13. Paige
When they realized I had my phone stuffed into the waistband of my skirt, the man in the backseat with me had hit me before smashing the phone. My hands are zip tied together in front of me, keeping me from fighting back. My purse is still across my body. After I shout the address, a black bag was put over my head as soon as they realized I was giving someone clues to where I was. The bag completely blocks out my surroundings, plunging me into blackness. Without the ability to see, I could only listen to their muffled voices. The bag over my head makes it hard to breathe, hard to think clearly.
I had never felt so vulnerable in my life. The thin blouse I wore, and the skirt were great for the courtroom, but in this situation, they were about the worst thing I could be wearing.
They unceremoniously drag me out of the SUV. I nearly trip and fall. Someone grabs my arms and jerks me upright.
“Let go of me!”
I jerk my arm, trying to get away from the man. Someone shoves me hard in the back, causing me to stumble.
“Big man, pushing around a woman with her hands tied and a bag over her head,” I spat.
I sense someone beside me and kick out.
“Knock it off!” A man roars and shoves me again.
There’s a change in the air, telling me I’m inside. I thrash about, jerking and trying to kick but they are too strong.
Panic once again starts to bubble up. I have no idea if Travis understood anything I was screaming. The chances he finds me are slim. I know that. I have to save myself if I want to make it out of this alive. I stop struggling and focus on what I hear. I can hear male voices. There are two men on either side of me, gripping my arms so tight I worry they could actually break bones.
“Sit down!” I hear someone shout.
I have no idea who he is talking to until I feel something shove against the back of my legs and someone pushing down on my shoulders.
Me.
They want me to sit. I do what they want; not like I had any choice. With the bag over my head, her heart raced with fear and anxiety, unsure of what was to come next. While I’m sitting, I’m trying to think of what’s in my purse that I could use as a weapon. I didn’t think a credit card was going to be enough to do any real damage.
“What do you want?” I snap. “Who are you?”
I can’t give up all control. It’s just not my style. I must keep fighting no matter how futile it is.
They didn’t answer. I get the feeling I was alone in a room and stand up, only to be shoved right back into the seat. I wasn’t alone. I do my best to listen for any clues that might give me an idea about who these men are, but the muffled sounds around me make it almost impossible to discern anything useful. I know I’m outnumbered and outmatched but I’m not about to go down without a fight. I will draw blood, scar, and maim anyone I can.
“Grab her foot,” I hear a man say.
That’s when I know exactly what’s going to happen. They’re going to tie me to the chair. I know this is my last chance to escape. I muster all my strength and jump out of the chair. I can’t see my enemies, but I know they are within reach.
“Grab her!”
“No!” I scream and kick out.
My heart races as I thrash about, refusing to let them tie me to the chair. Every self-defense move I”ve ever been taught flashes through my mind, and I fight like an absolute wildcat, desperate to break free from their grasp. I take a couple of hits, but I refuse to give up, driven by a fierce determination to escape. I did not survive a plane crash to be raped and murdered by thugs.
“Who are you!” I shout at what is now three men.
With a burst of strength, I break free from their hold and jerk the bag from my head. I can see the door and run like the hounds of hell are chasing me. I burst out of the house, screaming like a banshee as my eyes adjust to the bright sunlight. I see the street and that’s where I head all while screaming for help. Suddenly, I run into something hard.
“Paige! It’s me!”
Travis’s face came into focus. I”m in his arms. I’m safe.
”Get me out of here!” I scream, my voice raw with fear and desperation.
“Are you hurt?”
“Just go! They’re coming!”
Without hesitation, he leads me to a waiting motorcycle. He looks at my hands. “I don’t have anything to break these. Just hold on the best you can.”
I could hear the men behind us. “Go!” I shout again.
The roar of the engine drowns out the pounding of my heart. The men’s shouting fades into the distance. I do my best to hold onto the waistband of his shorts. It’s a struggle, but I hang on.
He doesn”t stop until we reach the airport. He hops off and then helps me off the bike.
“You’re okay,” he says. “I’ve got you. They didn’t follow us.”
“I want to get out of here,” I whisper. “Please. I want to go home. I can’t be here.”
“Okay,” he assures me, kissing the top of my head. “We need to break the zip tie. This looks bad and we’re going to have the cops all over us.”
“I think I can my hands out,” I tell him.
I struggle, pulling and tugging.
“Babe, you’re going to hurt your hands. I’ll go see if someone has scissors or a knife.”
I give him a dry look. “We’re at the airport. No one is going to bring that stuff to the airport. I almost got it.”
I pull again, twisting until my hand is free. I quickly pull the other hand out and drop the zip tie on the ground.
I”m shaking like a leaf but also exhilarated by the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Let’s go. I don’t want to be here another minute.”
”What the hell happened?” Travis demands, his voice urgent as he tries to make sense of the chaos.
”We have to get on the first plane off this island. I don”t care where we go. I want to be gone.”
With a nod, he takes my hand, leading me into the airport. I can’t let go of him. He uses his credit card to secure two tickets to Portland. I see the way the woman at the ticket counter is looking at me. My clothes are stained, and I know I stink. My wrists are red and raw.
