Chapter 65 Kennedy
kennedy
I’m annoyingly groggy as hell, but it’s a little more manageable.
The haze is still there, but I can keep my eyes open for longer.
Baby steps. My goal is not only to survive, but to escape.
Dammit, I haven’t seen the results on that little stick in my bathroom yet.
But the idea that it could be positive? My heart melts at the thought.
And my adrenaline kicks in with full force—I’m here to fight.
For me, for Jordan, and for the potential of what may be growing inside me.
While Angelica is busy on her phone, I glance around again, trying to get a sense of where the hell we are.
It’s like some sort of abandoned warehouse or storage facility.
There are paint cans, a broken ladder, and random bricks strewn about on a hard concrete floor, all covered in dust and spider webs.
Tall cinderblock walls close us in with no windows—we’re underground.
I look to see if there is anything I could use as a weapon if I get free.
This chair is metal, so picking it up and swinging it at her is an option.
But first, I need to get out of this zip tie.
If it were in front of me, this would be much easier, but right now, my only option is to create friction against the chair and try to snap it.
I just have to keep her talking and distracted while I do it.
I’d rather be force-fed black licorice than have a conversation with her, but this calls for an act of desperation.
With her distracted and seemingly doom-scrolling, I’m afforded a few precious moments to start my plan.
I rub the back of my wrist against the metal on the chair—feeling a slight bit of heat as I do, which is exactly what I need.
I’m jolted from my actions as a muffled noise fills the space.
Is that a boat horn? Angelica seems unbothered—as if she was expecting it—but she glances my way, giving me a smarmy smirk.
My gut churns, and not in the potential morning sickness way.
If I don’t get out of here before she gets what she wants, I won’t be getting out of here at all.
I shove the panic threatening to rise down as hard as I can.
I’ve been in near-death situations before.
I’ve come out stronger, wiser, and harder to break. Focus on the plan, Kennedy.
“So, you moved to Milwaukee just to extort money? I came for the beer, cheese, and insane abundance of festivals in the summer.”
Her glare turns angry. “Don’t even try it.
You think I didn’t Google ‘tactics to get out of a kidnapping situation’ before I did all this?
” She swaps her phone for the knife on the table, running her finger along the side of the blade as she turns it over in her hand.
“You’re not going to be able to talk your way out. I’m not an idiot.”
Well, that’s debatable.
“I’m simply making conversation while we’re just sitting here in this dark, musty space. I would never try to talk my way out of this.”
Angelica stands from her chair, stalking her way around the space. I’m sure she knows this is all bullshit, but I just smile and keep talking. “Have you found a good financial management firm yet? With all this money, you’ll certainly need help. I know a guy. I can hook you up if you want.”
She scoffs. “What makes you think I’m not capable of managing my own money?”
“Well, the Bouchers gave you a million dollars, and you already blew through it. Seems like you might not want to make that mistake again.”
Angelica steps over to me, knife aimed at my throat. I press into the back of the chair. Maybe I pushed her a bit too far.
“What do you know about money? You have a good job. You don’t know what it’s like living like a fucking peasant in a one-bedroom apartment that doesn’t even have a water line to hook up to my nugget ice maker—I have to fill that damn thing up every day!
! And now you’re dating a rich boy to get his money too?
That’s the real crime here, Blondie. You’re taking my meal ticket. ”
I push my shoulders back. “That’s where you’re wrong, Angelica. I am not dating him for his money. In fact, that’s the thing that turned me off the most about him.”
Her eyes fill with confusion as if she can’t comprehend why I would hate someone for their money. “You’re a fucking liar. Everyone wants money,” she huffs as she pulls the knife back, looking at her reflection in the blade.
“I hated the thought of being the girlfriend of some rich playboy who dropped money on ridiculous things just because he could. That’s not me.
I’m not flashy. I’ve worked too damn hard for what I have.
I thought he was cocky and conceited and rude and…
” my voice trails off as my eyes well up.
I’m not a chronic crier, but this guy has somehow unlocked the sappy part of my brain and, the worst part is, I’m not even mad about it. Not even a little bit. Not even at all.
She darts her eyes between me and the weapon she’s still fiddling with, her scowl lethal enough to kill a wandering rodent with a single look.
“I was quick to judge him. I thought I knew his type; I see them all the time at work. It turns out I was wrong. He’s kind and sweet and cares about everything and everyone.
He has the biggest heart.” My smile is genuine despite the fear humming through me.
“I didn’t even know someone could have a heart that big.
He watches all my favorite rom-coms. He does ridiculous dance routines in my living room just to make me laugh.
He even got me a Taylor Swift autographed guitar that Olivia still gives me a dirty look about every time I mention it.
Funny,” I say with a slight laugh under my breath, “that was the only gift he got me before we were together that I actually liked. Honestly, he’s made me feel like the richest woman in the world, but not with his money.
With his heart. He makes me feel like I’m the most important person.
That’s why I fell in love with him, Angelica.
He could lose every cent to his name, and I would still love him.
I don’t care if he only has a dollar in his bank account or a million; it’s who he is that stole my heart. ”
“Nice try, sweetie,” she spits, “but I’m not buying that crap.
Those are all the things that make him weak.
Nothing but a fool.” I grit my teeth, wishing I could make Jordan’s dream of poking her eyes out with skewers a reality.
I see the appeal. “Just wait…you’ll be just as annoyed with his sweetness one day, and all of this will come back to haunt you in the end.
Well…” She smiles as she rotates the knife in her hand. “That’s if I decide to let you go.”
This fucking bitch.
A loud knock on the door startles me, but I use the distraction to continue rubbing the zip tie against the back of the chair, desperate to create enough friction to finally break it.
“Let’s see who our mystery guest is, shall we?
” She walks over to unlock the door. As it clicks open, I see none other than the man I just declared my love for being shoved in, a bag over his head, blood on his shirt.
A chill runs up my spine. A gun. Pointed at him.
And the person forcing him in holding the gun?
I fucking knew it.
“Well, well, well. Nice little reunion we have going on here,” Chadd sneers with a stupid smirk on his face, as he yanks the bag away. “You were right, Angelica…he came running to try and save her.”
“Jordan!” I yell as Chadd shoves him into a chair next to me and zip ties his wrists. “Are you okay? Oh my God…You’re bleeding.”
“I’ve gotten hit worse on the ice. He caught me off guard when he punched me, put a bag over my head, and told me to walk. But I’m fine.” His smile is painted red. “Are you okay?”
I lean toward him, nearly toppling my chair. “I’m fine. She didn’t hurt me. Just fucking drugged my drink to get me here.”
“She drugged you?! Fuck, we have to get you to the doctor right away…this can’t be good for…” He squints. “What the fuck is Mara doing here?” he asks, his voice shaking.
“Awww, Jordan, you haven’t changed a bit,” Angelica interrupts, her voice mocking. “I’m so disappointed you don’t remember your favorite girlfriend. Still a fool for any woman who gives you attention. Truly, it was so easy to manipulate both of you. It’s pathetic.”
His eyes go wide as his jaw drops. His hands shake, his face white as a ghost’s. I fight the urge to bust out of these zip ties. I hate being tied up right now, not being able to comfort him, hold him as he slowly realizes the same thing I did when I first woke up here.
We’ve been fucking duped.