Chapter 33
Willa’s head ached, and her stomach felt unsteady. She wasn’t sure what Robert had hit her with, but no question, she had a concussion.
When she opened her eyes, the bright lights made it feel like someone had pushed a spike into her skull. She drew in a slow breath, trying to get a hold on her reactions.
“So you are awake. Quit faking and get up. I need dinner.”
Everything came flooding back to her. What had Cindy’s plans for her been? The woman must have known she would tell the police what had happened. Had Cindy really meant for her to die?
Now she was back with Robert. The guy wasn’t going to let her go any time soon.
“Get up!”
The roar of his voice made her head pound. Every time she cracked open her eyes, pain lashed out, taking her breath.
Then his hands were on her, pulling her up. “Useless bitch.”
His hand flew, and she gasped as pain seized her. Her knees buckled, and she dropped. She wanted to get up and stop the beating, but she couldn’t stand.
This was why she’d left Robert, and now she was back in his control. No question, the other guy had meant to kill her, but spending her life being beaten by Robert, having to put up with his abuse, just might be worse.
Instead of helping her, he kicked her a couple of times, then stumbled out, slamming the door as he left.
Willa lay there for a moment just breathing. It took her more time than she had, but finally she pushed herself up so she was braced against a piece of furniture.
It looked like he’d taken her to a hotel. Hotels had phones. She had to call Cy and tell him where she was.
She was too weak and in too much pain to stand, so she crawled and rolled over to the table beside the bed, praying Robert didn’t come back before she made the call.
Calling Cy and saying she was at a hotel wouldn’t work. She had to know where they were. It had taken almost all her strength to make it to the side of the bed. There was no way she could make it over to the other side of the room and look out the window.
Willa turned off the light above the phone, giving her some relief from the pain slashing through her brain.
Where were they?
She opened the top drawer and looked inside, not seeing anything. The second drawer wasn’t much better. Then she saw something taped to the desk. It was a pizza menu, telling her how to order and where to get it delivered. She had the address of the hotel and the room number.
When she first met Cy, she’d memorized his number, knowing if Robert took her, he would take possession of her phone.
It took her a moment to understand how to dial out, but finally she got it. Fear pumped through her as she dialed each number.
The idea that Robert could come back at any moment scared the shit out of her. If he caught her on the phone, he would make her pay.
The line started to ring, and at that exact moment, she heard Robert’s voice right outside the room. Was he actually talking to someone, or was he on the phone? If he opened the door and saw her with the phone off the hook, he would throw a fit, maybe killing her.
Should she hang up or wait? Indecision ate at her, causing her heart to speed up.