My cell vibrates in my clutch, and I pull it out. Opening up the text, I take a deep breath, thinking it’s going to tell me the guy is here but it’s from Ryat.
Had a meeting at HoLs. On my way.
Okay. See you soon.
“While we’re waiting, I’m going to go out to my car really quick.” I’m going to grab a pair of flats in my trunk so I can put them on as soon as this is done. I’ve hated living out of the small suitcase we brought with us. If I had known we weren’t going to return after burying Cindy, I would have packed several bags.
“I’ll go with you.”
We’re laughing as she tells me something that Gunner did last week while walking out the back of Blackout to my car. It was nice of Sarah to drive it here for me. For some reason, it feels like a little bit of freedom has been returned to me. I haven’t had the chance to drive my car in almost a month.
I left it behind while I ran, and then we’ve been hiding here for four days. It’s got a big smile on my face.
Unlocking it, it beeps, and Sarah stops. “Dammit.”
“What?” I ask her.
“I think I left my cell on the bar.” She pats down her dress, knowing damn well it doesn’t have any pockets. She yanks her clutch open and starts looking around in it.
I fall into the driver’s seat. “Get in. I’ll swing you by the back door. That way you don’t have to walk.” Plus, the sooner she gets there, the better. I don’t want someone to take it.
Getting in, I drive through the parking lot since I was in the very back row—the club is packed tonight—and pull parallel to the door.
“I’ll be right here,” I tell her as she’s jumping out. She shuts my door, and I pick up my cell from the cupholder and start to call Ryat but stop. I don’t want to be that woman who can’t go a second without calling her man. I’m going to be seeing him soon anyway.
My car door opens, and I see her fall into my passenger seat. “That was fast …”
A hand grips my hair, and my face is slammed into the steering wheel. Pain explodes behind my eyes, and I instantly taste blood. Then my head is jerked back, and I don’t even get to scream before a hand slaps over my mouth, silencing me.
“You’ve been very busy, Blakely.” I hear a male voice growl in my ear.
My eyes are watery from the impact my face just took, so when I try to look at him, all I see is a blurry figure, but I know who it is. Shaking my head, I try to scream, but he just tightens his grip in my hair, needles pricking my scalp.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. Yet. This is just a warning.” He lets go of my mouth and slams my face into the steering wheel again. This time, my vision goes black, and more blood fills my mouth. I start choking on it, making it fly out of my mouth onto the dash and windshield.
His hand remains holding my hair and his other hand wraps around my throat and squeezes, taking away what little air I had. “You know …” He leans in, and the wetness from his tongue runs across my pounding cheek, licking up my tears. “I should have taken you up on that rape fantasy of yours.” My already racing heart skips a beat, and I try to reach for the door handle, my lungs burning from lack of oxygen while dots cover my already blurry vision.
He removes his hand just before my eyes fall closed, and I suck in a ragged breath before spitting blood out of my mouth once again. “Ryat’s going … to kill you.” I wheeze out.
He laughs, the sound filling the small car. “Tell your husband that I’ll be waiting for him.” Then he shoves my face into the steering wheel one last time.
When he lets go of me, my body slumps in the driver’s seat, and all I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears. It feels like my heart is pumping in my face, and I can’t swallow. Drool and blood run out of the corners of my mouth. I can’t see anything, but I’m not even sure my eyes are open.
“Blakely!” I hear my name being shouted. “Oh my God!”
I flinch at the sound. I just … I just want to go to sleep.
“Help me!” The voice screams again. “You’re going to be okay,” the girl cries.
What’s wrong? I’m not sure what she’s talking about.
“What the fuck?” someone else barks.
Hands grab my shoulders and roughly drag me out of the car. I can’t even fight if Matt changed his mind and decided to come back for me. I’m his at this point as long as he’ll let me sleep.