Chapter Sixty-Six

Danica

W hile I’m unsure of how long I was unconscious before overhearing that phone call, I know we’ve been driving for a while. Not daring to open my eyes and risk alerting Tony that I am now awake as he focuses on driving, I have relied on my other senses to provide crucial information. Even with my eyes closed, I can tell that it’s getting dark outside, which means it must be sometime in the later afternoon, and I have been in the car for at least two hours. Could he just be going in circles, purposely trying to throw off anyone on his trail, or are we now well outside of Seattle?

By now, I’m sure Muscles and Dimples are aware I’m gone. My staff would have been concerned when I didn’t come back from my coffee break before my afternoon appointment. If they know, it’s likely that Theo and Finn know as well, which means I have a whole team out looking for me. That’s the good news. Now, I just have to do my part and buy myself more time until they can figure out how to find me.

Cautiously, I begin to work at my wrists. Feels more like a zip tie than rope or tape, but I can’t be sure. I awkwardly try to readjust my fingers, trying to get a better sense of what material was used to restrain me. Yep, zip ties. Well, shit. I know I can get out of a zip tie, but to do so now would alert Tony to the fact that I’m awake. I need to get out of this car, get somewhere safe to find help, but to do so, I need my hands. Dammit. Guess I’m just gonna have to wait for the right moment, and hope my years of training don’t let me down now.

I bide my time, waiting for the right moment. Not long after I work out a game plan, the car slows, feeling as if it turns onto a gravel road. Even going at a much slower pace, the path is bumpy and rocks are being thrown around, kicked up by the wheels as it drives over the gravel. Wherever we are headed, I’m only going to get one shot at this. Who knows what will be waiting for me when we arrive. I risk a small peek, my eyes cracked through narrow slits. From what I can tell, I’m in the backseat, not buckled in. That’s good. Hopefully, he didn’t think to lock the doors.

Another call comes through over the line.

“Yeah?”

Perfect. This is going to be my best chance. I inch my body carefully sliding across the seat, closer to the driver’s side door.

“Yeah, we’ll be there soon. Did you get him? Perfect. That fucker is gonna get what’s coming to him. I’m gonna make him watch as the life drains out of his obsession and then I am gonna make him pay for the years of misery he put me through.”

I freeze. Shit. Are they talking about Theo? Did they get Theo too? Well fuck. Things just got a whole lot more complicated.

“How long until you can get him up here? No, I don’t fucking care that he was in California, I gave you a goddamn private jet to handle this shit. Just get it the fuck done! Don’t fucking give me that! I held up my end of the bargain, lady.”

What the hell is happening right now? Theo is in California; they definitely have to be talking about him. And lady? What lady? Fuck. If I don’t leave now, I’m going to miss my only window and then we will both be screwed. I need to get out of here, get some help, and then figure out how to save Theo.

He is still on the phone, arguing with whatever ‘lady’ is on the other end of the line. Now is the best chance, while he is distracted. Carefully, I curl into a ball, bringing my knees up and slowly shift into a crouched seated position, careful not to raise myself high enough to be easily seen in the rearview mirror. Shifting, I turn my back towards the door and awkwardly feel around for the handle. If it’s locked, I’m screwed either way, but if it’s not, I’m going to have to be quick about this. I’ll only have a few seconds lead on Tony. My fingers find the lever, and I quietly grab at it, pulling gently and I hear a soft click as it opens. Yes !

Without stopping to think or give another glance in Tony’s direction, I pull hard on the handle, while throwing myself backwards. The car chimes a soft ding, singling the door has been opened while the car is moving but I am already falling out the opening. Closing my eyes, I breathe deeply, bracing for impact. The car can’t be moving more than maybe ten miles an hour, but I land with a grunt at the force of hitting the gravel on my back, quickly doing a backwards roll, and coming to my feet.

