Chapter 21

Twenty-One

Jess adjusted the top of the sling she wore so it wasn’t digging into her neck. That was all she needed—for the fabric to rub against her neck until it was red and raw.

The doctor was due in her room in a few minutes to sign her discharge papers and she’d be free.

Finn had been pacing around, grumbling that the doctor was taking too long, so she’d sent him to the cafeteria to get her some chocolate. He hadn’t wanted to leave her alone, but she’d asked him what could happen to her? She was in the hospital. They had security everywhere. She’d be fine for the fifteen minutes it would take him to get her snack and be back.

Her parents had wanted to pick her up but, as much as she loved them, she just wanted Finn to be the one with her when she left. Savor the time when it was just the two of them, something that had been scarce since her parents had arrived.

Excitement bubbled inside her at what was to come. Tomorrow, her family and Finn’s were all going to fly back to Texas and head to Finn’s parents’ ranch.

It was going to be loud and chaotic with so many of them under the one roof, but the Spellings’ house was big enough and Jess needed this time to fill her family well.

She and her mom had told her dad about Bartholomew. She’d made sure they were all together in the hospital room when it happened.

Jess had wanted Finn there, but he’d had to go to the base for some reason. He hadn’t told her why when she’d asked after he got back to her, but that hadn’t bothered her, because she knew there were some aspects of his job that he couldn’t tell her about at all. It was something that she had to get used to. Not to mention she’d been overcome with fatigue after the emotional experience of telling her dad everything

Like her mom had predicted, dad hadn’t been angry at her. He’d been furious with Bartholomew, and if he weren’t in jail on the other side of the country, Jess would’ve been worried her dad would’ve gone off and torn the man limb from limb.

Her dad had been disappointed she’d felt like she couldn’t come to them.

Her phone buzzed and she picked it up, noting that a new email had come from the dance company. Finally, they were getting back to her. Jess had spent the time since she’d emailed them about everything that’d happened, constantly checking her phone for a response. Now that it was here, she didn’t want to open it.

Should she wait for Finn?

No, she wasn’t some weak woman who needed a man to hold her hand. Look at what she’d survived.

But it doesn’t hurt to have his support. It’s not a weakness to want that.

Jess warred with herself for a few more seconds, then took a deep breath and opened the email

Jessica,

We were deeply saddened to hear about your accident, and hope you are doing better.

Your recovery is important to us, so please take all the time necessary to recover from it. We value you as a member of The Baxter Dance Company.

With the length of time it may take you to get back into peak condition, we have decided to rescind your contract for the upcoming season and your promotion to lead female dancer.

However, we urge you to keep us informed, and as soon as you are able to return to any type of physical dance activity, we’d love for you to return to our New York studio. We will evaluate your performance abilities and make a decision with regards to your participation in the season.

Our hope is that next year, you will be able to rejoin the company in a full-time capacity and as our main female dancer.

Kind Regards,

Madame Baxter

Owner

Jess stared at her phone, a mixture of feelings coursing through her. Disappointment that she’d lost her contract and, therefore, a year’s worth of income. Also, happiness that they still wanted her to be their principal dancer, once she’d completely recovered.

While they might be looking at next year for her to return, she was going to work hard so she could be part of the second part of the season. Their belief in her came as a shock, considering how ruthless the decision-makers could be.

Jess couldn’t wait to tell Finn. He’d be so happy for her. At least, she hoped he would.

The door opened and she looked up, hoping to see Finn’s handsome face, but it wasn’t him. It was an orderly with a wheelchair.

“I’m here to take to you to the front, where you can be picked up.” His voice was low, and he kept his gaze averted from hers.

“Oh? I thought the doctor was going to be coming here with the papers for me to sign.”

“Change of plan. Please hurry up. I’ve got another patient I need to see to.” He was fidgeting, and an unsettling feeling formed in the pit of her stomach.

A warning told Jess she shouldn’t go with him, but he worked at the hospital. His identification badge was clipped to his scrub pants, but she couldn’t quite make out his name. He even had on the scrub cap that all the orderlies wore around the hospital. Everything about him seemed legitimate, so she didn’t understand why she didn’t want to follow his instructions.

“Can we stop at the nurses’ station on the way past to confirm that’s what’s happening?” she asked.

“Fine. If that will get you in the chair. Now please, miss, hurry up.”

With her good arm, Jess picked up the small carry bag her mom had brought her and settled in the chair.

Where was Finn? What was taking him so long to get her a chocolate bar?

The orderly wheeled her briskly down the hallway, the nurses’ station whizzing past.

“Wait! You said you would stop there.” Jess gestured with her uninjured arm.

“They won’t know. The one downstairs near the entrance is the one you want to talk to.”

She should get out of the chair. Or at least question someone when they got into the elevator to go downstairs.

Unfortunately, the elevator was empty—how was that possible in a busy hospital? The ride down to the ground floor was swift. The moment the doors opened, the orderly pushed her out and down the hallway toward the exit.

From what Jess could see, there was no main desk to direct people to where they needed to go to visit people. It almost looked like they were heading to the back of the hospital.

The bad feeling increased. Her own words about nothing bad happening were coming back to haunt her. She didn’t care if she hurt herself—she was getting out of the chair.

Jess pushed up to stand, but a hand landed on her sore shoulder, squeezing hard.

Jess bit back the cry of pain.

“Sit down, bitch! You’re coming with me.”

That voice.

She knew it.

Where did she know it from?

Payback, bitch .

The memory hit her of where she’d heard him before.

“Oh my God, it was you,” she gasped as they pushed through a back door.

“That’s right, and now you’re coming with me.”

Again, Jess pushed up, but stilled when she felt the unmistakable tip of a knife against her neck.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you.”

She sat back down, her need to live overriding her need to escape. At least at this moment. She still had her phone. She’d wait, and when she could, she’d let Finn know she’d been taken.

He would come for her.

He would rescue her.

Whoever had her stopped by a van.

Why did they always have vans?

He yanked her up by her good arm, the movement jarring her injury, and another hot shaft of pain radiated down her arm.

This time, Jess bit her lip hard, so he wouldn’t know his actions had hurt her. No way was she giving him more power over her.

“Sit.” He pushed her down on the bench seat, tossing her bag on the ground before rummaging into a duffle that was at her feet. He extracted some cable ties and tape.

No, he’s not going to restrain me. I won’t let him.

The mantra ran through her mind as she fought against him.

She opened her mouth to scream, but he slapped her hard, her head snapping violently to the side.

Jess was dazed for a few seconds, and that was all he needed to tape her mouth shut and bind her feet.

Her captor grabbed her arms to deal with them, and this time, the pain was so intense, her vision clouded.

She could feel the stitches in her wound ripping. Imagined the blood seeping into her top. Tears welled in her eyes but she blinked them away. She didn’t want to show any weakness, but her shoulder throbbed.

“Now, that’s so much better. I don’t want to hear your voice. Keep quiet and still and things will be so much easier.”

“ Who are you?” Because of the tape across her mouth, her question came out as a muffled mess.

Her kidnapper looked at her and laughed before shutting the door.

At least this time, she’d gotten a good look at his face and committed what he looked like to memory. When, not if , she was rescued, she wanted to be able to give the police a good description of the person who took her.