“Five minutes,” the AI intoned.
She shut her eyes, taking slow breaths when sleep teased the edges of her mind.Fifteen more minutes, and she’d be home.
“Leaving so soon?”a man asked, snapping her eyes open.
She swiveled, gaped, then shut her mouth.
Mr.Brooding-Stare stood beside her.
She shifted, her instincts warning her that he was trouble.Danger poured off his broad shoulders, despite his casual stance with his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants.In the light, they were a dark silver color and looked expensive.
“Yes.It’s been a long night,” she said, forming fists so she wouldn’t be tempted to flick her hair out of her face.
“I see.It’s unsafe for a woman to be alone this late.Waiting for someone to fetch you?”
She stiffened at his subtle dig for information.This man wasn’t to be trusted.
“My ride’s on its way.”She flashed a tight smile.“Thank you for keeping me company while I wait.”
He jerked back, raised his head, and studied the passing autodrive vehicles.“If you were my sister, I would guard you better.”
She winced.Jamie was a far cry from the world’s best brother.She hadn’t seen him for months, and he only contacted her when he needed tokens.
“Not all brothers love their sisters,” she said, then dipped her gaze to her boots.
“That is especially true for you,” the man said when an autodrive pulled up before them.
She blinked at him.“Do I know you?”
He laughed and opened the door for her.“No.”
When she climbed in, she expected him to bid her goodnight.
Instead, he bent to meet her gaze.“But Jamie does.”
In he slid, pinning her to the seat.
She squeaked and struggled, but he kept her in place with his strength alone.Nor did the autodrive pay her any heed.In the calmest voice, he gave it a new address, one far across the city.
She gaped at him, unable to form words.As drunk as she was, she couldn’t grasp what he wanted from her or how she’d landed in this situation.Nor could she anticipate the injection-gun he pressed to her neck.A blast of liquid-cold bit into her.
“What are you doing?”she gasped, cupping her neck.
“Making sure you’re complacent.”He shifted back, granting her space to breathe.
She lunged for the door but made it inches before her arm slumped.“What…” she slurred, speaking like she was underwater.
“You can thank your brother for this.”
Those were the last words she heard.
Tinymuscledherwaythrough the fog consuming her brain.How much had she drunk last night?A piercing pain shot through her left eye.Everything was sluggish, from her swollen tongue to moving her body.Her stomach churned, threatening to throw up a variety of alcohol and semi-digested peanuts.She must’ve tossed and turned because the blankets had her wrapped tight.
A sense of urgency pressed on her.What was it about today that she needed to remember?Somewhere she had to be, maybe?And what was that smell?
Burned metal came to mind.She winced and flicked an eye open.Then the other in disbelief.
Tied to a chair, she slouched forward as far as the rope would allow.Her neck pinged like she’d slept funny, but none of that mattered when she was in the center of what looked like a warehouse.No.A factory.Welders worked around her.Bright flashes of their torches were focused on autodrives and antique cars, some worth more than all her tuition combined.
