Ruby Revenge

The entire way, I’d been texting Niko whenever Geo made a new turn. We were in Traverse City now, hours from Capac. Geo turned on a small road, and I glanced at the street sign when the headlights shined on it.

I texted the road name to Niko as knots grew in my stomach. Geo had gone quiet, and I was sure we were close to wherever he was taking me. After about a mile, he turned into a narrow driveway. Trees covered both sides of the driveway, and the house didn’t come into view until he drove around a curve.

I searched the front of the tiny house and panicked when I didn’t see an address. As fast as I could, I texted a short description of the driveway and the house. It was a small, orange-brick home with a one car attached garage. Two large windows sat on either side of the front door. My heart jolted when my phone vibrated. Before I looked down, I peered at Geo to make sure he wasn’t watching me.

I’ll be there soon. Don’t give up.

Niko’s short text gave me a dash of hope as Geo pulled in front of the garage. He took the keys out of the ignition before he jumped out. Shoving my phone into my pocket, I reached down and flipped open the toolbox. Peeking above the seat, I saw him pulling up the garage door. It was too dark to see anything, and I brushed my fingers over the different tools until I found something with a pointed end.

I held the handle of a Phillips head screwdriver and straightened up. Flipping it in my grip, I stabbed the tape between my wrists. Nerves swarmed me as Geo opened his door back up. I leaned forward a bit, hiding my hands. He barely glanced at me before turning the truck back on and slowly pulling into the garage. It was a tight fit with Niko’s large truck.

I continued to poke at the tape until I felt it loosen around my wrists. My heart was racing as sweat dripped down my spine. Geo turned off the truck and turned to look at me. I froze my movements as I met his gaze.

“I’m surprised you haven’t started begging for your life yet.” His voice was full of cruel mockery, and I let loathing fill my eyes.

“If hearing a woman beg is what gets you off, you’ll be waiting a long fucking time. I’ve been through too much to have my last words give you any happiness.”

His eyebrow arched in surprise. “Stay there.”

Again, he took the keys with him as he moved to shut the garage door. Pulling my wrists apart, I cried in relief as I dove down and attacked the tape around my ankles with the screwdriver. I pulled and twisted, feeling the tape loosen. The broken pieces were still stuck to my skin, but I didn’t bother with them as I got to my knees. Glancing out the window, I watched him unlock the door that led into the house.

Pulling the handle of my door, I sucked in a breath when it wouldn’t open. Even when I pulled the lock up, the door didn’t budge. The damn child locks had to be on. I was gripping my only weapon so tightly that pain shot through my palm. I stayed on my knees as Geo moved around the truck to my door.

He pulled open my door, and once he was standing in front of me, I lunged at him. Throwing all my weight into it, I plunged the screwdriver into his body near his shoulder. I stumbled to the floor; my movements slow from my muscles not moving for hours.

“Shit,” he roared, his hand flying to the screwdriver.

I kicked him behind the knees, giving myself a head start as I darted to the only door that was open, which led into the house. I rushed through the doorway and pushed my body into the door, yelling out when Geo shoved from the other side. I leaned against it, trying to get it closed. Panic clawed my chest when his leg shot through the small opening, preventing me from closing it all the way.

“I was going to make this fast and painless,” he shouted, his voice shaking with anger. “Not anymore.”

I scanned the room, searching for another way out or something I could use as a weapon. It didn’t take me long to take in the small space. The kitchen was nothing but a short island with a stove and fridge on the opposite wall. Stairs led up to an open loft. The living room had one couch in front of a large fireplace. A full-length wide mirror was on the small wall that separated the kitchen and living room. There was nothing that could help me against him.

My throat tightened when I saw a large board nailed in front of the only other door. I’d gotten out of the truck only to be trapped in this house. My planted feet did little to stop the door from moving when Geo rammed into it again.

Knowing I wouldn’t be able to hold the door much longer, I bolted forward, running around the kitchen island. Geo burst in, his eyes wild with rage. The screwdriver wasn’t in his shoulder anymore as blood dripped down his shirt.

All that was on the counter was a coffee pot with a jar of sugar next to it. I kept my gaze on him as I slid open the drawers in front of me. Geo didn’t move an inch as his chest heaved. Glancing down inside the drawer, I was met with silverware and cooking utensils. A pair of scissors caught my eye, and I grabbed them.

“If you’re going to stab somebody, you should go for the heart,” Geo said, taking a step closer toward me. “You should know that, seeing as I’m the second Rossi brother you’ve tried killing.”

“For that to work, you’d need a heart,” I shot back. “Something you’re seriously lacking.”

“Give it up, Sage,” he warned. “You’re not leaving here alive.”

All I needed to do was keep him talking until Niko got here. He strode closer, and I backed up against the stove with the scissors tight in my grip. His gaze trailed down my body, and his jaw clenched.

“What the fuck is that?” he snarled, staring at my jeans.

My stomach dropped as I glanced down to see my phone sticking out of my pocket. Shit.

“Did you text someone?” he asked, rushing toward me until he was just on the other side of the island. “Does Niko know where we are?”

“If you’re going to kidnap someone, you should probably search them.” I reached forward and grabbed a handful of butter knives from the drawer. “Seeing as you kidnap women for your fucked-up belief, I’m surprised you don’t know that.”

His eyes darkened from my taunting as I threw a butter knife at him. He ducked away as I hurled another one at his face. It hit the side of his head, and he grunted, shooting around the island. The next knife hit his gut, not slowing him down in the slightest as he charged at me. Switching the scissors to my right hand, I used my left to knock the lid off the jar of sugar. Grabbing a handful, I threw it at his face right before he reached out to grab me. Some must have gotten into his eyes because he staggered back, wiping his face.

“Bitch,” he screamed as I climbed onto the island and jumped to the floor on the other side. My feet hit the floor, and I looked to the garage door that was less than ten feet away. His footsteps pounded behind me, and I raced toward the door.

“No,” I shrieked in pain when a hand wrapped in my hair. He yanked me back, grabbing my arm with his free hand. He swung me around, and I flinched before my back connected with the mirror hanging on the wall.

Shattered pieces of mirror fell around me as I slumped to the floor. My breaths were locked in my chest, and pain pulsed throughout my body. Rolling over, I began crawling away, but he grabbed my legs, pulling me back.

“You should have died the night I took Lacey’s life,” he muttered, flipping me onto my back as I struggled against him. I’d lost the scissors when I fell, so I clawed my nails at his face when he slapped me across the jaw. “You’re a cancer to my family. But not anymore.”