How long have I been here for?
I groan as they lift me, dragging me out of the room. How anyone would want me in this state, I’ll never know. But if they’re the type of people to pay, maybe they’d prefer me being comatose? A sob rips through me as the realization hits me—no one’s going to find me. I ran off so quickly, I doubt anyone would’ve known I was missing until I was long gone.
I’m thrown into a white tiled room. Excruciating pain hits me as I’m thrown to the floor, and I cry out in agony. I shiver uncontrollably as I lie on the floor, waiting.
Cold water sprays my face and then my body, coating me until I’m soaked through. I whimper, coughing and spluttering as I struggle to breathe.
Once they’ve deemed I’m fit for their purpose, one of the men bends down to pick me up again, carrying me to a different room. Neither one speaks nor acknowledges me and my discomfort. But both look as terrifying as the other. Big tattooed men, one with a scar across his cheek, and a shaved head. The other with dark brown eyes that hold a murderous glint. I quickly look away, too scared to have his wandering gaze on me.
I’m placed on my feet, and clothes are thrown at me, but still, my captors don’t say a word. They stand with their arms crossed, glaring at me. Slowly but surely, I shimmy myself out of my cocktail dress. The pain from my elbow and hip has subsided somewhat, but it’s the shaking of my hands and the blurry eyes from my tears that causes me to continuously fumble.
What feels like forever later, I’ve managed to change into the white cotton dress I was provided with. My vision blurs from standing for so long, and I begin to wonder if I’m going to pass out. The dizzy feeling doesn’t subside; it only gets worse. The two men standing in front of me turn into four hazy figures. My step falters. I reach out a hand to grab hold of something, but my hand meets air.
I collapse, my head hitting the concrete, and I give into the darkness once more, enjoying the reprieve that it offers me from the nightmare I’m in.
Chapter Fifty-Six
JAMES
Idrive as fast as I can, weaving in and out of traffic like a dickhead to get to Raven. Theo’s sat in the passenger seat, holding on for dear life, his jaw clenched but thankfully not commenting. Flashbacks of Raven being attacked at the Honey Pot enter my head, sending a wave of anxiety through me.
She’s okay. Iwill notaccept anything less.
“Fuck,” Theo exclaims. “Slow down, you’re gonna get us both killed.”
“I need to get to her,” I growl, never taking my eyes off the road.
“I’m well aware of that but killing us in the process isn’t going to help anything,” he snaps.
I ignore him. I don’t have time for his griping. Not when Raven’s in trouble.
We arrive at the location The Hood gave us, and I slam on the brakes, the echoing sound of police sirens not far away.
“I’m going in,” I tell Theo, storming toward the building.
He grabs my arm. “Like fuck you are. We wait here.”
I shake his hand off, ready to punch the fucker for standing in my way. “Move.” I’ve never laid a hand on Theo out of anger, but I’m ready to throw down right about now.
Theo gets in my face, jaw clenched as he grits out, “You’re not trained to deal with this. You’ll get her killed.” He jabs a finger into my chest as he continues, “You have no fucking clue what you’re doing, think with your fucking head.”
“Theo,” I choke out, emotion hitting me hard in the chest. “I?—”
He grabs the back of my head and places his forehead against mine. “I know, brother, I know.”
“What’s taking so long?” I mutter, pacing anxiously outside. I keep tugging at my hair in frustration, hoping that’ll help—it doesn’t.
It’s been too long. Why aren’t they here yet?
“You gotta give ‘em time, man. Leo and his team will be here soon,” Theo tries to soothe me, but it does nothing to ease the pit in my stomach.
He’s been just as restless as I’ve been, but I think he’s been more worried about my reaction than anything. The last two days have been pure hell, and he’s seen another side to me—one that I never knew existed before.
“Fuck this.” I start walking toward the entrance when Theo grabs me from behind.
“Are you fucking crazy? What are you doing? he shouts. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”
“Get the fuck off me, Theo, I’m going in.” I shake him off me, daring him to fight me.
