Chapter Twenty-Six
Jade
I’m singing Lizzo, driving down the road back toward home. Another good day at the salon, another fantastic hair do, and I’m feeling amazing. I only had to work a half day today, and I can't wait to get home, strip down, lie in the tub, and just soak. I have the windows down, my hair bouncing, and one of my favorite singers blasting through my car's speakers. We had another baby appointment earlier this week. I just hit my thirty-eight weeks. Our baby girl could come any minute now. Nothing could bring me down from this high!
As I switch lanes, I look up in my rear-view mirror and notice an old black truck following a bit too close to me. What the fuck? Get off my damn ass! I have way too bad of road rage. My dad always said it would get me killed one day, but people are stupid regarding vehicles and pavement. I roll my eyes and speed up a bit, hoping I can put a little space between us. The truck just speeds up, though, keeping pace with me. What the fuck? I slow down when we come to a passing lane. Hopefully, the assholes will just go on ahead, but as the passing lane wizzes by with no oncoming cars and the truck is still stuck up my ass, I know something's wrong.
Fuck, what the hell is happening? I don't take my eyes off the curvy road but reach over to the passenger seat, open my purse, and dig through it for my phone. I feel leather, and it calms me. The mini motorcycle jacket Halle got for the baby. I take a deep breath and finally find my phone. I breathe a sigh of relief and look back in the rearview mirror one more time. Before I can even get my phone turned on, I’m gasping it and bracing for impact. The truck is too close. No way they won't hit me.
The hit comes seconds after that thought. It seems they just rammed into the back of the car, but I was able to keep control. I scream. What the hell is going on? Why is someone trying to cause me to wreck? I want to wrap my arms around my stomach, ensuring the baby is protected, but I know I need to concentrate. I need to get us both out of here. Alive.
The next hit that I take has the car spinning. I get dizzy and feel my head smash into the window beside me. I spin until I can't tell what direction I’m facing. I’m pretty sure the car rolled a couple of times, but I feel so out of it. This doesn't seem real. I just feel so light. You know that feeling you get when swinging as high as you can on a swing set? Over and over, you swing your legs until you feel like you can touch the sky. That feeling like you’re floating. That's how I’m feeling right now. I know I shouldn't feel calm, but my body is just so light. Nothing hurts.. yet.
I blink my eyes and shake my head, trying to pass the nausea and dizziness, but it just makes it worse. I can't move any part of my body, and I’m so disoriented, but I can feel wetness running down the side of my face. When I turn and look at the window, I notice it's been shattered, and there is blood all around it. My blood. Oh shit, this isn't good. I shake my head again, knowing that whoever ran me off the road must have had a reason for wanting me incapacitated. Did they want me dead? What if that was their true motive? I need to get out of this car. I need to run. Shit, I need my phone first. I look around wildly but don't see it. The car is so banged up it could be anywhere. What the hell am I supposed to do now?
That’s when my body freezes. There are voices outside the car, and they are coming my way. I can't hear what they are saying, but at the moment, I don't care. I just want to get as far away from these fuckers as I possibly can.
I unbuckle my seatbelt quickly, then try the door. I whimper when it doesn't budge. I look around for something to pry it open with, but it's useless. I have nothing in here that could help me. I try to crawl over the seat to the passenger side, but with my almost full-term pregnant belly, it's just not possible. Fuck! What the hell am I going to do? The voices are closer now, and I want to cry. I want to scream. Who are these fuckers, and what the hell do they want with me?
I don't have to wait long. The voices stop at the side of the car. I turn and look to see if I can recognize who they are. Their voices aren't familiar, but that means nothing. When I finally get a good look, I don' recognize either one of the two people standing by the door. One is a tall, skinny man in a polo shirt, and his hair is perfectly styled. He looks like a prick. Next to him is a small red-headed woman with freckles covering her face, and a button nose. I would even consider her pretty if the crazy bitch didn't just run me off the road.
“Well?” the bitch says, pointing toward my front door.
“What?” Prick asks.
“Well, open the fucking door and pull her fat ass out!” She screeches. Oh, no the fuck she did not go there!
“Why do I have to open the door? I’m the one who ran her off the road!” The prick whines. Yes, a grown-ass man whining like a fucking baby. God, if these two are making the plans I dont know if I’ll be able to keep my mouth shut for this kidnapping.
“You really think I’m getting in there? Hurry the hell up! Someone could drive by anytime now!” She screeches. Prick huffs but pulls at the door, trying to pry it open. I am frantically but quietly looking for my phone, praying the door holds. Spoiler alert… It doesn't.
The door pries open, and I decide I have to try a different tactic. I take a deep breath before turning toward the door and pulling my knees up as far as possible. The minute the door flies open, I meet the eyes of the prick. He was smug up until he saw me conscious. Right before my feet fly right into his chest, the pussy squeaks in fear. He actually squeaks! I roll my eyes but turn to look at the bitch, ready to knock her teeth out, but a wave of dizziness hits me, and I stumble. Before I can make a move, though, she holds a gun to my belly.
“Do not make me do something we will both regret,” she says, and I immediately stop my struggles.
“Damn, she’s fast for a cow,” Prick growls, getting to his feet while rubbing his chest where I kicked him. I chuckle and roll my eyes.
“You think this is funny, bitch?” He asks. His voice is so high-pitched and grating on my fucking nerves. It's like his balls haven't dropped yet. Hell, from the looks of it, they are probably in this psycho bitch's purse.
“No. What I find funny is the fact that the only insult people like you can come up with is fat. I know what I look like. My man has explored every inch and loves it too. I’m not ashamed of my body, so keep calling me fat. It doesn't affect me at all.” I smirk as their faces turn red.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here. We need to check on the baby, and the faster we can carry out our plan, the faster we can get rid of this piece of trash.” Bitch turns her nose up at me, but her words hit their mark. I just realized how absolutely fucked I am. There is no way out. My phone and purse are in the totaled car. There is no one around, and no one but my mom knew I was getting off early. Gray won't be expecting me for hours, and that's saying he gets out of the hospital on time. I look into the car one more time, hoping and praying for a weapon or some type of saving grace, but I see nothing.
“Get to moving, bitch. Give me that fucking ring, too. You won't be needing that,” she orders, taking the ring from my finger and throwing it carelessly in the car. I would rip her face off if she wasn't pointing that gun at my daughter. She takes one more quick look in the car, sees something on the front seat, and leans in. I wait, wondering what in the fuck she is doing. When she pulls out the leather baby vest and smiles, I feel a shiver at the crazy look in her eyes.
“Oh, look how cute. This is perfect! He will look just like his daddy in this!” she says, confusing me.
He? Daddy? What the fuck is she talking about? I don't get a chance to ask before I am dragged out of the ditch they put me in and to the truck. We reach the truck, and I’m just about to make a run for it when I feel a prick in my arm, then the world goes dark.