Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Gia
“ W akey, wakey, whore.” A stinging pain rips across one cheek and then the other as I slowly come to. Stabbing pain pounds in my skull, and my arms ache. I yelp as ice-cold water is thrown over my head, drops clinging to my lashes as I open my eyes. All the blood drains from my face when I stare into a pair of familiar cold blue eyes.
I am royally screwed, so I figure I have nothing to lose by faking confusion.
Glancing down, I see I’m strapped to a chair with my ankles bound to the legs and my wrists tied behind the back. I can’t even activate my earrings or reach my watch to press the panic button. “Baby, what’s going on?”
My eyes dart left and right, scanning the large derelict warehouse. A few crates are stacked high against the far wall, and a bunch of fold-up chairs are propped against an old laminate-covered table that’s seen better days. Piles of old newspapers and empty bottles and beer cans roll along the debris-strewn ground. Overhead lights provide scant illumination, but I see enough to know I’m in serious danger.
I might not make it out of this alive.
Shoving those thoughts aside because they won’t help me survive, I focus on keeping calm and alert.
Another slap to the face whips my head around. “What’s going on is you lied to me, Emma. Or should I call you Gia now? You lying, treacherous cunt!” His eyes flare with anger as he grabs my crotch through my leggings and squeezes tight. Behind him, a few chuckles ring out, and I stare straight ahead, noticing the same group of men from the basement that night with three others I recognize from the bar.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! You’re mistaking me for someone else! Why are you doing this, Liam?”
“Don’t. Fucking. Lie.” He slams his fist into my stomach, and I struggle to breathe, gasping when I can’t suck enough air into my lungs.
“You drugged me, you fucking cunt!” Spittle flies from his lips as he yanks my head back. He thrusts a few blurry images in my face—still shots of me rummaging through his apartment—and I know the game is definitely up. “You think you could snoop, and I wouldn’t know?”
“You got cameras installed at your place.” I checked for cameras and didn’t find any, but it’s the only logical explanation. Rolling my shoulders, I wince as pain radiates from the top of my arm up over my shoulder. My left arm throbs like a bitch, and I glance briefly at it, forcing panic back down my throat when it threatens to erupt. The arm of my sweater is gone, and dried blood clings to my skin from the wound on top where they hacked out my tracking chip.
“Got them installed a few days before you came over that last time because I already had my suspicions. Mazzone isn’t the only one capable of getting his hands on high-tech prototypes. These cameras have an anti-detection layer, so your pitiful attempt to locate them failed.”
The gloves are off now, and I let my anger take control. “Then I guess you already know I loathe you. You’re scum of the earth, Liam McDermott, and your puny cock never once turned me on. You’re the defective one, and you’re going to get what’s coming to you.”
“Fucking whore,” he yells, coming at me with venom spewing from his lips and his eyes. He goes to town on my face, punching and slapping me, and I regret my reckless outburst even if it felt so good to say it.
“I thought you wanted to have your fun with her first and record it to send to him,” someone says, and the words get through to him. Liam stops whaling on my face, looking at me with derision.
“How I ever thought you were perfect is beyond me. Everything about you is fake.” He grabs my chest and squeezes. “Except your tits. I might have to take these as a souvenir.” He lets go of my breasts to rub my hair between his fingers. “Was this for me? Was it your idea or that asshole Accardi’s?”
I attempt to glare at him through my good eye. The other is swollen and sore, and I can only half see out of it. Blood drips from my nose, over my mouth and chin. “Fuck. You.”
“Oh, you’ll get your wish, sweetheart. I promise we’ll get to the fun part soon.”
Bile travels up my throat, but I shut my emotions down and concentrate on loosening the rope binding my hands without making discernible movements. Whoever tied it didn’t tie it very tight.
“You’re going to die, Gia.” He spits my name out like it’s poison. “No one tricks me and lives to tell the tale. When I’m done with you, I’m going to rip your heart from your chest and send it to Don Accardi in a box with a big shiny bow.”
“It will only sign your death warrant. You and everyone you care about,” I say, continuing to unknot the rope at my hands. It’s coming away easily, and I’ll be free soon.
“Keeping her alive surely makes more sense,” the same brave idiot says from the back. He’s one of the men from the bar. “You can use her to barter with Accardi. She’s more valuable alive than dead.”
Liam is suitably incensed, and he turns to face the man who surely has a death wish. “Name, soldier,” he barks.
