A hexagonal dome of glass separated her from them and muted the sounds.Which meant screaming wouldn’t be heard by anyone.Besides, they could see her, and yet, they’d done nothing to save her.
The sexy stalker had mentioned Jamie.What the hell had he done this time?She searched for a friendly face, someone who could help her escape.Beyond the floor was a staircase going up to a mezzanine level.Below that were walls with no door in sight.Besides, she couldn’t escape the hexagon.A glance up showed chains on a metal frame capping the room.They would have to lift the glass in one movement to reach her.For a cell, this was quite effective.
Tears pressed at the backs of her eyes and leaked past her defenses.She was trapped by a brooding asshole.Because her slime ball of a brother had pissed off the wrong people, by the looks of things.
Men hurried in, carrying boxes overflowing with packets of blue pills, and dumped them at each welder.Realization dawned.They were stashing the drugs inside the frames of all these vehicles.
She tried to focus past the white flashes, hoping to remember as much as she could to convey to the authorities.If these dealers let her go.
Pain cinched her wrists when she struggled to free them.She slumped and glanced down for a moment.Worse than disco lights, the arc flashes made her eyes burn.
Part of her hoped the stalker from last night would appear.She needed a familiar face even if it was his.And maybe, he’d explain what the hell he’d injected her with and what he planned to do with her.
She gritted her teeth and glared at all the mean men around her.
When she got her hands on Jamie, she was going to strangle him.
A cranking of chains snapped her gaze up.The cell lifted, inch by inch.Waiting on the outskirts were two men, neither of them the stalker dude.One had a mustache and a buzz cut, his muscles straining against his ill-fitting suit.The other was an older man with his white hair perfectly styled.He wore jeans, a T-shirt, a blazer, and loafers, looking like he’d just stepped off a yacht.
As soon as the glass was high enough, he dipped under and approached her.
“My apologies for the treatment, Tinika,” he said, his accent cultured.The scent of soap and cologne teased her nose.Gold rings glinted on a tooth and his fingers.
“You seem to have me at a disadvantage,” she said.“I don’t know who you are.”
He chuckled.“Indeed.Nor shall you.Suffice it to say, your brother has stolen from me for the last time.”
She grimaced.“What he does is his problem.I’m not responsible for him.I used to be, but I gave up.”
She flinched when White Hair circled her until she couldn’t see him in her peripherals anymore.Each sound he made shot through her senses, made worse when she couldn’t anticipate his actions.He stopped to her right to cup her chin, raising her gaze to his.
“So pretty, young, and soon to be a doctor?”He tutted then released her.“My men haven’t found Jamie, and until they do, you’re stuck here.”He glanced at Buzz Cut.“Did you send word that we have her?”
“I did,” the man rumbled.
“Listen, sir, you’re wasting your time.My brother doesn’t care about me unless he wants tokens.He’s not to be trusted, will stab you in the back,andthrow you under an autobus.If you’d met me first, I would’ve warned you about him.”She wiggled in the hopes that blood flow would return to her cold fingers.
“Now, that I can believe.Still, I must try, y’know, to get back what is mine.”
She sighed.“I understand.It’s just that I’m missing my graduation.Couldn’t you have captured me a day from now?”
White Hair laughed.“Oh, dear, you have a sense of humor.”
“I’m sorry.”She yearned to roll her eyes but resisted.“I’m a little hungover, my arms are numb, and I need to pee.”
“Loosen the ropes, Warren,” White Hair said.“Take Ms.Bryant for a…pee.”
She blessed him with a smile.“Thank you so much.”
Again, he laughed.“And manners.Are you sure you’re Jamie’s sister?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” she muttered when Warren freed her hands, flooding her arms with an explosion of pins and needles.She cried out, bit her lip, and refused to move.
Warren rubbed her from shoulder to fingertips.At first, she wanted to smack him, then when the sensations faded, she thought of kissing him in sheer gratitude.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
He gripped her by the elbow and hoisted her to her feet.Without a word to White Hair, he ushered her through the factory to a door she hadn’t spotted.
