I pivoted in the seat to look, and sure enough, the truck had driven up so that it was mere inches behind the Hummer.
“What the hell?” I muttered as the door next to me was yanked open forcefully.
I jerked as adrenaline flooded my body and a man with a dark hat and clothing reached into the vehicle to grab me. I slapped his arm away, sliding across the seat so he couldn’t reach me. The man grabbed at my ankle and pulled me back, and I let out a scream, kicking at his face.
My boot connected with his jaw and he let out a deep grunt.
From outside, I heard Dee call my name and then a sharp cry. Dee! The man grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out of the car, and I let him, trying to see what was happening to my friends.
I fell out of the car and onto the ground, my knees taking the brunt of the fall. The man who was trying to attack me laughed and shoved me a little harder so I practically face-planted onto the pavement. “You deserve that, bitch,” he said.
I pushed up, looking toward Craig and Dee. They were both standing with their hands in the air while the unassuming woman and a man were holding them at gunpoint.
Oh my God, were we being robbed?
Really? Like this day hadn’t been shitty enough.
I sprang up and swung around to face the man who pulled me out of the car. I swung my fist at him and he dodged the hit. So I kicked him in the shin. When in doubt, just kick people.
“Shit,” he swore when my boot connected with his leg.
I took off running, not really sure which way to go, but knowing I couldn’t stay here. I was the only one that didn’t have a gun pointed at my head so that meant I was the only one that could try to get help.
The sound of a gun discharging was like a deafening roar in my head. The bullet hit the pavement right next to me and little bits of gravel and earth flew up and hit my legs.
I screamed and automatically threw my hands up to protect my face, trying to come up with a plan. I should get in the Hummer and run them all down.
They could shoot at me all they wanted, but it was a big car and it would be moving.
“She’s supposed to be alive,” someone yelled, and awful awareness crashed over me. We weren’t being robbed.
This was a kidnapping. Dom sent people after me. I put my friends in grave danger and I hadn’t even meant to.
I rushed toward the driver’s side, praying the keys were still in the ignition. I heard a bit of a scuffle and Dee cry out, and I knew that Craig was likely trying to fight his way out of the situation.
If one of them got hurt because of me, I would never forgive myself.
My hand closed over the door handle and I yanked, opening the door. Before I could catapult myself inside, someone grabbed me from behind. His arms were like metal vises, closing around me and locking me in place. I struggled and screamed; I even tried to bite him.
The man brought up a white cloth and stuffed it over my mouth and nose, causing panic to explode through my body like the finale of a Fourth of July firework show.
I couldn’t breathe. I was choking. I was going to die.
Automatically, my body searched for oxygen and I sucked in a lungful of air. It was extremely sweet and I noticed the cloth being forced against my face was damp with a dense liquid.
Chloroform.
I began to fight and struggle again, but my movements became sluggish and slow. I felt consciousness loosen as my thoughts began to scatter. I was losing control of my body… I was losing control of this situation.
I blinked, trying to stay awake, trying to focus.
My eyes zeroed in on the keys hanging from the ignition of the Hummer. I had been close. So close.
I went limp in my kidnapper’s arms and darkness closed around me.
I hadn’t been close enough.
28
Blue
I shook off the men still flanking my sides and took a menacing step toward Dom. “Where is she?” I demanded.
“You’re in no position to be making demands.”
My fist ached with the need to plow it into his smug face. I no longer cared about bringing this bastard to justice. The only justice for someone like him was the kind he would receive in hell.
“If you hurt her, I will kill you.” I vowed.
“Let me tell you how this is going to go,” Dom replied, like my promise wasn’t something he should even worry about.
I glanced behind him at Slater, wondering when he was going to do something to help.
“He can’t help you. No one here can. You just have to do what you’re told,” Dom said, noting where my gaze had gone.
“What do you want?” I spat.
“I want my drugs. All of them. The entire shipment. Once I have what is mine, I will release the girl.”
I snorted. “Like hell. I’m not giving you shit until I see she isn’t hurt. I’ll give you the drugs when you give me my girl.”