Briefly, I wonder if he is one of O’Hara’s spies. Did he bind my hands and wrists and purposely leave them loose?
“Hennessy, sir.” The man straightens up as Liam approaches.
All eyes swing toward the oncoming confrontation, and I slip my hands free, holding the rope between my palms until I’m ready to let go of it. I wrap one hand around my wrist to press the alert button on my watch, but it’s missing. I look down at my neck, cursing when I notice my necklace is gone too. I can’t risk touching my ears to see if my earrings are still intact, but I fucking pray they are because it’s the only slim chance I have of getting out of this alive.
“Well, Hennessy, who the fuck gave you the impression you could tell me what to do?” Liam squares off with him.
“It was only a suggestion, sir. I’ve heard Accardi is serious about her. She’s good leverage is all.”
“But is that all?” Liam tips his head to the side, inspecting the man like he’s a science experiment. The remaining men form a line behind Liam, facing Hennessy. “Are you loyal to me or my brother?”
Hennessy’s eyes drill into me with silent warning, and I’m sure now he’s trying to help me.
“You, sir. My father was one of your father’s most senior capos . I was at your house for dinner several times when we were younger. We even played Monopoly together a time or two.”
“Is there a point to this fascinating stroll down Memory Lane?” Liam drawls.
Yes. He’s distracting you so I can get free! None of the men are watching me, so I take a calculated risk and free my hands, tossing the rope off to one side as I get to work on removing the bindings around my ankles.
“Just that I have known you since we were boys, and it’s an honor to watch you grow into this role and an honor to serve you. You deserve to be in charge, not O’Hara. It’s your legacy. Your birthright.”
“Is that so, soldier?” Liam pushes right up into his face. “Phone.”
“What?” Hennessy blinks.
“Hand over your phone.”
“Why?”
Liam punches him in the face, and the man drops to his knees just as I’ve unwound the last rope. “Because I said so, fuckface.”
I look frantically around for a way out other than the front of the building, rejoicing when I spot a small side door a few feet behind me. I wonder if Hennessy positioned the chair here so I could escape?
“Here ya go,” Hennessy says, throwing the cell at Liam. In the same instant, he slides a gun across the floor toward me and pulls out another gun he points at Liam. “Run, Gia,” he yells as all hell breaks loose.
I don’t need to be told twice.
I dart forward and swipe the gun before ducking down as bullets whizz over my head.
“I want her alive!” Liam yells as gunfire rings out in the warehouse.
I don’t stop to look, racing toward the door and fleeing into the darkness outside.
I’m slammed back against the wall of the warehouse by a snarling man with a bald head and a straggly beard. “Where’d you think you’re going?”
“Home,” I snarl, bringing my knee up and burying it between his legs. He goes down like a sack of potatoes, but it won’t hold him for long. “Sorry not sorry,” I say as I lift my gun and fire. “Fuck, ow,” I hiss, only now noticing the prick stuck me with a needle just before I put a bullet in his skull. I yank it out, paling at the clear liquid that is almost gone. That cannot be good, and I need to get out of here.
I take off running, fleeing toward the lights in the far distance. It’s pitch-black with no streetlamps guiding my way, but I recognize the boardwalk ahead of me, confirming I’m back in Atlantic City. Reaching up, I touch my ears, almost crying in relief when I feel my earrings. I press down on them and repeat my codeword. “Dancer, dancer, dancer. I’m in Atlantic City, on the northern end, but I’m heading toward the boardwalk.”
A shot flies by my side, and I scream, pushing my limbs harder. My breath oozes out in panicked spurts at the sound of approaching footfalls. There is nothing but grass all around me and the ocean on my left as I run. There is no one to run to for help and nowhere to hide. Although it’s dark, I’m still exposed and outnumbered. Maybe my best bet is the ocean. I’m a good swimmer, and maybe they won’t be inclined to chase after me if I’m in the water. So, I detour left and head in that direction.
“It was Liam,” I say, keeping my voice low. Liam doesn’t seem to be aware of the audio device, and I want to keep it that way. I glance briefly over my shoulder, spotting several shadows advancing on me, and I know I can’t outrun them, so I turn around and fire off a few shots, buying myself a little more time to reach the water and to explain. “He knows who I am, and he knows who I am to Joshua. He’s planning to kill me. One of O’Hara’s men helped me to escape, and he paid with his life. I might not make it.” I stumble a little as my legs turn to Jell-O. “I was injected with something. I don’t feel too hot,” I add as nausea churns in my gut. “Tell my family and Joshua I love them.”
