The lighter is starting to burn my fingers, so I press it forward and light the paper on fire. As it catches, I lean down like I'm scratching my leg, and let it fall to the ground on the opposite seat. I watch the smile pile of papers, praying it doesn't go out. Luckily, the coating on some of the papers must be pretty nasty, because soon an acrid smoke begins to fill the backseat.
"Oh my god, I think your engine's on fire!" I exclaim, and begin frantically waving my hand in front of my face.
"What the fuck!?" the man yells, and the tires screech as he turns onto the shoulder and slows down.
That's what I was waiting for. I take a quick glance behind us to check for oncoming cars, and then in one motion, I unlock my door and push it open. The car is still in motion as I launch myself out onto the pavement. I don't roll as much as I intended to and I yell in pain as I take most of the impact on my shoulder. But I know I can't waste whatever little head start I have.
I sprint across the highway, jump over the shoulder. I look around for cars to flag down, but there aren't any. I head straight into the trees, praying the man isn't a fast runner himself.
"You bitch!" I hear him scream behind me. I risk one glance back to see him vaulting over the shoulder. He has to wait for a car to pass, and I look around frantically. I can't see an end to the tree line. No houses or another road. Fuck. Maybe I have enough of a head start to loop around back toward the road. I curse myself as I head diagonally back to the highway. I should have run straight along it in the first place and waited for a car to come along.
I see the branch underfoot too late, and catch my left toes squarely on it. I go down hard, slamming my hip and chest into the ground. As I scramble to my feet, I taste blood in my mouth. I must have bit my cheek as I fell. My ankle pounds as I try to regain my speed. There's a crashing noise to my right and the man appears, holding a black handgun. He's almost cut me off from the road, but I change direction as quickly as possible.
He's fast. I can hear him gaining on me. "Help!" I scream out, hoping someone driving by has their car windows open. "HELP!"
There's a loud noise like a pop behind me and I fall to the ground. I gasp and try to sit up, but my right arm doubles in pain.
"That was a warning. I won't miss again," I hear the man grunt behind me. I touch my left hand to my shoulder and look in shock as it comes away covered in red. I'm bleeding...he shot me. I begin to shake uncontrollably as I turn around and slowly stand up. "They want it to be slow."
My legs almost give out, but I manage to stay up. He's eyeing me warily, and his chest is heaving and his shirt soaked with sweat. At least I gave him a run for his money.
"I have wealthy friends," I gasp. "They'll pay—"
He begins to chuckle, a weird, high-pitched giggle. "I'm being well taken care of. Though truthfully, I'm not in this for the money."
"But the cartel—"
"Your father had a chance to pay them already. But he thought he was invincible, up here with his gated neighborhood and his fancy security. Luckily, I'm patient. I knew he'd make a mistake eventually."
"He didn't, actually." There are tears streaming down my face, and my right arm is starting to go numb, but for some reason I'm resisting the urge to laugh. "He cut me loose on purpose. See, we really don't get along, so he doesn't care if you kill me. It won't make a difference to him either way."
"Nice try."
"It's true."
"Well, unfortunately for you, I'm not a big picture kind of guy. I just do what they tell me. I have to say, though, you really surprised me, and I don't get surprised easily. They told me you'd be easy, but you're actually a pretty tough cookie."
"Gee, thanks."
He laughs again. "Back to the car," he orders me, gesturing with the gun.
"Why not here?"
"I need my saw," he states with a shrug. "I'm going to send you back to your father in pieces." I feel bile rise in my throat and the ground starts to swim in front of me. "Don't faint now, you were doing—"
"ALEXA!" The ground stops moving and I jerk my head up. Am I hearing things? But by the expression on the man's face I know he heard it, too.
"Don't say a word," he hisses, moving toward me. He steps behind me and wraps my hair around his hand. I resist the urge to cry out as he painfully pulls me behind a wide tree and sticks the gun against my ribs.
"Alexa!" The voice is farther away. It's Carter, I'd know his voice anywhere, but he's moving in the wrong direction.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I want to let myself crumble. I can't even hear him anymore. My body is humming with pain. My father doesn't care what happens to me. It would be so easy just to let it happen.