15. Evie

I was still shockedthat I'd been kidnapped; I couldn't talk because they tied me up and shoved a rag in my mouth. It tasted foul, and I didn't even want to think where it came from. I hoped Rebel had found my ribbon. I made sure it fell from my hair so he would notice it.

We drove for a few hours before changing vehicles. Then the leader, as I called him, decided to talk to me. "Take the rag out of her mouth," he ordered, watching me closely. "What's your name?" he demanded.

"Evie McDonald."

"Evie McDonald, do you know what my name is?" This man was huge, and I was terrified. I would bet he was as big as Rebel, but with Rebel, I felt safe. All I felt was fear.

"I'm guessing your name is Reaper," I could tell I surprised him.

"So you're not going to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. That surprises me. Can you tell me why you posted those emails?"

"Can I start from the beginning?"

"Please do."

"My sister was kidnapped almost a year ago, and I've been searching for her. I know it was the cartel who took her. While searching the internet for information, I kept getting these messages. They wanted me to send an email, or I would never see my sister again. I sent one, and then they sent me another one. They even put a message on my parents' front door."

"Who was leaving the messages?"

"I thought it was from the cartel. Some men showed up at my parents' house. They thought I was sending emails about someone else. One of the men's brothers is called Reaper. It's his Delta Force covert name. But then they said they found another Reaper in the mafia. They thought you might come looking for me. So they were guarding me."

"They didn't do a very good job. We have you now."

"That's because nothing happened in two and a half months, and I guess we all figured you weren't hunting for me," I explained.

"My uncle was named Reaper. He died last year. I took over for him. My name is Mika."

"Are you going to kill me?"

"I don't know what I'm going to do with you. This isn't what I was expecting. I can't let you go after kidnapping you. What I can do is give you to the cartel, the same ones who took your sister. Maybe you'll be able to find her."

"I had talked to a woman living on the streets in New York City. She said Kylie wouldn't want me to find her, that the cartel would have drugged her up so badly that she would look like the homeless women living on the streets. "What do you think?" I asked.

"Tell me about your sister?"

"She looks like me. She's a veterinarian. She's the sweetest person I know. I think she would kill herself if they did to her what Lucy says they do."

"I've heard stories.I don't know exactly what happens to the women, but it can't be good; the more I think about it, the less likely I am to let them have you."

"Who do you think sent me those messages?"

"I know who it was. I'll take care of him. Don't think about it anymore."

"But they went to my parent's house. What if they come back? My mother had a heart attack. She can't go through anything else."

"Let me think," he said, knocking on the window and separating us from the driver. Joesph, take us to the airport. We'll go to Mexico. It will be hard to find your sister after all this time. I have a home in Mexico; I'll ask around to see what I can find out."

"Can't I stay on my friend"s mountain and you can ask around without me there? My friends are not going to be happy with you taking me."

"I'll let you call them in a couple of days and tell them you are safe."

"But…"

"If you keep talking, I'll have to put that filthy rag back in your mouth. Now, let me think."