Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Quinlan
M y head is pounding and it’s hard to open my eyes. The last thing I remember is arguing with those two bitches in the bathroom. And now I think I’m sitting on a chair with my hands tied behind my back. Or that’s what it feels like. I’m trying to wiggle my hands so I can rub my eyes, but I can’t. I’m taking deep breaths so I don’t panic. But it’s really hard. Thoughts of Jagger are the only thing that’s keeping me calm.
I finally get my eyes open and they feel crusty. Someone comes into the room.
“Oh good, you’re finally up. I was worried the girls had given you too much of the sedative.”
I look up at the man.
“Who are you? Where am I?”
“I’m Vincent Burrows, Senior. I’m your grandfather. You look like my Veronica when she was your age.”
I keep quiet, I’m pretty sure that opening my mouth and saying what I think will get me into a lot of trouble.
“You’re going to be my ticket back into the world I love. You will be given to the head of the Koslov Bratva as a gift for his youngest son.”
Vincent smirks at me. I’ve heard that name. Koslov. They’re the Russian mafia that was causing trouble for the Mancinis. Everything I heard about them is bad. I stare at him, trying not to show him how terrified I am.
“Don’t worry. From what I hear, his youngest son is the nicest of all of his children.” He cackles at me, making the hair on my arms stand at attention. “You should be thanking me for finding you a husband. You’re a bastard child. A child of rape. No one wants that in a woman.”
Okay, I can only take so much.
“Fuck you.”
“Is that any way to speak to your grandfather? I’m doing this to help you. There’s no need to be ungrateful.”
“You’re not my grandfather. And I don’t want you to do me any fucking favors.”
“Hmm. Well it looks like we’re not going to get anywhere. I’ll send in one of my girls to come and help you clean up. We want you to look pretty for the Koslovs.”
Vincent leaves and a woman comes in. Not one of the women from the club bathroom, this one looks almost nice. Like a grandmotherly type.
“I’m sorry but I can’t loosen your ropes. But I can clean you up and then someone will come in and help me get you changed. My name is Martha.”
“My name is Quinlan. You can loosen my hands. I won’t hurt you,” I say to her.
“I’m sorry, I can’t.”
I watch her as she cuts my clothes off and starts to wash me. It’s embarrassing, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
“Do you know how long I’ve been here?” I ask her.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
“Can you tell me what day it is? And what time?”
“It’s Saturday, about 8 am.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
So I’ve been here overnight, I’m still trying not to worry. The one thing I’m sure of is that everyone’s looking for me. My parents. They’re supposed to be coming in today around lunchtime. I know Jagger and Luciana will take care of them. But they’re going to be so worried and that makes me angry. I need to get out of this so I can tell them how sorry I am. And I need to hold Jagger again. I miss him so damn much.
Martha finishes cleaning me up and a man comes in. He leers at my naked body.
“You’re not allowed to touch her,” Martha snaps at him. “I just need you to help me so I can get her dressed.”
The man grunts and still tries to grope me as he’s helping Martha move me around. They release one hand and one foot at a time so she can dress me. When she’s done, she dismisses him and he leaves with a frown.
“I’m sorry he was touching you. He knows better than that.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for cleaning me up.”
Martha nods at me. “I’ll bring you some food and a drink.”
“I appreciate that.”
My stomach rumbles as she leaves. I am hungry, and they wouldn’t try to poison me, right?
Jagger
I spent most of last night staring at Quinn’s side of the bed. She doesn’t live with me yet, but she’s been staying over a lot. I can smell her scent on the pillow I’m clutching.
Francesco confirmed that three women were with Quinn when she left the bathroom. It didn’t look like they were forcing her, but it also didn’t look like she was walking right. So they think she was drugged. Which makes sense, that’s the only way Quinn would go with them without making a scene. Or trying to alert someone.
Luciana told me about when she was kidnapped. But the one difference is that she has a tracker in her arm. It’s something they all have. Right now, I’m thinking this is a good thing and I’ll be talking to my family about getting that done for us. Especially since we’re going to have ties to the two families.
My parents are picking up Quinn’s parents in a few hours. They don’t know she’s been abducted, and I dread telling them. I’ve talked to them on the phone, but never met them in person.
“Hey, Francesco, any news?” I answer my phone.
“We’ve identified the women that took Quinn. They work for Vincent Burrows, Veronica knows them. And she thinks she knows where they might have taken her. We’re headed there now.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“You can’t, Jagger. We’ve gone over this, we will get Quinn back to you.”
“I won’t ask you to promise that, because I know you can’t. But I need her, Francesco.”
“I get it, Jagger. If you don’t hear from us by the time you leave to pick up her parents, just go and get them as planned.”
“Okay. Thank you. Be safe.”
“One of us will call you as soon as we can.”
I hang up and turn to see my mom, who comes over and hugs me.
“Quinn’s going to be alright. We have to keep that hope,” she says softly to me.
“I know, Mom. I’m really trying. It’s just so hard not knowing what’s happening to her.”
“I know, son. But you have to be strong so that when they bring her home, she can lean on you.”
I hug my mom. “Thank you, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”