I was terrified they were going to throw me into the water and let me drown, but they carried me inside a building. A small one, from what I could see—the wooden floor creaked and groaned beneath their feet.
We went down a flight of stairs but I was headfirst, which was awful. I was afraid they’d lose their grip on me and there’d be no way for me to cushion my fall. But we made it to the bottom with me still in one piece.
The guy with my feet set them down so he could open a door, then they carried me through the doorway and set me on the dusty wooden floor none too gently. Then without a word they left, closing the door behind them.
I let my body relax. I was on my side and I rested my head on the floor. My right eye was swollen nearly shut and my head hurt so bad I wanted to vomit. The trip inside hadn’t helped that, and I took a moment to just breathe. If I threw up, I’d choke on my own vomit.
“Sage?”
Jerking my head up at the sound of my name, I frantically peered into the dark shadows of the room, fear licking at my veins. After a moment, I could see well enough to make out a figure huddled in the corner.
Branna.
She was inching toward me the best she could, though I could tell she’d been bound in the same fashion, only her mouth wasn’t covered.
When she got to me, I saw she’d been beat up, her face more bloody and bruised than mine. There was blood on the white tank top she wore, too.
“Looks like they didn’t exactly take it easy on you,” she said dryly. “Hold on,” she said.
Turning around, she was able to move her hands near my face. Realizing what she wanted to do, I scooted closer, letting her fingers brush against me until she got hold of the tape. I braced myself, but even so, it didn’t prepare me for the blinding pain of the tape being ripped off.
I gasped, biting back a cry. Some of my hair had been stuck in the tape and had gone with it. My eyes watered and I gulped down air, relieved to have the tape off. I laid my head on the floor and just breathed for a moment.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Do I look all right?” I croaked, then coughed. The smell of dank mildew in the room was nearly overpowering.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice thick. “What does Leo want?”
“He wants Ryker,” she said, turning back around. “He must be wanting to use you as leverage. It’ll be okay. Just stay calm, all right?”
“How can it possibly be okay?” I asked in disbelief.
“Turn around,” Branna said. “We’ll put our backs together and maybe we can get the tape off.”
They’d wrapped it around my entire lower arms several times and I had doubts that we’d make much headway, but I did as she said.
“How long have you been in here?” I asked.
“A few hours,” she said. I could feel her working at the tape, trying to tear the edge.
“What will they do to us?” I asked, my imagination conjuring scenarios I didn’t want to think about. Not that I cared anymore. Parker was dead. They’d killed him.
But before she could answer—if she’d have answered—the door opened. The short counterpoint guy of the duo entered and I saw the glint of a knife in his hand. He reached for me and I pulled away with a sharp jerk.
“Hold still,” he snarled, grabbing my legs. With one swift slice, he cut the tape, then yanked it off me. I was very thankful I was wearing jeans and not a skirt. Grabbing my elbow, he hauled me to my feet.
“Leave her alone,” Branna said. “It’s me Leo wants. The girl’s got nothing to do with this.”
“Oh, you’re comin,’ too,” the guy said. “Leo wants both of youse.”
The guy sounded like he’d watched too many Bugsy movies. Or maybe that’s just how an Italian gangster thug sounded.
Tall and skinny came back with a guy I hadn’t seen before. One held a gun on Branna while the other cut the tape off her legs so she could walk.
“This way.”
I tested the bindings on my arms, but they were as tight as ever. Branna hadn’t been able to make more than a small dent in them and I hadn’t torn hers at all.
They sat both of us in two folding chairs about a foot apart. The lighting was better but the smell wasn’t. I could hear the lapping of water against the wall outside. We were right on the lake then.
I heard steps on the stairs and watched as Leo descended. More footsteps sounded from upstairs. I could hear them walking around.
“So, Branna,” Leo said, stopping to stand in front of us. “You see I brought you some company. And now I have the two women Detective Ryker cares about the most.”
Branna didn’t say a word.
He held a cell phone in front of her face. “Call him.”
“My hands are tied, dipshit,” she said, her lips twisting with scorn.
Leo backhanded her and I jumped at the sharp crack of sound. But Branna just looked bored, despite the blood trickling from her mouth.
“Untie her,” he ordered.
Shorty hastened to do his bidding. Branna rubbed her arms once the tape was removed.
“Now do it,” he said.