Sage

Sage

“Erica, it’s January in Washington. Why the hell do you want to go to the ocean?” I say as we step outside of the mall downtown and onto the sidewalk.

“I love the water. We can always bundle up, and I just want to get out of the city for the weekend, let the girls run and play, you know?”

“That’s fine but if they run and play, they are going to run and get a cold. It’s cold and raining practically nonstop on the coast. Especially this time of year,” I say, attempting to talk some reason into my naïve friend.

She shrugs. “We will probably spend most of the time in the hotel anyway.”

I blink hard, still trying to understand what the fucking point is of us even going then, but I just shake my head. Trevor said we could go if I wanted or stay home and just relax. Erica wasn’t as easygoing. She demanded that we come with and promised it would be a lot of fun, though I’m failing to see the fun part.

“Why are you even bothering with getting a new swimsuit? You’re not gonna swim,” I say.

“Well, not in the ocean, but the hotel has a pool. Why are you being sour? Just say yes already so we can both stop pretending like you may not come.”

I can’t help but laugh as we cross the street to the parking garage we parked in. Erica hits her trunk button and begins emptying her arms full of bags into the car. I go to poke fun when a loud roar sounds from behind me. I whirl around to see a white van come right up to us, squealing to a stop before the side door is thrown open.

My stomach bottoms out to the floor as two guys tattooed within an inch of their lives hop out.

No. No. No.

“Erica, run!” I scream at the top of my lungs just as one of the guys grabs me.

“Oh my god! Help! HELP!” she squeals, hitting an octave I didn’t know humans were capable of.

I fight against the hold of the guy grabbing me as he attempts to drag me into the van while the other guy pins a thrashing Erica against the car.

“What do I do with this one?” he asks.

“Leave her, he only wants this one,” the guy holding me says.

Just the mention of him sends a chill running down my spine, and my fight mode kicks in. I stomp on his foot as hard as I can, satisfied when I hear a sickening crunch. He lets me go with one of his arms, and it’s just enough to get some space between us. I spin out of his hold before I drive the palm of my hand against his nose, effectively breaking it instantly.

“Fucking bitch!” he roars as blood spews from his face.

I hear the man behind me scream as I turn to see his hand covering Erica’s mouth as she sinks her teeth into his finger. She pushes against his back hard enough for him to let her go before she turns around and kicks him in the balls so hard, I wince for him.

Erica shakily grabs her phone quickly calling for help as Mr. Broken Nose comes at me again. Unfortunately I don’t miss him in time, and I catch a fist to the side of the face that sends my ears ringing. I lose my balance for a second, and he grabs my arm, dragging me halfway into the van.

“Let her go!” Erica screams as a tennis shoe hits the guy in the back of the head.

Really? A shoe Erica? I guess I appreciate the effort, but the girl is out of her depth. The guy holding me lets me go, turning to face Erica as he reaches for a gun at his side. Fear seizes me as I shove him into the side of the van, scrambling out as I run toward Erica and practically tackle her for coverage. We run behind the car as the guy lets out the first shot, causing her to startle as she lets out a cry.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. We have no weapons, no escape route, and no time. Then, like an angel from above, a couple of security guards for the parking garage crest the corner, instantly taking in the scene in front of them. They both simultaneously pull out the guns at their sides before pointing them at Mr. Broken Nose.

“Put the gun down!” one of them shouts.

He turns to face the guys, calculating his odds before he curses, yanking his stumbling friend who is still recovering from that devastating dick kick before yanking him into the open door of the van. It peels out of there in the next minute as the guys run over to us.

“Are you guys okay?” one of them asks quickly.

Erica nods shakily, but I don’t speak because I know what this means. We got lucky today, but next time I might not be able to say the same. And if what they say is true, if he wants me, then I’m as good as gone.