Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

J asmine

The strong cup of coffee had done nothing but churn in my stomach.

I was antsy, even terrified and there was no reason for it. Or was there? So much didn’t make any sense but as I’d been waiting, I’d thought about the off the cuff meeting with Maggie I’d had, the recommendation she’d made.

Only it hadn’t been off the cuff. Not really.

She’d asked me out to lunch, which hadn’t been abnormal, but the timing was odd since we were getting ready to leave the country. She’d not just recommended the island, she’d said something I hadn’t picked up on but now seemed entirely too cryptic.

That I would find everything I needed there.

What in God’s name had she meant?

Maybe my mind was just too foggy to find the answers. That’s why I needed time away. I was wringing my hands, beads of perspiration dripping off me and I must look hideous given the long walk.

And I missed Braxton of all things.

I’d almost called him twice but some things I needed to handle on my own. That was my personality and I wasn’t sorry about it. Besides, I was being careful. I was no fool. One thing Braxton was correct about was that certain things didn’t add up, as if two or three puzzles had been mixed together in a box. Maybe the analogy was a little off but I’d almost called my father, demanding to know what was going on. But how would he know?

Because my father always made it a point to keep abreast of everything that occurred around him. Hell, he’d hired a team of people to investigate opponents, even threatening the few who’d dared cross him publicly.

He had never been shy of the cameras or talking to any and every member of the press, often inflaming whatever topic was in question.

He’d had his share of death threats too, and he’d been shot at twice, once when Mom and I were in close proximity. However, it was something the family wasn’t allowed to talk about. Pfft. That was crazy. His aspirations were so important to him, he acted as if he couldn’t care less what happened to his own family.

Another reason I’d hated him, doing everything in my power to get away. And my mother? She wasn’t as dumb as she portrayed herself to be. She simply chose to look the other way. Something I couldn’t do.

Ever.

So here I was pacing the floor in a small coffee shop, waiting to be shuttled to some small apartment to stew over the recent events. I was furious with myself, a heavy weight on my shoulders. I was so anxious, I continued to look at my phone, trying to remain patient but I knew Braxton wasn’t going to let me go without a fight.

Maybe what I really wanted was for him to come after me.

How silly was that?

My legs ached as much as my heart, I finally returned to the tiny table I’d secured, holding my head in my hands. This entire situation was unfathomable. Shit. I had to go to the bathroom. The coffee was going right through me. I grabbed my purse and coffee, dumping the half full cup into the trashcan before heading to the tiny hallway located beside the counter.

The door was locked so I leaned against the wall, staring out the front window. Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Why? It was a normal day in Georgetown, the traffic heavy and the sidewalk filled with pedestrians. Yet, it felt as if I was being watched.

My stomach was still churning and I was almost hypnotized, time slowing all around me. It was just my nerves, but the fear seemed so real. Was that the same black SUV that had passed by the store only a couple of minutes before?

No, that was me just being paranoid. How many black SUVs were in a town like this? About a million. They were often used by dignitaries, a paid driver taking them everywhere. My father was no different. I’d seen one parked in the driveway just prior to me leaving the house the last time.

However, it was tough to get morbid thoughts from the center of my brain. There went another SUV, almost stopping just in front of the door. I couldn’t see inside of course given the glare.

Wait.

Were the windows blacked out?

I was close to hyperventilating.

You’ve seen that before too. Get a grip.

Breathe. I had to breathe and not make a fool out of myself.

I was jolted back to reality when a mom and her daughter left the bathroom, the little girl even bumping into me.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

The woman laughed, gripping her daughter’s shoulders. “Tell the nice lady you’re sorry, Emily.”

Was she studying me just a little too closely? Oh, shit. Now I was starting to lose my mind. Perfect.

“I’m sawry,” Emily said.

I even found it tough to respond. Finally, I kicked myself in the butt and smiled. “No problem.” I waited as they walked away, the little girl jabbering. I’d never been one to react this way to any difficult situation, but I slid my back against the wall to the bathroom door, fighting to open it given the awkward way I was standing.

Once inside, it was all I could do to flick the lock in place. What in God’s name was wrong with me? Even my pulse was racing. I stared at my reflection, trying to calm my nerves before moving to the toilet.

This was getting ridiculous. Maybe my psyche was telling me I’d made a stupid choice in leaving Braxton’s protection. By the time I washed my hands, even splashing water on my face, I was convinced I was right. I pulled out my phone, preparing to call him when I heard a slight commotion outside.

I’d call him from the hallway.

The two girls in the corridor were giggling like schoolgirls, shoving me aside as they discussed whatever boy was in question. I don’t think they cared it was a single room, going into together as if joined at the hip.

I was able to laugh, remembering my time with Ashton. I’d made the most out of college. That was certain. I was feeling somewhere better, still sliding my back against the wall. There was a much bigger crowd in the tiny dining room area, so I remained in the hall to call Braxton. I had no idea what I’d say to him other than apologizing.

And begging him to come get me.

Like some waif.

I had the phone in my hand, the phone number dialed when a set of goosebumps popped down both arms. It was another slow-motion moment, only this time as if I’d been driven in the middle of a thriller movie.

Or one involving kidnapping.

I’d made fun of the stupid victims in various movies, especially horror flicks because they stood like statues instead of running or screaming when faced with danger. But I found myself doing the same thing as the back emergency door was pulled open, two men coming inside.

