Chapter 37 Sydney
THIRTY-SEVEN
SYDNEY
“I’m not kidding,” Beau says, an accusing finger pointed at his partner. “Do not, under any circumstances, let her out of those cuffs while I’m gone. Do you understand?”
Kyle rolls his eyes, scoffing. “I’m not a child. You don’t have to remind me every ten seconds. She’ll be fine. Now, will you please go get the food before I faint?” He holds out his hand, his palm facing the floor. “Look. I’m shaking.”
Beau pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “I can’t take this shit,” he mutters. “I should’ve just let the boss chop off a finger in exchange for my debt. Would’ve been less painful than working with you.”
“That’s a little dramatic,” Kyle retorts. “Anyway, my blood sugar is plummeting as we speak. Would you mind, or should I just call an ambulance now?”
Beau growls in response, spinning on his heel abruptly.
He mumbles the entire way toward the door, slamming it shut behind him so roughly that it echoes off the dirt-covered concrete walls.
I listen carefully as his footsteps fade, followed by the sound of his vehicle as it drives into the distance.
Knowing that I probably only have about twenty minutes with Tweedle Dumber, I put into motion the plan I’ve been drumming up since they cuffed me to the chair.
“Are you okay?” I ask, using the sweetest, gentlest tone I can muster. “I get shaky if I don’t eat, too.”
He looks up, nodding as a soft smile plays at his lips. “Yeah, I’ll be okay. Thanks for asking.” His brows lift. “What about you? I know this is all kinda”—he gestures vaguely—“inconvenient, but is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”
I want to tell him how stupid it is to refer to a kidnapping as inconvenient, but I refrain, knowing that I’ve got him right where I want him. The clock is ticking, and I need to act fast if I want to get out of here before Beau returns.
“Actually,” I say, furrowing my brows like I’m in distress. “I have to use the bathroom. Could you just undo the cuffs really quick? I promise, I’ll do my business and come right back. No one has to know.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Beau said not to.
” He rubs the back of his neck, his eyes scanning the cold, empty room as though he thinks his partner may jump out at any second to chastise him.
I almost feel bad for the guy, but then I remember that he’s literally holding me captive and lock back in.
Ducking my chin, I give him my very best puppy eyes. “I know. It’s just that I’m feeling some cramps. I might have”—I lean in, lowering my voice like I’m about to say something unspeakable—“started my period.”
His brows shoot up, nearly disappearing into his hairline as realization hits. I cringe a little to drive the point home, and he stays frozen for a few seconds before popping out of the chair. “Say no more. I have three sisters. I completely understand.”
“Thanks,” I reply, stifling a smile as he turns toward the wall, pulls down a small silver keyring, and hurries in my direction.
He crouches down, making quick work of the cuffs around my ankles before circling behind me to undo my wrists.
In a matter of seconds, I’m completely freed of the restraints, turning toward him as I massage the sore, red marks they left behind.
“I really appreciate this, Kyle,” I say, turning up the charm and earning a besotted smile in response. His cheeks pinken, his twitterpated gaze falling to the floor for just a moment before finding mine again. “I swear, I’ll be back before you know it. You can cuff me right back up aft—”
I don’t even finish my sentence before curling my fingers into a fist and punching him right in the throat.
He chokes on a gasp and doubles over, giving me an opportunity to jam my knee into his nose.
He cries out in agony, both hands coming up to cover his face as blood drips onto the concrete beneath him.
Knowing I don’t have a second to waste, I take off.
I throw the door open and run, hurriedly counting my strides as I navigate toward the exit.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, I say in my head, making the same turn Beau did as he carried my limp body inside from the van.
Another thirty-one steps later, I hang a right, breathing a small sigh of relief when light from the parking area begins to filter through the darkened space.
Just one more right at the end of the hall, then I’m home-free, already envisioning the gravel that crunched under the tires and the lighthouse in the distance.
But as soon as I turn the corner, all my hopes of a clean getaway are blown to bits as I crash into a wide, hard body.
“Oof!” Air rushes from my lungs, and a set of large hands wraps around my biceps as I bounce back. Unable to give up when I’m so close to freedom, I fight to break out of the hold, thrashing and flailing with all my might, but it’s no use. He’s too big—too strong—to escape.
