Chapter 8 Adrianna
ADRIANNA
Rope bites into my wrists, causing tiny prickles of pain, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my shoulders from where my arms are pulled back behind me.
If I think about the pain too much, panic rises in my stomach and I might pass out. Instead, I focus on the floor of the car, which is all I can see from my viewpoint lying across the back seat.
It’s an old car mat, with grains of sand and other debris stuck to the fibers. There’s a Toyota symbol emblazoned into the mat and flecks of rust on the inside of the door.
I’m in an old rusty Toyota, which isn’t going be much help when Bronn comes for me, but at least it’s something. I have to focus on what I can find out and believe that Bronn is coming, otherwise the fear will engulf me.
I’m curled up on the backseat with my feet pushed up against a man sitting by the opposite window. The glimpse of him I saw when he grabbed me was of pale white skin, light hair, and breath that stank of cigarettes and hamburgers.
When he first shoved me in the car and drove off, he was leaning on the front seats, turning around to look out the back window at the car following us. At Bronn following us.
But now that we’ve been driving for about twenty minutes, he’s sitting back, and I can’t see his face anymore.
The driving was erratic at first, swerving and turning, trying to lose Bronn. But now we’re going at a steady pace, which makes me feel uneasy. Fear grips my stomach at the thought that Bronn might have lost us.
I take some deep breaths, willing my heartbeat under control. I think about Bronn, about falling asleep in his strong arms, his warm body pressed against mine.
My breathing slows, and my heart rate returns to normal. I need to stay calm if I’m going to get out of here in one piece. And thinking about Bronn calms me down.
“Our shadow still there?” the driver asks. His voice is clipped and hard. I can’t see the man, but he sounds mean.
I feel the blonde man turn in his seat, and I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.
“Nah, man. Looks like we lost him.”
My gut clenches, and I let out an involuntary moan. This gets the attention of Blondie, and he nudges me with his elbow. A sharp pain digs into my ribs, but I don’t let out a sound. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that he hurt me.
“Your boyfriend couldn’t keep up.”
It comes out as a sneer. He’s mocking me. He’s trying to make me feel uneasy, but it does the opposite.
Bronn is a trained military man. These guys are a couple of thugs in a rusty car. There’s no way they can outsmart Bronn. If he’s not tailing us anymore, then there’s a reason. I’ve got to believe he’s still following me somehow.
But I’ll play along. I’ll make them think they’ve got the upper hand and I’m scared.
There’s a roar of motorbike passing us and I feel Blondie shift in his seat.
“What is it, man?” asks the driver, an edge to his voice.
“Just a couple of Crows.”
The Underground Crows are a motorcycle club based along the Sunset Coast. It’s common to see them riding in groups along the highway.
“There’s two sitting behind us.” Blondie sounds nervous.
The car speeds up, and the sound of the bike engines fades.
“They’re just cruising, man. They don’t know anything about us. Just keep her down, all right?”
Blondie’s nervous. I can tell by the way he jiggles his leg. We drive for another ten minutes, and he keeps shifting in his seat, looking out the back window.
“Those Crows are still back there.”
“It’s their turf, man. They’re just out for a drive.”
“What if they’re not?” Blondie’s leg jiggles so hard he knocks against my shins. I grit my teeth, absorbing the pain.
“We’re turning off soon. If they follow us, we’ll double back and bolt. If they cruise on by, no harm done.”
“Okay.”
The car slows down, and we veer off the highway. I hear the roar of bike engines go past, and Blondie relaxes.
“They’ve gone.”
“Told ya, man. You just need to relax.”
“I’ll fucking relax when we’ve got the money, dipshit.”
So this is all about money. I should have known. It’s not environmentalists trying to stop my father’s company from drilling for oil. It’s just greedy thugs who want easy cash.
The car takes a few turns, and I try to imagine where we are, which turn off left the highway. It’s confusing because we took detours trying to shake Bronn.
It’s quiet outside, and I’m guessing we’re either at the docks or one of the industrial estates—which means there won’t be a lot of people around if I manage to escape.
Fear grips my stomach, and I swallow it down. If they want money from my dad, they need to keep me alive. They’re not going to murder me and dump my body somewhere. I have to remember that. Taking some deep breaths, I let my mind wander to Bronn, thoughts of him helping me stay calm.
The car door opens, and I blink in the light. They haven’t bothered to blindfold me, and I glance around quickly, taking in my surroundings.
Not that there’s much to see. I’m surrounded by gray warehouse buildings. There’re no signs or identifying features. I could be literally anywhere.
My heart sinks. How will Bronn find me here?
I’m pulled roughly through a side door into a dim warehouse.
There’s a chair in the middle of the empty warehouse, and I’m thrust onto it, my hands untied and retied behind my back.
“Can I have some water?” I croak.
My hair’s yanked backward, and hamburger breath assaults my nostrils. A scream bubbles out of my chest, but I stop it in my throat. I won’t let these assholes know they’ve hurt me. I won’t give them that.
“You don’t get anything, rich girl.”
There’s the sound of slow footsteps, and the driver of the car comes into view. He wipes his sweaty brow, a cruel smile spreading on his lips.
His finger runs down my cheek, and I pull away. His eyes flick to my breasts, and even though I’m covered up, I’ve never felt so exposed.
“We’ll have some fun with this rich slut.”
Panic sears through my veins, and I buck away, almost toppling the chair over. Both men laugh, and I want to scream.
Instead, I think of Bronn and steady myself.
“My father will kill you if you lay one finger on me.”
My voice comes out steadier than I feel, and the man hesitates. I stare him directly in the eye, and he must see something in me that makes him back off.
“I’ll make the call.”
He walks away, dialing a number, and I guess he’s calling my father. I’m not convinced my father will give them what they want. He’s a man of principle and being blackmailed won’t sit well with him.
I’m left on my own, trying to stem the panic and stay calm. Bronn will come for me. I know he will. Won’t he?
I twist my wrists behind my back and feel something that makes me pause. I’m not tied as tightly as I was in the car. While Blondie paces the warehouse, I slowly twist my wrists, using my sweat to loosen my ties. I’m not sure what I will do if I got free, but I have to try.