Ok, I wasn’t expecting that. “I’m sorry. I’m not currently in the market for a job.”
“Acceptance is non-negotiable.” She dismissed me with a nod at the men I’d stupidly forgotten were behind me. I felt a heavy hand on my back seconds before I was shoved onto the hard floor of the van.
I guess it was too much to hope they would have let me go after turning them down. Before I could fill my lungs with air again, following the hard impact, I was yanked into a sitting position.
“Forgive my rudeness. My name is Esmerelda.” She offered a smile uncharacteristic of the situation we were in currently.
“I didn’t ask your name… Oh, fuck. Why would you tell me your name unless you are going to kill me?”
Calm down, Willow. Don’t have a panic attack now.
“I’m wanted in multiple countries, including yours.” She sneered at her reference to America, and I wrestled with the need to flip her off. “There is nothing knowing my name could do that hasn’t already been done.”
Screw it. I’m having a panic attack.
“What do you want with me?” I struggled over the thickness of my tongue.
“I told you. I have a job for you, Little Tree.” She crossed her tone leg over the other equally tone leg and twirled her foot casually.
“But, I don’t want a job.”
“You’ll want this job. It pays well. You’ll get to keep your life.”
“What kind of job is worth my life?”
*
PRESENT
The darkness was replaced by a blinding light, and my eyes immediately fought to adjust to the seemingly bright light that was truthfully only dim. I raggedly filled my lungs with air to fight off the claustrophobia leftover from the bag in my captor’s hands. His malicious grin spread, revealing his snaggled tooth when I peered up at him. Whatever they gave me had worn off and I was left to fight off the disorientation.
One glance around revealed Esmerelda, my true captor, standing a few steps away. She watched me, appearing amused by the fight I put up as I was carried into an office. Judging by the high windows and the concrete walls, I guessed I was in some kind of warehouse.
“You tried to run.” She tilted her head with a small smile, but her tone was chastising.
“I didn’t—”
“Don’t insult my intelligence, girl. If your little boyfriend hadn’t snagged you at the airport, I would have. You might even say he saved you… or delayed the inevitable.”
“I can’t do what you asked, so I guess you’re here to kill me.” This would be the moment I began begging for my life, but the words remained painfully lodged in my throat. She threw her head back and the room filled with the grating sound of her laughter as if I’d just told a joke. When she recovered, her gaze settled on me with a shake of her head.
“Do you still have the gift I gave you? I assume since you haven’t done what I asked, you do.”
“Yes, I still have it.” Oh, God. But why do I still have it?
“Good.” She signaled to the man holding my arms and thankfully, his vicious grip lessened. I knew the damage had already been done, and I would have bruises in the morning if I survived this somehow. “I’m not going to kill you today.”
“You’re too kind,” I answered half-heartedly. My sarcasm wasn’t lost on her. Her lips fell from the teasing, fake smile to an honest line of displeasure.
“It occurred to me that simply threatening your life wasn’t enough. You obviously cannot be motivated by just your life, so I’m taking the liberty of offering your family as well.”
“M—my family?”
“Your mother, father, and your cute little brother.”
“Don’t touch my family, you poisonous bitch!” I charged but got nowhere before I heard the slap from snaggle tooth—hearing it more than I felt it. “Is that all you got?” I mocked even while my skin felt as it had just caught fire.
“I’m afraid I certainly will. 45 Sandwell Lane. The pitiful little house on the corner.”