I tap for a video chat request. A few seconds go by and he picks up. His face comes into focus. Looking at him you wouldn’t think he’s a bad guy. Maybe a badass. Tattoos on his neck and up and down his arms. A cute smile. Dimple in his left cheek. Short blond hair and a neatly trimmed beard.
I point the camera at my face.
“You alone?”
“Not exactly. I’m in the bathroom at Jag’s clubhouse, but I can get away.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“Because that woman you kidnapped is Jagger’s sister and I owe him. Besides that, she has a little boy who needs his mom to come home. Her husband died a few months back. They’ve suffered plenty. And she’s not the one you want. I am.”
“My heart’s bleeding at how sickly sweet that is. You’ll come alone. No tipping anyone off. You show up alone and I’ll give you my word I’ll let the fat cunt go.”
“I want to see that she’s okay.”
He shuffles around and turns the camera around. My heart leaps to my throat. A woman is tied to a chair. Her eyes are closed. Blood is crusted to her pale chest. I’m not even sure she’s alive until I see the slight movement of her breathing as her breasts move.
“Did you drug her?”
He snorts in the background then moves into view, shoving her hair out of the way so I can see the bruises from his fingerprints around her throat. “Choked the bitch out, but she’s fine. Saving this for you.” The camera shifts to his waist showing off the black studded belt he’s wearing.
On instinct my hand slides up my neck and tugs at the collar of my shirt. I swallow. “Okay. Where do I meet you?”
“Your house. You have thirty minutes, or she dies.” The video ends and I realize I’ve seen that room before. It’s the den. I haven’t gone in there much since I took over the house. It was my father’s sanctuary and having his room the same makes me feel as though part of him is still there. Shit. Now the hard part. Slipping off without Jagger catching wind.
I go back to the bar and finish my beer. Baby just went into the back. I glance at the clock. Then the door. The man guarding it now isn’t wearing a cut and he looks well to be honest kind of young like he belongs with the group playing pool, and I’m hoping dumb. “Hey. I need to go out to my car for just a second. I’m diabetic and need to take my pill. It’s right in the console. It’ll only take me a few minutes.”
“I’m not supposed to let anyone out.”
I shoot him a smile and wink while squeezing his bicep. I’m a terrible actress. “I’ll um…” I lick my lips, “make it up to you. Meet you in the bathroom for a reward.”
He glances up and down my body. ‘’Yeah. Okay. But make it quick.”
“Three minutes tops.” I kiss his cheek and he unlocks the door, opening it just enough for me to squeeze through the gap.
I must be crazy. I dash to my car and unlock the driver’s side. I throw my purse in the passenger side and haul ass. I have fifteen minutes to get there. I only pray I don’t get pulled over for speeding like a loon.
**
I get out of my car and pray that sick bastard hasn’t hurt my cat. I let out a deep breath and suck another in. Gus needs his mother and none of them would be in this mess if it wasn’t for me. I’ve gotta be brave.
All the lights are off when I enter the house off the side through the laundry room. Someone put a board up where Jag broke my glass out and cleaned up. “Meow.” Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Whisker’s paws at the bathroom door. I crack the door open and he darts out.
“Hey, Mr. Puss,” I whisper and scoop him up. He purrs in my arms and I snuggle against him. I go into the kitchen and get him a treat. I know I should be rushing to free Jag’s sister. I’m trying to gather some courage before I go barging in there and I need a weapon but in case he walks out here to see what’s taking me so long I’ll have taking care of Whiskers as an excuse. It’s still light enough that I can see to grab a paring knife from the butcher’s block it’s just the right size to fit in the pocket of my dress pants I wore to work today.
I move through the house going to the living room and past the guest room where I spent the night with Jagger. Our blankets are still on the floor. The light from the den glows from under the door. I push it open prepared for the worst.
The room is empty but there’s a note on the desk.
Come to the barn.
—Choke
Chapter 13
Jagger
“If you can get us his username this will go a hell of a lot faster,” Truth says.”