“Let’s go,” Travis says, leading me to the security line.
I feel like I’m going to be sick. The adrenaline is waning, leaving me to process everything that had transpired.
“I know it’s hard, but act cool,” Travis says.
I almost laugh aloud at the absurd request. There’s nothing cool about the situation. We make it through security, but I feel like everyone is looking at me. The flight leaves in twenty minutes, giving us very little time to make it to our gate. We make it to the gate, just as the last passengers are boarding.
As we settle into our seats on the plane, the adrenaline begins to fade, leaving me feeling drained and exhausted. Travis turns to me, his eyes searching mine for answers.
”What happened?” he asks, his voice gentle but insistent.
Taking a deep breath, I recount the terrifying ordeal, the fear and panic still fresh in my mind.
“Why?” he asks the most obvious question. “Why would someone kidnap you? Did they say what they wanted? How did they know where to find you?”
I shake my head, still trying to make sense of the chaos. ”I don”t know,” I admit, frustration creeping into my voice.
“But you have some suspicions.”
“I assume it”s the corporation trying to shut down the whistleblower. They must have found out I was coming. They had to know what hotel I was at.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
It was such a long story. I didn’t know if I had the strength to get into the whole story. Not to mention, it was supposed to be a secret.
“I was meeting with a whistleblower,” I explain quietly. “He was supposed to give me some tips about insider trading. The man was scared for his life and insisted on me talking to him in Hawaii. He was scared to come back to Seattle. I guess I know why now. I need to talk to my boss. He has to warn the whistleblower. Assuming they didn’t already get to him.”
Travis”s eyes widen in shock as he processes the information I”ve just shared. “Okay, then. We get to Portland, get to a hotel. Sleep.”
“Buy clothes,” I chime in. “If I wasn’t so tired, I would be humiliated.”
“Beautiful as ever,” he teases.
“You are such a liar.”
The plane starts its taxi down the runway. I find myself squeezing Travis’s hand. I knew I was going to have to fly again, but actually doing it so soon after the crash is far more disturbing than I expected.
The plane ascends into the sky, leaving the chaos and fear of the island behind. A sense of unease settles in the pit of my stomach. I try to push away the dark thoughts.
Travis senses my fear and wraps his arm around me, pulling me closer to him. His touch is a comforting anchor.
I lean my head against Travis”s shoulder, seeking comfort. He’s been my rock for days. I trust him. He’s my lucky charm. “It’s okay,” he assures me. “I’ve got you. Try and sleep. We’ll be touching down before you know it.”
“Are you going to sleep?” I ask.
“I’ll stay awake. I’ll keep a lookout.”
“I’m pretty sure this is the one place we’re safe from attackers,” I smile. “And I don’t think you’re going to singlehandedly save us all if the plane is going down.”
“I might try and catch a few minutes of sleep.”
“Good. Just don’t let go of me.”
“I won’t.”
It did feel like we were only asleep for five minutes before the flight attendant was telling us to prepare for landing.
“Did you sleep well?” Travis asks.
“I don’t know. What about you?”
“A little,” he nods. “I’m looking forward to a bed. That’s when I’ll sleep.”
Touchdown was a little intense, but once the plane was stopped and people stood, getting ready to get off, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
“Made it,” Travis smiles. “Perfect landing.”
We hail a cab, taking us to the closest hotel. I have my credit card, but Travis insists on renting it. He reminds me that someone might be trying to find me. It’s better if I don’t give them an electronic trail to follow.
Once inside our room, I collapsed onto the bed, the soft mattress a welcome relief after the hard seats of the plane and the sandy, slightly rocky beach we’d slept on the night before. Travis sat down beside me, his eyes filled with concern.
”You need to rest,” he said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
“You do, too.”
We”re both exhausted, physically and emotionally drained from the events of the past few days, but there”s no time to rest.
“I need to call in.” That’s when I remember I don’t have a phone. The phone I have is dead. I don’t even know if it’s going to work.
“No one is going to do anything tonight,” he says. “We both need to sleep. I’ll order delivery.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I tell him. After the last time I was in a hotel, I’m not sure I will ever trust any place again.”
“We”re safe,” he assures me. “They don’t know who I am. They aren’t going to be looking for me. We shower, eat, sleep, and regroup. Maybe not in that order. You can’t think straight when you’re exhausted. Neither can I.”
Travis places an order for some comfort food, promising me that everything will be okay. While we wait for the food, I take a long, hot shower, letting the hot water wash away the grime and fear of the past few days.
“Room for another in there?” Travis asks.
I push open the door. “I was just thinking this shower would be better with a partner.”
He strips and steps inside. I move out of the way of the spray, giving him a chance to wash away the sand. I reach for the complimentary bottle of body wash and dump a glob in my palm. Turn around and let me wash your back.”
He grins and slowly turns, facing the spray.
“Nice ass,” I tease.
I reach for his shoulders, rubbing the bodywash over his skin. His head drops forward as I wash his back massaging his muscles, taking note of the many bruises that are slowly fading.