Page 12 of Hard Ruck
“If the Devils were able to take you back, would you go?” I asked.
Now he hesitated. “A week ago, I wouldn’t have answered that. I would have been too busy packing already. Now…”
“What’s changed?” I asked.
“I met you,” he said.
Chapter Six
Chelsea
The momentI climbed out of Atlas’ truck, I knew I wasn’t alone.
For a moment, I thought Belinda, or someone like her, was following me again. Or maybe my brother was lurking in the shadows, waiting to give me an update on her. He did that from time to time, for shits and giggles. Usually not to me though. Evidentially, I was on edge more than normal, after my run-ins with Belinda.
I turned on the light, held my phone in one hand and shone it around. “Who’s there?” My voice sounded more confident than I felt, thankfully.
Something moved in the shadows.
No, someone.
Someone big.
They lunged toward me. Firm hands grabbed me and pushed dark fabric down over my head, over my face. They held it in place, clamping their hand over my mouth before I could make a sound.
I breathed in and out of my nose rapidly until I forced myself to a short-lived calm. Excitement ramped up and I smiled against the fabric and their large palm.
Someone else, there were at least two of them, pulled my arms behind my back and bound my wrists with narrow, hard plastic, tight enough that I couldn’t pull my hands out. A cable tie.
My feet left the ground as I was lifted and carried a short distance. Without a word, I was bundled into a cramped, carpeted space, my knees bent before the boot was closed, locking me in.
I struggled and kicked, my sneakered shoes thudding against the inside of the car. As I expected, it didn’t budge. A low chuckle preceded the closing of the car’s other doors. Two distinct clunks.
The car started moving, rumbling underneath me as we headed away from my apartment building.
Surrendering to darkness compounded by what felt like a pillowcase over my head, I lay still again. All I could do now was wait. And overthink, but I couldn’t help that. My brain was hardwired to do that, especially under circumstances like this.
I inhaled slowly. The pillowcase masked a hint of petrol or oil. The pillowcase itself smelled familiar. I made a face to myself. It smelled like one of mine. Like they’d broken into my apartment, went through my things and found this to put over my head.
I couldn’t decide if that was thoughtful or disturbing. Probably a bit of both. So—normal in the life of Doctor Chelsea Miller. As normal as things ever got, that was.
Sadie,I thought quickly. Was she working that night? Yes, she was. She wouldn’t have been home when they were there. That was a small mercy. She would have let them in if they explained why. At best, things might be awkward when I saw her next. At worst, she’d tease the hell out of me. Before asking if they had any single friends they could hook her up with.
I shook my head and tried not to hit the side of the boot as we took a corner too fast. If I had to bet, I’d suggest Storm was driving. The speed and rapid turns were threatening to make me nauseous.
Thank fuck, it didn’t come to that. Before I lost my sausages and marshmallows, the road under the tyres turned to gravel. After another couple of minutes, the car slowed, then finally stopped.
The front door was opened and closed before footsteps walked around to the back of the vehicle.
The boot popped open. I tensed, waiting, ready to fight. Ready to make this as hard on them as possible. Pun absolutely intended.
Rough hands grabbed me and pulled me out of the back of the car. I writhed and struggled, but I was held firm against two hard bodies.
I heard the sound of a door opening, and footsteps walking down wooden stairs. A third set of hands grabbed my feet and I was carried upwards before the door closed behind us.
They carried me inside and tossed me down onto something soft. A mattress. I bounced once before lying still on what felt like the middle.
The moment I landed, I twisted, trying to crawl away.