Tremors wash over me, and I sway on my feet as they threaten to go out from under me. I push my failing body forward, stumbling and almost tripping over my feet as my vision blurs and my limbs give out. Footsteps approach as I collapse on the ground, only a few feet from the water. My body shakes as nausea swims up my throat and drowsiness consumes me. I attempt to drag my body forward on the ground toward the ocean, but it refuses to cooperate. “I love you, Joshua,” I whisper as the shadows approach. “You make me really happy.”
“Fucking bitch!” Liam kicks me in the ribs, and a sleepy cry flees from my lips.
“Boss, they know where we are,” someone says as I fight to stay with it. “Hennessy texted our location. We’ve got to assume they’re on their way.”
“Joshua,” I mumble.
Liam emits a furious rage-filled shout as men surround me. They’re all a blur, and I can’t see properly.
“Guess we’re going with Plan B,” he says in a calculated voice as he leans down and begins ripping my clothes away.
I will my limbs to cooperate as I try to slap him away, but my body is hijacked under whatever drug is infiltrating my bloodstream.
“Fuck. I just came in my pants looking at those tits.”
Laughter surrounds me, and I’m drifting in and out as hands grope me everywhere. I open my mouth to tell them to stop, but my mouth won’t cooperate now, and I’m silently screaming as my legs are pried open and pain shoots through me. I’m barely conscious as someone pounds into me and fingers dig into my flesh.
I drift in and out of consciousness.
“You promised us a turn,” an angry man says.
“Plans change,” Liam hisses. “But if anyone wants to risk getting caught for some mediocre pussy, go for it.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” someone says, and I hear the telltale sound of a zipper lowering. Laughter ensues as warm liquid flows over my body.
I barely feel it when they kick and punch me, but I push through the barrier, screaming and screaming when intense pain bears down on my arm.
Then I black out.
I wake with a jolt as freezing-cold tentacles poke at my flesh. My entire body is shaking, and my teeth are chattering. My eyelids refuse to open. For a few seconds, I don’t remember anything, and then it all comes back to me. My eyes pop open as the most excruciating pain flays me everywhere. I throw up, retching as my battered body is bathed in ice-cold water. I blink my eyes repeatedly, trying to adjust to the darkness, to get some clue on my whereabouts, when another wave of freezing water laps at my chest.
“Fuck.” The word comes out garbled, but at least my tongue appears to be working again. I’m shivering and in incredible pain. It’s hard to remain conscious, but I push through because I know this is life or death. I have no clue how much time has passed since I blacked out and no way of knowing if Joshua has come and can’t find me.
My gaze roams over the darkness before me, making out wooden boards and a few scant lights in the distance, bobbing on the water. It takes great effort to lift my head from the cold stone I’m lying on, but I do it after several tries. The rest of my body is still numb, and my hands and legs are bound so tight they’re restricting blood flow. I can’t move from this ledge, not even when I see the wave coming for me this time.
I brace myself, closing my eyes and whimpering as the wave crashes into me.
This is bad. So bad.
“Joshua.” I pray my words are decipherable. “Under boardwalk. Ledge. Tide.”
I repeat the same words over and over as I’m battered by the rising tide and shivering all over. Drowsiness comes to claim me again, and I fight it, but it’s too much. I’m just drifting away when I hear my name being called from above. “Joshua,” I croak. My words sound clearer even with the noticeable trembling, confirming the drug is working its way out of my system. “I’m under the boardwalk. On a ledge, and the tide is coming in. I don’t have long.”
“Gia!” The sound of his voice is like music to my ears. He’s getting closer.
“Joshua!” I try to shout, but I have no power in my voice. “I can hear him. He’s close,” I tell whoever is listening. I’m assuming they are talking to Joshua.
“Gia, where are you? Scream, honey. As loud as you can.”
I summon whatever strength I have left and scream as loud as I can.
“Over here,” someone says.
I cower as bright light rains down on me from above. “She’s here!” someone with an unfamiliar voice says, and inside I’m crying tears of joy.
“Gia. I’m here.” He leans over the edge, peering at me with equal measures of concern and relief in his eyes.
“Joshua.” Tears leak down my face.
“It’s okay, honey. I’m coming to get you.”