The car is several yards ahead and quickly screeches to a stop, but I have already managed to bend forward, slamming my arms behind my back, using the force of the blow and the pull of my arms to snap the thin plastic of the zip tie. I don’t look behind me as I run. Tony shouts, cursing profusely as the car door slams shut, and then he rushes to follow me, but I have a good lead and I am already headed into the tree line.

I run until I think I’ve lost him, and then I push myself harder, and keep running. Tony was definitely not as in shape as I am, not prepared for a cross-country chase through the woods. It’s been a while since I could hear his footsteps crunch as he crashed through the underbrush, or his loud curses and heavy breathing. Thanks to Jonathan pushing me so hard for years, I am used to running in a variety of settings. He taught me to run fast and quiet, how to navigate various types of terrain from heavy woods, to sandy beaches and snowy mountains. I know how to cover my tracks, and how to keep an eye on my surroundings.

Keeping an eye out in case anyone else has been sent out to search for me, I eventually find a good spot where I can climb into the trees and catch my breath. I climb to where a thick branch sprouts out of the trunk and I settle onto it, resting my back against the thick center to catch my breath and assess the damage. My hands are sore, wrists raw from where I had to break free from the zip ties. My back is most likely all bruised up from how I landed on the rough gravel, and my limbs and ribs ache from however long I have been running. But I am free, and right now? That’s the only thing that matters .

As I am checking myself for injuries, I realize that I don’t have my fanny pack on. Shit! Tony must have removed it after he drugged me. Which means, he has my phone, gun, and emergency back-up tracker that was hidden inside a vape pen. Small and unobtrusive to the naked eye, were anyone to find my bag, they wouldn’t think twice about finding such a normal item inside, and that is the whole point. But I am not a smoker, never have been. Especially as a professional athlete, it would be detrimental to my career to vape, however, most people wouldn’t think to make the connection, which is exactly why Finn chose it to hide my backup emergency tracker in.

Not that it matters now, it is gone, along with the only other tools that I had at my disposal. I’m just going to have to rely on my instincts and training and pray that Finn comes up with some other way to find me. I have to get moving, I can’t stay here or else they’ll be able to find me. Help will be coming; though I’m not sure how long it will take them to get here. Until then, I am on my own.

Carefully, I stand once more. I need to get my bearings, find my way back to the road, while still staying hidden in the tree line. It is completely dark now, and the winter air has a bite to it. The sky is overcast, I don’t even have the stars to guide me. I should stay put, but I can’t. From what Tony was saying, it sounds like they have Theo. And it could be hours before any help comes. If I can find my way back to the road, I may be able to find wherever they are and help. Or at least keep an eye on things until help arrives. One step at a time, I slowly make my way back down to the ground, noting the area around me and the direction that I came from. I wander further east from the path I had been running and then double-back, heading in the direction of the road once more.

It takes me a while, but eventually I make my way back to the gravel path. It is overgrown, weeds and grass poking through the rocks and dirt that have been worn down with time. Now that I have a better idea of my bearings, I head further into the tree line, but follow along in the same direction, pacing myself. The air is frigid now, at the slight drizzle has left my curls damp and plastered to my face. My breath comes out in steamy puffs and my limbs have become numb from the cold, but still, I press forward.

I’m not sure how long I walk, but eventually I notice the trees start to thin out. Slowing my pace, I see a clearing ahead in the dark. Some large, run-down structure, an old barn possibly? There are several dark SUVs and Tony’s car parked out front. Shit. And there are guards. Two, that I see patrolling at opposite ends of the building, and they each have guns.

Quietly, I observe them as I run through different scenarios in my head. If I can create a diversion, I may be able to get one of them alone, and possibly disarm him. At least then, I would have a weapon as an added layer of defense. After several minutes, I find my opening and plan the details of how I am going to set this trap. With quiet movements, I crouch, staying hidden within the thinned-out tree coverage, staying aware of my surroundings as I inch closer. Let the games begin.