Love You Madly(76)

Peter’s groan caught his attention, and he looked down where the man was clutching his leg. For good measure, Travis kicked him in the same leg and relished the cry that Peter let rip.

“Meems?” he asked, speaking loud enough into the microphone to be heard over Peter’s howling and the sound of sirens in the distance. “You’ve got to find where that copter’s heading. I tagged it with one of your bugs.”

He couldn’t fail Meredith.

No matter what had passed between them, he would keep his promise that she could trust him. Depend on him.

To save not only Darcy, but her, too.





Chapter Nineteen

Someone was crying. Through the throbbing pain in her head, the heaviness in all her limbs, the sound was unmistakable. Meredith tried to open her eyes, but it felt almost like they were superglued shut.

Arms cradled her, she realized. Soft, slim arms held her, and there was a familiar scent.

Darcy.

New hope filled her heart and she fought against the fog to open her eyes. Dark brown eyes flooded with tears searched hers. Darcy’s eyes.

Oh dear God. Her daughter. Here. Holding her.

“Mom.”

The tears still streaked her sweet face, and Meredith lifted her hand to touch the familiar profile. “In the flesh. Oh, Darce. I am so happy to see you.”

She pulled her daughter into her arms, feeling Darcy’s heart beat against her chest. Something she’d wondered if she’d ever be able to do again.

“I’ve been so scared. The clearest memory I have is being at a club. And drinking a Coke and then…then it was all a blur, like a dream—no, a nightmare. There were other girls. Amy, Kelly, Carly, and Tonya. Just like me. I don’t know where they went. Where I am. We are.”

“I know, baby. I don’t know, either. Not yet. But as long as you’re with me, we’ll figure it out.”

Although her head pounded and the light, no matter how dim, made the pounding worse, Meredith looked around, trying to process what she was seeing. They were on a king-size bed. From the standard things around them—the nightstands, the desk across the room, the generic wall art and color scheme—she was certain they were in a hotel room, albeit a very lush hotel, if the subtle wallpaper, carpet, and floor-to-ceiling windows covered with draperies were any indication. But where?

She sat up and the room tilted for a moment, and a rush of nausea swept her. Darcy’s arm braced her and kept her from falling back.

“The door is locked. I tried it. And I can’t find a phone anywhere. I think we’re in a hotel room. Although I haven’t been to Vegas before, from the view out that window, I’d say that’s where we are.”

Meredith fought back more tears. Despite everything Darcy had already faced, she was still so levelheaded. Someone to be proud of. And if they ever got out of this, she’d be sure to tell her daughter that every damn day of her life.#p#分页标题#e#

Darcy touched the back of Meredith’s head tentatively, and she flinched against the immediate pain. “They got you pretty good. There’s a nice-sized goose egg. Mom? What happened? How did you even get here?”

Meredith managed a wry smile. “I was supposed to be saving you.”

“No offense? But I think you could have planned this rescue a little better.” Darcy was smiling, though, and for a minute the two of them just stared at each other.

“Darcy, whatever happens, I need you to know that I love you more than anything on this planet, and I would do anything to keep you safe. I’m sorry if I ever gave you any reason to doubt it before.”

“I know that, Mom. And I love you, too.” Her daughter leaned over and kissed her cheek, and Meredith held her against her. There was so much more she wanted to say and apologize for, but it would have to wait.

First they needed to figure out how to get out of here. Together.

Starting with figuring out where the heck they even were. Darcy thought they were in Vegas, and but how was that possible? How long had Meredith been out?

On the desk across the room were a lamp and a flat binder. If this was like most hotel rooms, it might have some description of the hotel. Its address.

Meredith tried to stand, but her legs buckled and she sank back onto the bed. What had they given her?

“What do you need?” Darcy asked.

“Can you open one of the curtains? I want to see outside.”

Darcy slid off the bed and gathered the fabric of her white silk gown up and off the floor as she tiptoed barefoot across the carpet. Meredith looked down and realized she was wearing nearly the same gown. Someone had undressed her and dressed her in this thing while she was unconscious. Anger and humiliation flooded her.