“We’re just taking the necessary precautions,” Doobie replied, not wanting to cause panic.
Natalie nodded, but I could see she was frightened, but trying to remain strong.
“There’s an APB out,” I told her. “We’re gonna get him, Nat, don’t worry.”
We waited for what seemed like hours for word from Smitty or Marsha, and I remembered to shoot a text off to Ming, Brock, and Brendan to let them know what was going on. I also tried calling Ming again, when I didn’t hear back, but figured Smitty had gotten to her and let her know what was going on.
When her name finally lit up on my phone, I answered right away and said, “We’re with Nat, Ming; she’s fine, you don’t have to worry. There’s been no sign of Zeke yet.”
The male laugh coming through the phone caused my blood to run cold, then freeze, when Zeke said, “Looks like you saved the wrong woman.”
Then the line went dead.
Chapter Thirty-Four ~ Ming
I was getting my briefcase out of the passenger seat when two arms came around my waist and pulled me from the car. At first, I was shocked, then I began to struggle, turning my head to try and see who was holding me. I’d just about turned and was readying my knee to come up and make contact with the stranger’s balls, when a third arm shot out and punched me in the jaw.
I blacked out.
When I came to, I was in the backseat of a beat-up old Chevy. A nervous-looking man was driving and Zeke was sitting next to me, holding a gun and smiling creepily at me.
“What are you doing, Zeke?” I asked, keeping my voice calm.
“Shhhh,” he replied, putting one finger up to his lips, while his other hand rested on his lap, holding a gun.
I listened and didn’t say anything else, my mind spinning as I wondered the best way to play this without getting myself hurt.
The driver was smoking a big, putrid cigar, and strumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
“Left up here,” Zeke told the driver, and we pulled into a rundown trailer park. “That light-blue one down on the left.”
Once we were parked, Zeke grabbed my arm and urged me out of the backseat. I looked around the quiet residential area, but there was no one outside. No busy-body neighbors peeking out their windows.
Zeke started swearing as soon as we entered the trailer, and although I tensed at his anger, I breathed deep and told myself it was going to be okay.
“Fucking bitch didn’t clean this shit up?” I followed Zeke’s gaze, taking in the broken glass, upturned furniture, and bottle of champagne still sitting on the end table. “Help me pick up the couch.”
Zeke and his partner left me standing in the middle of the room to pick up the couch and set it back on its feet. I thought briefly about running, but the gun in his hand, and the bullet holes in the walls, kept me from doing anything stupid.
“Sit,” Zeke said, waving the gun from me to the couch.
I followed directions and sat, careful to pull my skirt down my legs as far as I could, while pretending to be calm and collected.
“You said we were grabbing the bitch that locked you up, you didn’t say shit about snatching a fancy lawyer off the street,” the other guy complained, practically hopping from one foot to the other.
“Plans change,” Zeke replied as he settled back into what looked like a well-loved recliner.
“They don’t change ten minutes into a jailbreak, Z. We could have snatched your wife and left town, and no one would have given a shit, but this piece? Someone’s gonna be lookin’ for her.”
“That’s what I’m betting on,” Zeke answered, then looked at me and held out his hand. “In fact, give me your phone.”
I pulled my phone out of the inner pocket of my jacket and handed it to him. He scrolled down, found the number he was looking for, and pressed send.
Whoever he called must have started talking as soon as they picked up, thinking it was me, because Zeke listened for a few minutes before saying anything, a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Looks like you saved the wrong woman,” he said finally, then pressed end and tossed my phone on the couch next to me.
My heart sank at the realization that Brady was on the other end of that call. That he must have heard of Zeke’s escape, and gone to protect Natalie, having no idea that I was Zeke’s target.