“Whoa, little lady. Where do you think you’re going?
” Beau drawls, a sinister smile stretched across his face as he spins me around and wraps his arms tightly around me.
The move immobilizes me completely, pinning my arms to my sides while I continue to fight.
I know I’m only gassing myself out at this point, but I don’t have it in me to quit.
“Let me go,” I growl, using every ounce of remaining energy to combat his hold.
I kick my feet, attempting to catch him off guard, but unlike his dim-witted counterpart, he’s ready for every strike before it even happens.
My heart pounds in my chest, exhaustion winning the battle as I go limp in his unwelcome embrace.
“No can do, sweetheart. You’re worth too much.
” He buries his nose in my hair, sending a shiver down the length of my spine when he inhales deeply.
My stomach roils, tears of defeat stinging behind my eyes as the prospect of seeing my loved ones again fades away to almost nothing.
Did my attempted escape just make whatever they’re planning on doing to me even worse?
I just want to go home. To hug my mom, dad, Livvy, and Maddox.
To kiss Steele as I tell him over and over how much I love him.
To listen to Stella and Austin bicker like brother and sister as Emmett looks on adoringly.
To watch Theo dote over his girls, and witness how happy Jett is now that Bailey’s making him a dad.
I belong with them, not here in some run-down warehouse on the outskirts of the city.
Heavy footsteps quickly approach, and I blink the tears away just as Kyle emerges from the shadows.
Even in this moment of despair, I have to mentally high-five myself as I take in the pitiful sight.
I fucked him up pretty good, and the evidence of that is covering almost every inch of him from head to toe.
“What the hell happened to you?” Beau asks as his partner struggles for breath. He narrows his gaze on me, and I lift a brow, silently urging him to tell the story of how I tricked him into uncuffing me, then promptly beat his ass.
“She said she”—he cringes, clearing his throat nervously—“started her period. I didn’t want her to get blood all over the place.”
Beau hums noncommittally, dragging his stare down to Kyle’s shirt that’s soaked in red. “Yeah, we wouldn’t want that.” He turns his attention to me, his rancid breath hot against the shell of my ear. “I should kill you right here. You’re lucky the boss wants you unharmed when we bring you home.”
Wait. Home?
“You’re letting me go?” I ask, choking back a sob.
“Not exactly,” he replies. “I’ve been given strict orders to have you on Harlow’s doorstep at seven sharp. If he hasn’t transferred four million dollars after thirty seconds, we’re allowed to do whatever we want to you, as long as it’s in view of his security cameras.”
Four million dollars? Holy shit.
What the hell did Styles do to owe this guy that much money?
That’s Steele’s entire contract from the Renegades.
Now, he has to give it all away just to ensure my safety.
When all is said and done, I’ll be returning every dime.
It’s not his fault he gets stuck cleaning up his brother’s messes, and he sure as hell shouldn’t have to do it alone.
“I guess we should probably get a move on,” Kyle says, checking his watch. “It’s six-forty.”
Beau agrees, gripping onto the back of my shirt as he leads me toward the van.
He’s not gentle in the slightest, tossing me into the seat and buckling me in as Kyle produces two long ropes from the front seat.
I roll my eyes as they bind my ankles and wrists, even helping the stupid idiots by extending them between us.
Their knot-tying skills are atrocious now that I’m no longer groggy.
I’m sure I could easily escape them if I wanted to, not that I do.
We’re in the middle of nowhere, and as long as I comply, I’ll be back with Steele before I know it.
“This, too. Now that you’re awake, we can’t have you telling anyone where we do business,” Beau adds, covering my eyes with a long, black piece of fabric.
It smells terrible, like it’s been soaked in motor oil, but I don’t give a fuck.
It could be doused in pure gasoline, and I’d still wear it if it meant getting the hell out of here faster.
He fastens it with yet another shitty knot, making everything around me go dark.
I think of Steele, and how he put blindfolds on his list of hard limits simply because he couldn’t bear the thought of me being out of his sight.
Fuck, I never thought I could miss someone so much.
He’d better get used to seeing me, because once I’m back in his arms, I’m never leaving again.