CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Something cold and hard pressed against my cheek. My mattress dipped, as if someone had gotten in it with me. Was I dreaming? Fingers slowly danced up my spine, and panic swelled as whatever was pressed into my still-healing cheek began to dig in. This was no dream. My eyes popped open and I tried to sit up, but a firm hand on my back kept me down.
“Guess it’s time to rise and shine, ain’t it, you stupid bitch?” The man’s voice was deep and raspy and full of hatred. I didn’t recognize it, and my head was shoved into the pillow so I couldn’t get a good look at him.
I whimpered, paralyzed with fear. He only moved the object on my cheek further into my skin. It took me just a second to realize it was a gun. Someone was holding a gun to my face.
My heartbeat quickened, and I began to shake. Where were my parents? Or Gamma?
“Your boyfriend told us we’d find you here, and that you were the one who flushed my ten Gs down the toilet. Is that about right? But don’t worry, he won’t be tellin’ anyone much of anything from now on.”
“I—I’m sorry,” I cried. “I panicked, and I’m so sorry.” Oh my God, he’s going to kill me. My pillow was wet with tears as I tried to think of a way out of this, but I couldn’t even move. Not with a gun pressed to my face.
He yanked my head up by my hair and punched me in the face. Stars danced as my vision blurred, but he only laughed.
“Well now, see, sorry ain’t gonna bring me back my money, is it? So now you and me got a problem.”
I swallowed hard, but my lip wouldn’t stop quivering. “Please, I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t kill me or rape me.”
The man put more of his body weight on top of me, and I sucked in a breath. “I ain’t gonna kill you. How would I get my money back if I did that?” A large hand brushed aside the covers, running up my leg and grabbing my butt. “And trust me, as pretty as your little body is, anyone who would flush that much good weed and coke is probably such a tight ass that you’d be way too uptight for me in the sack. I like a woman who takes charge in the bedroom, and I’d have no fun if you just laid there like a preacher’s wife.”
His hand let go of my butt, slapping it before he brushed my hair aside to whisper in my ear. I bit my lip to keep from crying out, afraid of what he might do next.
“What I am gonna do is make sure I get my money back. And then some.”
“I don’t have that much money.” I racked my brain, desperate to come up with a solution. My phone was too far away for me to reach. I had no idea what time it was, but the sun was out and no longer gleaming in my windows, so it had to be sometime after noon. My parents would be gone for hours still, and Gamma was out at her bridge club today. I knew Grant was supposed to come over at some point, but since we’d been out so late, I had no idea when.
“Please, I have about four thousand dollars in a savings account. You can have it, all of it. And I’ll get you the rest, I swear. Just let me go. I won’t tell anyone about this, honest.”
“That just won’t do. I’m gonna need that money, and I’m gonna need it now.” He punched me again; this time it was a kidney shot. I howled in pain as tears poured out of my eyes, but he only punched me again. “And I’m pretty sure your mommy and daddy would pay a hefty price to get their youngest daughter back all in one piece.”
He pushed off of me and moved the gun away. “Get up, you’re coming with me until your parents pay up. And I’m thinkin, they’ll need to pay for my pain and suffering too—with interest. Twenty-five grand oughta cover it.”
I started to sit up like he told me to until the sound of the gun cocking stopped me in my tracks. “And face the wall. Don’t turn around or it’ll be the last thing you do, got it?”
I nodded but stayed silent, turning my body toward the wall and crawling backward out of bed. My back howled in pain from his blows, but now was not the time to crumble. The best shot I had at surviving this was me. He’d already basically admitted he killed Christian, and I didn’t want to be next. I had to suck up the pain and come up with a plan, if not to escape, then at least to leave some clue for someone.
I stood perfectly still and awaited further instructions, breathing in short, shallow breaths since it hurt too bad to take a deep one.
He threw a pillow at me. “Take the case off and put it over your head.”
This was my opportunity. If I could catch him off-guard and hit him with all my strength, I might be able to knock the gun out of his hand and get away. Mom and Dad’s room across the hall had a window that was right over the garage. If I could manage to get that far, I could jump down and run for help.
It wasn’t a great plan, but it was the only one available. I remembered hearing the worst thing you could do was end up at a secondary location when you were kidnapped; your chances of survival dropped by like half if you did. I couldn’t let that happen. I saw no benefit of going calmly with this lunatic. My parents didn’t have twenty-five grand lying around, and if he couldn’t get his money back, he would have no use for me. I had to at least try this. It was my only option.
I dug my fingers into the pillow he gave me for a better grip and turned my head slightly, just enough to get a glimpse of the vanity mirror in my peripheral vision. I could see the side profile of the man, in black jeans and a black hoodie pulled over his head, obscuring his face. A silver handgun was pointed at my back, making me shudder. I made no other movement and waited for my opportunity.
“Um, can I have some pants?” I asked as innocently as I could. I still only wore the T-shirt I went to sleep in. “It might draw suspicion if someone were to see me wandering around without any bottoms.”
He huffed. “Fine. But try anything, and I will shoot you.”
I waited until he half turned, bending toward the pile of dirty clothes at the bottom of my closet. Now. I had to do this now. Using every ounce of my strength, I slammed the pillow down on his head, knocking him askew. He dropped the gun, trying to catch his balance with his hands. It went sliding beyond his reach or mine, but I knew it wasn’t good enough. I pulled my leg back and kicked him with the heel of my foot directly into his chest, knocking the wind out of him.
I didn’t try for another blow. I needed to run. I pulled my bedroom door closed behind me as I sprinted for my parent’s room, thanking God above that the window was already open. I could hear heavy footsteps and knew I had only seconds before he caught me. I pushed the box fan out and ducked my body out of the window. I had one leg already out, ready to jump, when his thick hand grabbed my ankle. I screamed and tried to shake him off, but his grip was solid.
“You cunt! You think you can steal from me and then get away with it? Bitch, you are gonna pay.”
He tried to pull me back through the window, but he only had a grip with one hand. I tried to kick away, using my other foot to push off. But it slipped on a loose shingle, and my balance tottered. His nails dug into my skin, tearing it with deep gouges trying to hold on. I reached up, swiping at his arm and cheek, but gravity was stronger, and I went tumbling down.
The right side of my body hit the garage roof hard, and I heard the distinct sound of ribs cracking. But my body didn’t stop there, and neither did the pain. I continued to roll until my body slid off of the roof and finally landed on the hard cement of the sidewalk. My leg landed first at an odd angle as white hot pain shot up my spine. My head hit next, bouncing with a hard thud. The last thing I remembered as I blacked out was the coppery taste of blood in my mouth and wondering how long it would take me to die.