I couldn’t scream.

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t run.

I stood like a fucking statue with my eyes wide open.

There was no question the two bastards were here for me. How had they found me? By the time the ugly spell was broken and I finally found my voice, one of the assholes had jerked me into a tiny back alley, so tiny I was shocked a SUV of its size had even fit. My grip on the phone remained tight, the shriek I issued shrill.

But it was short lived as a hand was slapped over my mouth and nose, the bastard even pinching my nostrils as he threw open the back door, attempting to pitch me inside.

There was no hero coming to the rescue this time, no knight in shining armor. I’d screwed up bigtime and would pay the ultimate price.

With my life.

While I tried to fight, the huge man who’d grabbed me shoved his way in beside me, slamming the door. When I managed to punch him in the face, he backhanded me, snarling like some beast in the wild. The pain was blinding, the stars rushing in front of my eyes finally forcing a sob from my throat.

“Shut the fuck up,” he growled.

The other perpetrator was in the driver’s seat, his door barely closed when he slammed his foot down on the accelerator. I was pretty certain I wouldn’t make it past a couple of days without finding myself with a bullet in my brain.

“Where… are you taking me?” My voice was shaky but getting stronger.

“You’ll see, little bitch.”

The jerks were just like the others. I tried to remember the self-defense training I’d received, compliments of my father. I hadn’t taken it seriously given I’d yet to turn eighteen. I’d been far too busy packing to leave for America, determined to put the past behind me.

Now I was furious I hadn’t paid closer attention.

What I did remember was that if they managed to take me more than two miles away from the original kidnapping site, I was a goner. Yes, my father was rich. Yes, he could pay a handsome ransom, but my gut told me money meant nothing.

The driver was picking up speed, not caring he smashed into boxes and a couple of trashcans. Was he really planning on barreling into traffic?

I had to get the hell out of here. Or at least stop the progress. I did two things. I reared back, planting my foot in the guy’s chest and I reached for the door handle, managing to open the door. As my bad luck would have it, the alley was too narrow, the door scraping against the brick fa?ade of several buildings.

This time the brutal backhand was done with a gun. Now my ears were ringing but at least I was screaming at the top of my lungs.

“Hold the bitch, for God’s sake,” the driver hissed.

“Go. Get us the fuck out of here,” the asshole snorted.

I struggled to sit, hot tears streaming down my face. I was a dead woman and there was nothing I could do about it.

Who’d been the person to say everything happened for a reason? Whoever it was might be brilliant, certainly more so than I was.

Now I knew why I liked thriller flicks, gravitating toward them instead of shit like love stories or rom-coms. I’d convinced myself a long time ago waiting for a warrior on a steed holding a wicked-looking sword wasn’t going to happen to me. I’d had to learn to use the blade myself, yet I’d failed.

Instead, the movie kicked into the final chase scene, the sudden appearance of a man holding a weapon with both hands perhaps the best thing I’d ever seen or experienced in my life.

Maybe some of the training I’d received had locked into the darkest part of my memory banks or maybe it was all about the instinct for survival.

I pressed myself against the seat, quickly buckling myself in.

Was it possible some centrifugal force had come into play? My mind was spinning yet the world around me was slowing. And in the few seconds before it seemed the world came to an end, the driver was bellowing at the top of his lungs.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

The shots kept coming, the other strange pinging sounds a clear indication the vehicle had been hit. But with all incredible moments of heroism, fear remained.

And seconds later, I realized I’d need to learn to follow my gut more closely. Another clunk shot through the SUV and two seconds later, the vehicle was in the air. I could feel it, the inertia that always happened for me when a plane was taking off or I was riding a rollercoaster.

As I turned my head, all I noticed other than the sky billowing all around us was blood. What had to be brain matter was splattered against the driver’s window, a hole clear through the asshole’s head. A strong metallic scent hit my nose and instead of being nauseated, repulsed in any way, I was excited.

The fucker had gotten what he deserved.

While I couldn’t tell if the one beside me was still alive, it didn’t matter. I had a bad feeling we wouldn’t survive the crash.

But the nightmare continued, the jerk’s foot pinned to the floor. As the SUV finally began its descent to the ground, I was pitched back and forth. Yet when the SUV landed on its side still moving, I let off another bloodcurdling scream.

The SUV slammed into something, the instant odor of gas assaulting my senses. Even as I tried to wrestle up from anguish tearing through my body, my mind so foggy, I felt arms gripping me from beside me.

There were other screams and loud noises.

The rush of smoke coming from an unseen location.

“Fire!”

“Call 9-1-1. People are trapped inside.”

Well, duh. Of course there were people trapped inside, one of them a monster. A sudden burst of energy rushed through me and I kicked the bastard in the chest even as he continued to try to drag me closer to him. Nothing was going to keep me locked inside. I unbuckled myself and fought to get to the door, screaming and hissing. I was completely disoriented, but I could tell the vehicle had landed on the driver’s side. Everything was surreal, horrifying but I wasn’t going to die this way.

Not this way.

I had so much more to live for.

The door was suddenly thrown open, light penetrating the space. After another series of popping sounds, the stench of blood becoming stronger, arms were wrapped around me. Something was in my eyes, the sting abominable. Everything was a horrific blur, every sound more muted than before.

“What? Help… Me.”

It was as if the voice of an angel trickled down from the heavens.

“I’ve got you, little koala. Now, I’m never letting you go.”