“Shit!” She was released.
Maybe she was making things worse for herself. How could it be worse?
She swallowed as the doors up front opened and slammed, and then the panel door was sliding back.
There was a click and light flooded the interior from a high-beam flashlight probably taken from her belt. “Out, bitch.”
Two pairs of hands reached for her. She cowered back in spite of herself. Then redoubled back on anger. She needed to stay angry. Fear was the enemy. Help was on the way. She had to think her way through the next minutes. Stay alive. That was all that was required.
They hauled her to her feet on grass and stepped back, two male silhouettes no more detailed than bulky shadows behind the high beam. They were taking no chances on being identified, if caught.
“Well, look who we got. Rhino’s bitch.”
Cole’s gaze jerked left. X stood several few feet away. Easier to see because he wasn’t behind the beam of light aimed at her. Confirmation of target. This was good.
What else? They were in a parklike area with grass and distant trees, and the sound of running water, and road traffic. They couldn’t have taken her far.
“You’ve abducted a police officer. This isn’t going to end well for you. You should let me go.”
X moved in on her quickly and grabbed her chin in a hard hand, jerking her face up to his. “You don’t get to talk until I say so. Open your mouth again and I’ll stuff it until you choke.”
Cole met his gaze. Straight-up bat-shit crazy. Nothing there to negotiate with.
He released her. “You get her gear?”
“What we could before we rolled her up.”
X looked back at her, a grin pressing back the rows of wrinkles in his cheeks until he looked like a Joker mask. “She’s a cop. She’ll be carrying concealed. Cut her hands loose but hold her.”
The plastic around her wrists came free as the two men each grabbed a wrist and hooked a foot behind each of hers, forcing her to a wide stance.
Cole gritted her teeth, not wanting to give X the satisfaction of her fear. But the men holding her had to feel the shivers rocking her.
Then she stood taut between them as X moved in to frisk her. He found her ankle holster and removed it. She didn’t fight that. Even when his hand slid up between her thighs she looked straight ahead, giving away none of the revulsion she felt. His hand moved to the apex of her thighs. He cupped her mons and squeezed, hard. “I’m going to do a cavity check next. You know what that means.”
Cole bit her broken lip, tasted more blood. Her heart beat in strokes so heavy she shook with each one.
Help was coming. Stay alive. Lots of variations on what “alive” meant. Sooner would be better than later.
She thought she heard a siren in the distance. That wouldn’t be surprising. The men around her didn’t seem to think so, either.
“Bring her along.”
They half carried, half dragged her farther into the clearing of the deserted park. In the distance the hiss of traffic could be heard but the streetlights didn’t penetrate very far. Only the yellowish glow of the sky overhead reassured her that they were still in a suburban environment. Yet they were enveloped in darkness so dense no idle passersby would notice them.
They pulled her into the ring of light made by the headlights of the van.
X moved to within six feet of her. “Free up the bitch.”
After they had stripped her of her belt and Kevlar vest worn under her uniform shirt, Cole was let go so quickly she stumbled and had to catch herself.
“Let’s party, bitch.”
She looked up at X. He held a wicked-looking knife in his hands.
She backed up instinctively but the two other men were behind her. One shoved her back toward X, careful to stay out of range of a kick or fist.
X moved in closer, the Ka-Bar blade reflecting silver-blue light off its edge. “The Pagans have a ritual. When a bitch becomes the property of a gang member she becomes gang property. You been banging Rhino, and he hasn’t shared. Tonight you get to pay his debt. Here’s how it’s done.”
Cole looked away and tried not to hear what he was saying because the words were too ugly. She knew they were going to give her nightmares even if she really didn’t listen hard.
He beckoned her with the edge of his blade. “Step over here and take off your clothes.”
“No.” Her response was pure instinct.
He stalked over to her and made a slashing movement. Cole didn’t feel a thing but her tee ribboned open from neck to waistline. “Take off your clothes.”
Cole’s teeth were chattering so hard she could barely make her mouth work as she gathered up her shirt. “Come over here and take them off.”