But it’s no use.
The rag covers my face, and I try not to breathe.
I hold my breath for as long as I can, but I can’t keep it up much longer. I inhale the chloroform into my lungs.
The last thing that goes through my mind as the darkness takes over is Dom. I wish he were here to save me.
My head feels so heavy. I'm so groggy. My vision swirls, and my chin touches my chest. I groan and lean my head back. “Agh!” That was a mistake. My temples pulse with pain. I try to move my aching shoulders, and then I remember. I struggle against the abrasive rope digging into my arms, wrists, thighs and ankles.
A scream tears through me. My eyes open wide, but all I see is black. I’m tied down to a chair and blindfolded. My heart races, and my breathing comes up short. No. I shake my head frantically. This can’t be happening. “No!”
Smack! A hand lands hard across my face and whips my head to the side. The sound echoes through the room. I cry out in pain. My shoulders burn from the harsh movement. How long have I been here? Jax. Tears stream down my face. I bite my tongue. I don’t know if they have him, whoever they are. I don’t know if they even know he exists. I keep my mouth shut. Who the fuck took me? What do they want?
Dom. The air stills in my lungs. Did he do this? My body shudders in agony, and my chest aches with betrayal. I shake my head. He wouldn’t do this. But how the fuck would I know? I don’t know him. I should’ve never talked to him like that. My shoulders try to turn inward; I try to close myself in, but I can’t. I’m stuck like this.
“Is she finally awake?” My head lifts and turns toward a distant voice on my right. I don’t recognize the thick Italian accent.
“Yeah, boss.” A very deep voice sounds like it's right in front of me, and I instinctively try to get away. My feet scrape against the floor. Bare feet. It’s to no avail. Two large, cold hands settle on my shoulders and squeeze. It fucking hurts.
A deep, menacing chuckle is followed by the stench of foul breath and cigarette smoke. “You’re not going anywhere… doll.” My stomach drops, and my chest hollows. Dom.
“That’s right. We know all about your boyfriend.” The large hands try to pull me forward, which only causes the searing pain to shoot up my shoulders and make me wince.
The other voice that sounded so distant before rings out very clear and very close, “Just answer our questions and we’ll let you go.” A hand reaches out and cups my face. I flinch from the sudden touch, and I’m rewarded with another hard slap. I scream out again, against my will.
“He’s not my boyfriend.” I barely get the words out. They have the wrong person. I don’t know him. I only know where his office is, and his first name. Shame floods me again. I feel like a fucking whore. A stupid slut about to get murdered because some asshole made me hot and I gave into temptation. This is what happens when you’re bad. This is where you end up.
I try to keel over as a solid fist lands hard in my gut. The need to vomit floods my system, and pain radiates from my stomach to my back. Holy fuck that hurt.
“Don’t fucking lie to us!” The other man, Distant Man yells at me. Tears fall freely as I gasp for air.
“Be a good doll, we need to know where Dom keeps the files for his daddy.”
My head shakes vigorously. “I don’t know. I swear I don’t know.” My heart hammers in my chest, beating furiously as if trying to escape. I wait in the silence for something, for anything.
A hard punch lands on my jaw. My bones crunch, and I swear something cracks. I sob uncontrollably from the pain.
“You do know. There’s no reason to keep it from us. Just be a good doll. We saw you bring him the money. When he took it, where did he put it and where did he write down the drop? Where does he keep that pad?”
A loud ringing noise sounds in my head. White noise. It’s so loud it nearly drowns out their words. I don’t fucking know. I swear to God I don’t know. I think back to what happened. I try to remember. There was no pad. I think he just tossed the money on the table. I don’t remember. I open my mouth to plead with them, but it burns with pain. I shake my head and plead with them, “I don’t know. Please. Please let me go.”
I whimper through the pain and prepare for another blow. And it comes almost immediately, landing hard in my gut again. I try to crumple over from the agonizing pain, but I can’t. Blood spills from my mouth as I cough it up.
They’re going to kill me. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to save myself.
Tears burn my eyes as my head starts to sway. Dom. Dom, please save me.
My head hangs low as my breathing comes in ragged pulls. He’s not going to save me. Knights in shining armor don’t exist. And even if they did, he wouldn’t be one of them.
Dom
I wake up to my fucking phone going off. I feel like hell. I drank a bottle of Jack last night, and I’m really feeling it. But I don’t even fucking care. I feel like shit. Maybe if I drink enough I’ll convince myself the hangover is why my chest aches and the fucking scowl won’t leave my face.
I swallow hard. I don’t give a shit about Becca. I just wanted to fuck that sweet ass of hers. I probably only wanted her because she was such a challenge. I shake my head, slowly so I don’t make myself any dizzier than I am. That’s all it was. She was just a bit harder to get. That’s the only reason I wanted her. The only reason she got under my skin.
“This better be good.” I answer the phone with a pissed off tone clear in my voice. I don’t feel like doing shit today. I half hope that someone comes without their money. No, fuck that. I’ll just go to the gym. It’s been a while since I’ve really pushed myself with the punching bags.
“Boss.” I jackknife off the bed at Johnny’s tone and wait silently. Something’s wrong. I don’t like how long he pauses. I can hear him taking in a heavy breath.
“Spit it out.” I can only imagine it’s about Vince. They must’ve got him on some fucked up charge.
“We gotta message, boss. I don’t know how they found her.” My heart drops like a fucking anchor. He quickly adds, “I swear there was nothing on the tapes. I don’t know how they got her.” His voice raises with anxiety.
“Tell me everything, Johnny.” I’m calm. Deadly calm. Suddenly, I don’t feel a fucking thing from my hangover. All I see is red.
“I got a text with a video. They have your girl, Rebecca.”
“Who and where?” That’s all that matters. I just need that info, and I’ll get her back. She’s mine. I don’t give a fuck what she said last night in the heat of the moment. I don’t give a fuck if she pushes me away again.
She’s mine.
“De Luca.” I hear Johnny swallow, and that pisses me off. I wait for more while I climb out of bed and throw on the first clothes I find. Sweats and a white tee.
I snarl into the phone, “Where!” He better fucking know.
“We’re on it now.” My hand tightens around the phone, and I have to close my eyes. My shoulders rise and fall with my angered breaths.
“Someone decided to send us a message. To send me a message. And they didn’t give any instructions? You aren’t able to track the message?”