Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
The knots that had been twisting in Kelsey’s stomach continued to turn and tighten as she sat in the back of the SUV.
Feeling like she might be sick, she tried breathing deep and reassuring herself that everything was okay. She didn’t have any real reason to worry. Nothing bad had happened.
It was just that she was the last passenger in the vehicle, the other two women having been dropped off about ten minutes ago.
And it didn’t really seem like they were driving the right direction back to the apartment.
But the traffic was thick—typical in Vegas—and maybe the driver was taking a route that would avoid some of the most congested areas.
Another thing that bothered her was she didn’t know the guy behind the wheel.
Not that she really knew any of the guys Marco worked with—except Benny and Paul, who both seemed really nice—but she hadn’t even seen this man before. He wasn’t one of the guys she’d met earlier in the club.
She tried to speak, only a croaking noise escaping her throat until she cleared it away and was able to say, “Um, excuse me. Sir? Is this the way to Marco’s apartment?”
Stone-cold silence filled the car. It felt oppressively quiet, in fact. Kelsey wished there was music or sports radio droning softly in the background. But there was nothing. Even the always-noisy Vegas was somehow cut off from reaching her ears, as if the vehicle was soundproof.
Oh crap! Was this a car where they kidnapped or killed people—modified so no one would hear the screams?
But her heart just wouldn’t let her believe that Daddy would work for any organization who did such awful things. Sure, they were mixed up in something illegal. She understood that much. Kidnapping and murder were too far, though.
At least, she hoped. Not only for her own sake, either. But for Marco’s. And the would-be victims.
Mustering up the strength to try again, Kelsey said, “Sir, is this the right way? If you need directions?—”
“We’ll be there soon.”
She looked out the window again but still didn’t recognize any of her surroundings. They were away from the Strip, she knew. And downtown. The part of the city they’d driven into was considerably darker than those touristy areas. It wasn’t one of the many residential districts, either.
The street they now rolled slowly down looked sort of like the one where the nightclub was, only there wasn’t a line of people nor thumping techno music cutting the still night.
Only silence and thick shadows.
A few of the streetlights worked correctly, but one was blinking and two others were busted out completely. Finally, a sound penetrated the eerie silence, and it took Kelsey a moment to realize it was that of the SUV’s tires rolling over busted glass.
Kelsey’s hand instinctively went to the door handle and rested there, the feel of it comforting her. She didn’t pull it, though. There were too many unknowns to act rashly.
What if the driver really was taking her to the apartment, just using a different route? It might add up. There were people causing problems. That’s why Marco was so freaked out about her going anywhere alone. Her bottom still stung from the spanking that proved it!
So, what if the driver was zig-zagging some crazy route to make sure no one was following them? Kelsey had seen stuff like that in the movies. Maybe people did it in real life too.
Another thing that worried her was the possibility that greater dangers awaited her out of the SUV. There was some old adage about the devil you know… but she didn’t remember all of it… and she didn’t actually know the driver or Niko, who’d given him his orders.
And the few times she’d been around Niko she didn’t like him at all. He just gave off bad vibes!
Like him or not, Niko was the one calling the shots right now. Marco wasn’t around to protect her. So, perhaps she was better off in the thick, choking darkness of the deserted, rundown street.
They weren’t moving that fast. She could easily survive the jump. It was possible she’d sprain her ankle or something, which would hinder her escape, but that was a risk she might just have to take.
Kelsey had no idea what the right move was here. But she did know that she would eventually reach a point where time ran out, and the decision would be made for her.
The idea terrified her. She wanted to be in control. Well, she wanted Daddy to be in control. But he wasn’t here right now. This was all up to her.
With a rapid, drumming heart rate, she yanked hard on the door handle.
Nothing happened.
Kelsey tried harder, feeling frantic enough to yank the handle right out of the door.
Still, it didn’t budge.
She caught sight of the man up front briefly glancing in his rearview mirror to check on her, but he didn’t seem overly concerned.
The car slowed even more before turning right, down an alley that was dimly illuminated by a single bare bulb that hung over a metal door on the right.
Well, Kelsey thought, at least I have one answer: we aren’t going to Marco’s apartment.
The SUV came to a smooth stop before the door and it opened.
Kelsey had another answer now.
It was Niko who was waiting for her.
And he looked particularly vicious as he wore a wolfish grin and stepped closer to the SUV.