Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Bile rises in my throat, but I swallow it back down, not wanting to throw up with a cloth in my mouth. I glance up at Brian, but he’s not saying a word, focusing on driving.
Since I can’t speak to Violet to comfort her, I make eye contact with her and then nod for her to scoot closer. She edges as close to me as she can and then rests her head on my shoulder. I use my chin and the side of my face to try to soothe her the best I can while I watch the road, trying to figure out where Brian is taking us.
It would be a long drive all the way back to his house, and would he really be dumb enough to bring us there? He must know that Ryder is going to come looking for us. When I don’t call him back or show up at the house, he’s going to go in search of us.
I try to reach into my back pocket for my phone since my hands are restrained behind my back but instantly realize I don’t have it. Either Brian or Marie must’ve taken it from me. Hopefully, Brian has it so Ryder can track us, but I doubt they didn’t consider this. If Marie and Brian have been working together from the beginning, that means they’ve been planning this for months so they had time to think about everything.
The drive ends sooner than I expected at an old wood cabin in the middle the woods. I tried to follow the signs and turns, but at some point, the asphalt road turned into dirt, and the signs disappeared.
“Don’t even think about running,” Brian says, glaring at me in the rearview mirror. “There’s nothing but woods surrounding us. You’ll get lost and eaten by an animal before you’re ever found.”
I don’t know if he’s just saying that to scare us or if it’s true, but it’s something I’ll consider when Violet and I escape. Because we will escape. My hope is that Ryder will find us, but if he can’t, I’m going to get Violet and me out of here. I would rather risk the wildlife than be held captive by Brian.
“Let’s go,” he says, opening the door and pulling on my elbow.
Since I can’t speak, I glare and throw my elbow so he can’t touch me.
“Listen here,” he says, yanking me toward him. He grips my cheeks with one hand and squeezes so hard that it hurts. “That crazy chick was going to kill you, so be a little fucking grateful that I insisted on handling you myself and don’t act like a bitch.”
His eyes are devoid of all emotion, and I know nothing I say will convince him to let us go, so instead, I nod once in agreement. If I want to get Violet and me out alive, I need to play nice. Messing with the hornet’s nest will only get you stung.
Brian stares at me for several seconds and then nods back. He removes his fingers from my face and then leans into the car to pull Violet out. She fights him, and when he finally gets her out, her eyes are filled with tears.
I lock my eyes with hers, silently begging her to be good so he won’t hurt her, and as if she understands, she calms down and goes straight to me.
“You’ve always babied her,” Brian mutters. “Let’s go.”
He pushes us toward the house and then unlocks it, using a code that he doesn’t hide from us. I repeat the six numbers over and over in my head in case I need them later.
When we get inside, the place is furnished, but it’s not Brian’s taste, telling me this isn’t his house.
“It’s been a long day,” Brian says, closing the door, “so you’re going to make us dinner, and we’ll head out tomorrow morning.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes. Only Brian would kidnap us and then demand I cook for him, like we’re picking up right where we left off before he nearly killed me and I ran away.
“I’m going to take this out,” he says, “but if you scream, it’s going back in. And before you think it’s because someone can hear, they can’t because there’s no one around to hear. I just don’t want to listen to you scream when I already have a headache.”
He pulls the cloth out of my mouth, and I keep my mouth shut. Then, he pulls it out of Violet’s mouth, and she follows my lead. She’s hiccupping from crying, but she tries so hard not to make any noise.
“Turn around,” Brian says.
He unties my hands, then does the same thing for Violet.
“I missed you,” he says to me. “We were supposed to be creating a life together, and you disappeared. It hurt, and I was mad, but I know you were upset as well. I lost my cool and hurt you, and I’m sorry. It’ll never happen again, but you have to understand that I thought you were cheating on me, and look what happened when you left. You spread your legs for another man, like a whore.”