her face. “What are you saying?” I looked at him, then back at her.
“Shut up,” he commanded. His voice reminded me of a snake’s hiss.
I glared at him. “Don’t tell us what to do.”
“I’ll tell you whatever I wanna tell you, bitch. And you’ll do it.”
I held Gigi closer. “No, I won’t. We’re going to leave.”
He stared at me, then started laughing. He closed his eyes, head thrown back, and roared like he’d heard the funniest joke ever. “You’re hilarious,” he said, wiping his eyes. “You really think it’s that easy. Like this is some kind of movie where you’re the hero. Right? You’re the hero teacher, and now you’re gonna be the hero who saves the little girl from the big, bad man. Right?”
He crouched down beside me, and I felt his sour breath on my face. He repulsed me with his nasty, jagged teeth and pitted skin. His eyes burned into me as he glared. I held Gigi away from him, putting myself between them.
When he spoke, his words were clear, sharp. “You don’t leave. Not now. Not until I tell you it’s time to leave.”
“What are you holding us for? I’ve told you already, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“Yeah, you will.” He reached for me with one hand, gently stroking my hair. I shuddered and flinched away, still shielding Gigi with my body. “You’ll give me everything I want. You’ll be worth a lot of money.”
I swallowed back the bile that threatened to bubble up out of my mouth. “Right. Like I said, whatever you want.”
The Scarecrow snickered. “You don’t get it, bitch. The money’s not coming from the ATM—although,” he glanced at my purse, “I want your cards and PINs. That’s a good idea. But you won’t be using them. I will. You’ll be long gone.”
My insides froze. “Where am I going?”
“Wherever my man wants to take you. Once I hand you over, you’re his. And trust me.” He leaned even closer. I willed myself not to flinch away again. “He’s not gonna be as nice to you as I am.”
I gulped, doing everything in my power to avoid showing him how terrified I was. I stared willfully into his eyes, telling myself he couldn’t break me down. He had to know he wasn’t dealing with the average woman. I wouldn’t break down in front of him.