Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Another loud bang echoes in my ears, but I realize this time it’s coming from inside the building.
“Help! Andrew!” My mother’s scream echoes against the metal walls.
“Don’t move,” Andrew orders before rushing out of the room.
He shuts the door behind him, and I hear the loud click of a lock. I rush over and check the knob anyway, but it won’t budge. Knowing this might be my only chance, I search the room for anything I can use to protect myself. My eyes land on the knife, and I pick it up, testing the weight in my hand. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it, but I won’t go down easily.
Should I hide the knife and play along until I can attack, or should I lunge for him the second he opens the door? While the first approach may be safer, I'm not sure if I could maintain my composure while waiting. What happens if I don't get a moment to strike or if he notices that the knife is no longer on the dresser?
A small scream leaves me when thunder booms again. The building shakes like it’s made out of tin foil, and I can’t help but think this is turning into a real-life horror movie. At least I'm not a virgin anymore.
I grab the pink leotard from the floor where Andrew dropped it and wrap it around the knife handle. I remember how my hand slipped when I stabbed him with the pencil, so I want to make sure my hold is firm. Pressing my back against the wall, I wait. When he opens the door, I’ll be right behind it and I can jump out and attack.
While I wait, I listen for any sounds and my mind drifts to Rourk, all of him coming back to me in my mind. I wonder where he is and if he knows that I’ve been taken. Will he be worried or think I ran away? My eyes burn with tears as I imagine him thinking that I ran from him. What if he never knows that I love him? For a brief moment in time, I knew I belonged to someone. Why didn’t I tell him when I had the chance?
When I see the door handle wiggle, my whole world stops. A second later, the door cracks open a tiny bit, and then it pops open the rest of the way.
When he moves through the doorway, I lunge.
Except it isn't Andrew on the other side.
Chapter Sixteen
ROURK
When I kick in the door, there’s a flash of dark hair and then I see the glint of a knife. Somehow I manage to block the arm as it swings in my direction, and that’s when Karmen sees it’s me.
“Daddy,” she sobs, and the knife clatters to the floor as she leaps into my arms.
I hold her close as she wraps her arms and legs around me, and I bury my face in her neck. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you,” I whisper and then look into her eyes. “We need to get you out of here. Can you walk?”
She quickly nods as she wipes away the tears. “He’s got a gun.”
“Stay behind me,” I tell her and pull her close.
Maxim comes around the corner, and he has his gun pointed toward the front of the building. “He went that way.”
“I need to get her out of here,” I say, but Karmen is already shaking her head.
“I’m not leaving here without you,” she says, and I’m torn between telling her to run outside and taking care of Andrew.
A woman wails from the front of the building and then there’s a loud crash. That makes the decision for us, and we go running toward the sounds. When we get to the main part of the warehouse, I see Andrew holding a metal pipe above his head and Karmen’s mother slumped on the concrete floor. Blood is spreading out around her head, but her eyes are wide and staring into the distance. Even from here, I can see the life is draining out of her to the point that she can’t be saved.
Karmen gasps at the sight, and Andrew turns in our direction. As soon as he realizes what’s happening, he drops the pipe. It clatters to the ground, and he reaches into the waistband of his pants right as I turn my gun on him.
I manage to get off two shots in his chest before he can pull his gun out. He stumbles back and then coughs, sending blood down the front of his shirt. In the distance, there are sirens, and I know that Detective Webb and her team are close.
Andrew falls to his knees yet he still reaches in the direction of Karmen as I walk over toward him and raise my gun.