I turned around in the small space examining every possible option, but there wasn’t anything that I could use anywhere. I cracked the door bracing myself against it so that it wouldn’t make a sound. Bill wasn’t anywhere to be seen in the kitchen. Then I saw his switchblade sitting on the edge of the counter where he had left it.
If I could get to the knife, I might be able to fight my way out. My Saturday afternoon defense course seemed sadly lacking at the moment. I wasn’t prepared for what I was contemplating at all. It was a plan sadly lacking in any kind of real opportunity, but it was all I had, especially if I was going to die anyway. I opened the door a bit wider straining to try to see around the corner. I took one step out into the kitchen reaching for the knife when Bill’s fist landed hard on my forearm.
I yelled but propelled myself forward determined to get to the knife. Another hard blow landed on my back, and I went to my knees. I started kicking and hitting as I felt Bill’s fingers dig into my hair to yank my head back. I reached out as a far as my arm span would allow for the knife and opened my mouth to scream. An arm snaked around my waist, and Bill’s hand clamped over my mouth even as the first noise escaped my lips.
He hauled me to my feet and dragged me backward as I continued to thrash against him with everything I had. But Bill was at least six inches taller than me and had probably at least a hundred pounds on me. For him, it was probably like getting pummeled by a fly.
“That was a really dumb thing to do, Princess,” he said as he dumped me onto the mattress. I immediately got up on my knees when I found myself looking at the end of the barrel of a gun. I heard the click as Bill flicked off the safety. “How about you calm the fuck down?”
I stopped moving immediately. I felt the tears of frustration well up in the corners of my eyes. I hadn’t had a chance, and we both knew it. Bill motioned toward the chair, and I got up quickly. I didn’t want to even entertain staying on the mattress and giving him any further ideas in that direction. I sat down in the chair.
Bill looked at me without any expression, and then he backhanded me across the cheek. He didn’t hold back as he hit me again. I saw blinding flashes of lights in my mind before my eyes cleared. Then as my head rolled back to the middle, I felt the press of the duct tape across my mouth again.
“You’re lucky that I’m not allowed to do anything else than rough you up a little to keep you in line,” Bill whispered against my ear. I pulled away from him. “Because to be honest, Princess, I like my women a little on the feisty side.”
My stomach rolled, and for a moment, I thought I was going to throw up. I had no doubt what Bill meant by his hooded innuendo. “Now you’re going to sit there like a good girl. Got it?”
I nodded my head causing jolts of pain to ring through my head. I had to keep my brain clear, because if the look Bill was giving me was any indication, I didn’t think what he had been told to do with me was going to hold much longer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - SHAYNE
I slipped out into the night as soon as it was full dark. My plan was half-baked at best, but it was the best that I had. I couldn’t go to the cops, and I knew that if I told my dad what was happening, that’s what he would insist on. Then everything could go to hell, and Lex would be the one to pay for it. I was going to take care of the situation myself. I would get Lex back, because it was my fault she was in the trouble to begin with. I knew what I was capable of. When push came to shove, it was all about who could shove the hardest. That was going to be me.
I found the apartment building easily. I stood outside for over an hour observing the people going in and out. As the lights came on, I watched for movement inside that would give me any clue as to which apartment the jackass who had taken the backpack was in. I needed a way to get in and a way to find Lex.
I took my phone out of my pocket. I dialed Lex’s number. Since I had dropped the money earlier, I hadn’t gotten any further instructions on what to do next, and I was growing concerned. I hoped that the kidnappers hadn’t decided to just take what I had given them and run.
“You aren’t supposed to be calling us. We’re supposed to be calling you.” It was a different voice as earlier.
“I want to know that Alexa is still okay,” I said. “I haven’t gotten any assurances of that since I gave you the money.”
“I sent you a picture earlier,” the man replied.
“I want something live, and I want it now,” I demanded. “Prove to me that she’s still okay.”
There was a pause. Then I saw a flash of light in one of the darkened windows on the second floor. A few seconds later, an image popped up on my screen. It was a picture of Lex, and she looked considerably worse than earlier. I could see tears streaked down her cheeks.
“That’s as good as you’re going to get,” the man said.
He had just taken a picture of her. They were in the second-floor apartment. So far, my half-baked plan wasn’t working out too bad. I had my location. I just had to find a way in.