“Goodnight, billionairess Lacey!”
***
After Steph left, there wasn’t much to do. People came in, people came out, and the hours ticked by slowly. Casper sat on the side of the bar reading a comic book.
Soon, it was four in the morning and time to close up. I cleaned down all the tables and started mopping the back. Casper hauled the trash out to the alley.
“Bathrooms need to be cleaned,” he said.
“Already did it,” I replied.
“Are you for real?”
He wrapped his arms around me in a friendly drunken bear hug.
“You bring cute girls to the bar and clean the bathrooms without having to be yelled at. You’re an angel. Can you work tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow? Oh, um. I’m not sure.”
Normally I would be jumping at the chance for an extra day of tips, but Jake Carville wanted me back at his place tomorrow, and I had no idea how long I’d be there. The mere thought of those luscious lips and dazzling emerald eyes made me flush. I hoped he would keep me there a while. I hoped—
“Can I text you later this morning and let you know?” I asked.
“Sure. No problem if not, but working with you sure makes the night go by easier,” Casper said.
“Thanks.” I grinned. It was good to be useful, even if useful only paid minimum wage plus tips.
I went out to the alley with the last bag of recycling.
A black SUV pulled into the alley. The headlights were on high, and as the car swung in, the light blinded me. I held my hand up.
“Hey, come on,” I said, annoyed. It was late, and I was tired, and this alley didn’t even go through to the next street. I swung the bag up into the recycling bin. Then I heard the car door open.
Then I heard another car door open.
Instinct made me stop. Fear made me drop the second bag. Before my mind even knew it, my body was preparing for flight.
As soon as I saw the silhouette of a man step out in front of the lights, I turned to run. The men from the car sprinted toward me at full speed.
My heel caught in a crack and I cried out as I fell. I didn’t even hit the ground. Four strong arms caught me and pulled me back. The men were wearing all black, with ski masks covering their faces. I wrenched away but they were too big. I was helpless in their grasp.
“Help!” I shouted, but they were already pulling me into the back of the SUV. One man held me tight in his arms. Another hand covered my mouth and muffled my screams. I kicked out at the driver.
“Cut it out,” the driver said. “Jesus, how did he ever find this one?”
“Dunno. Here, put this over her face. That should do it.”
I squealed as a hand clapped a handkerchief over my nose and mouth. I writhed from one side to the other, trying not to breathe. Soon, though, the ache for oxygen was so strong that I couldn’t help myself.
I gasped. There was a slight smell of lemon, and then the world around me blurred. I slumped back. Two men, both with black ski masks, leaned over and watched. I reached up, but my arm didn’t move.
“What—what did you—” My words were slow and heavy.
They were talking, but none of the words made sense to me. My body was getting heavier, heavier. A seatbelt slid across my chest. I stared down at it, the dizziness overtaking me. Seatbelts made you safe. Was I safe?
“Safe,” I mumbled. That was the last word I remember saying before I slipped into darkness.
Chapter Ten
When I came to, I was blindfolded.
I was so dizzy that for a moment, I couldn’t tell if I was standing up or lying down. I breathed in slowly, then out. Whatever it was that had knocked me out, it had knocked me out completely. I didn’t remember anything after being put in the car by those men.
The men. Where were they? My heart began to pound. No. I had to stay calm. I had to figure my way out of this. First thing, I had to stop being so dizzy and figure out where I was.
Okay. I was lying on my back. On a bed? It felt like I was on a bed. There was a hint of light coming in through the folds of the fabric over my eyes, but only a hint. I couldn’t make out any details, only smudges of light.
I tried to pull my hands down, but they caught on something. I tugged, but they wouldn’t move. They had tied ropes around my wrists. No. Handcuffs. Lined with something.
My ankles, too. I still had Steph’s little black dress on, but I could feel the hem riding up my thigh.
“Lacey.”
I twisted in shock at the whisper. My heart skipped a beat and began to hopscotch against the skin of my chest.
It was him.
It had to be. He knew my name.
Jake?
I tried to speak, but there was a piece of silk cloth over my mouth. A gag, tied tight. I moaned behind the fabric.
“I told you that I wouldn’t accept any disobedience.”