Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
FRANCI
I come awake feeling rested but angry. I can’t believe he drugged me. Checking the time, I realize it’s almost noon. I slept through the night. I walk out and look for a phone or something. Noticing clothes in the closet, I put on a pair of jeans that fit perfectly and a soft-blue sweater. As I dress, I reflect on everything he’s done for me. I love him and want to be with him, but he can’t rule everything and tell me what I will and won’t do.
There’s a slight ache in my leg. I looked at the area before I got dressed. I found a small needle mark, but I know that’s not how he got me to sleep, so I’m not sure what it is. It’s time for me to get answers.
I throw open the front door, and a man with blond hair and icy blue eyes stands from the chair he was sitting in outside.
“Hey, I’m Frost. You’re supposed to stay here in the house.”
“Nope. I’m not a dog. I don’t stay.”
I walk across the new lawn toward the building where he dropped Striker off last night. I know that he’s got to be in there. As soon as the door opens, I see scantily clad women sprawled out on surfaces. There aren’t many men around—just a few old ones and a couple who are probably my age. I turn to Frost.
“I thought he said clear out the place. Where is his office?”
He points as a bare-chested woman sits up. “Stop talking so loud, you prissy bitch.” I ignore her and keep walking.
“That’s the president’s old lady. I’d show her some respect,” Frost barks at the woman.
When I reach the office, the door is open, and a dark-haired man is kissing a blond woman. For a moment, I think it’s Gavin, but then I get a better look.
“Where is he?” I yell, and they jump back.
“Hem, she won’t stay put. I tried,” Frost tells the guy.
“I want to know where Gavin is right now.” Both of them look at me like I’m crazy. “Gambit! Where is he?”
“He’s out looking for Crank,” the guy named Hem says before he wraps his arm around the girl.
“I need a phone,” I say, and the woman hands me one when the guys don’t.
I dial Ryan’s number that I’ve had memorized for a long time.
“How are they?” I ask in way of greeting.
“Leif is holding his own. He’ll have to go back into surgery again. Ridley is stomping around and scaring the staff.” He chuckles.
“I’m on my way. I need to be there with her this time.”
“No,” he says as I hang up on him. I look at the phone and back up to the woman.
“I’ll owe you.”
I request an uber, knowing the guys won’t help me get away from here because they were ordered to keep me safe, but my family needs me.
I hand her the phone back after I shut the app so the guys won’t know what I’m doing. I rush out of the building, running for the car as it pulls up. I usually have to wait for Ubers, but this one was in the area. I jump in the back seat and realize my error as soon as a gun is pressed into my face and the car takes off fast.
I hear Frost and Hem yelling my name and pray they get a message to Gavin quickly.
“Hello, Crank.” I know him instantly.
“Ello, little girl.” He chuckles. “I knew if I was patient, I’d get you.”
I lean forward, away from the gun, and see the driver dead in the passenger seat. I hold my stomach down. I’m upset that I played right into his hand.
I reach for the door, contemplating jumping out and getting hurt instead of letting him kill me. He clicks the locks, and I notice I can’t unlock them from back here. I lean back in the seat and start planning my escape.