Baptiste sped by it.
What?
I continued, which was my biggest mistake. If I knew he was heading to the airport, I should’ve gone that way. But there was always a chance my thinking had been wrong.
But it wasn’t.
Baptiste sped up, got into the furthest left lane, diving in and out, putting more and more cars between us. I kept my pace with him, screeching my tires. Other drivers sensed that they were near a car chase of some sorts and got out of the way.
And then Baptiste jumped his car over the concrete divider, doing a suicidal U-turn and jumping into the other side of the highway.
Fuck!
Thankfully, there were no cars on that side. I tried to do the same, but he’d caused too much chaos. People stopped. Others swerved. I slammed on my brakes, bracing myself for impact. The scent of burning rubber filled the air.
I only kept control for a split second. Someone crashed into the back of me. Another hit my side. My car whirled across the road, dragging whatever lay in its path.
And the one time I didn’t wear my seat belt, I regretted it.
Zola!
The crash knocked me out of the driving-seat. I fell onto the floor. Pain exploded on my side. My head went dizzy.
No. I have to get her.
The car screeched to a stop after that. I was upside down in some part of the vehicle. My head rang. It wasn’t my first accident in a chase, but it definitely felt like one.
People yelled around me. Two guys grabbed my hands and helped me out. I blinked, adjusting my eyes to all of the car lights beaming in the area.
“Hey, buddy, are you okay?” someone said in front of me.
I stumbled forward as my vision took its time to come in focus. “I need a ride…to the airport.”
The guy yelled as I crashed to the ground. “Someone call an ambulance!”
“No.” I shook my head and grabbed his arm. “Listen.”
Terrified, he looked up at me. “Hey, man. Are you okay?”
“I need a ride to the airport right now. I have a gun. I could threaten to kill you, but I would rather give you a thousand dollars for the ride.” I shook my head, regaining my vision. “Choose. Gun or money?”
“A thousand dollars or die?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go.” He helped me over this car.
More vehicles had stopped in the middle of the highway.
I checked behind me to remember the license plate of the car I’d stolen. After all that I’d done his baby, the guy deserved two new cars.
I squinted through all the flashing lights, spotted the letters, and smiled like a crazy fool.
The license plate read, QUPID
34
Damsel in Distress
Zola
In my nightmare, I was naked and struggling against tightly knotted ropes that held me to railroad tracks. A gag stuffed my mouth. Fear pumped in my heart. The chilly air spread goosebumps along my bare skin.
And I knew no one would save me.
Baptiste stood near, burning sage. “For all have sinned and dirtied their souls.”
A train sounded off in the distance. Warning lights flashed at the railroad crossing.
The steel railing vibrated under me. Panic kicked in.
I screamed through the gag. No one could hear me or stop my coming death. I writhed and struggled against the ropes, feeling the approach of the train thunder my way.
Right before the train hit me, I woke up.
Oh my God!
The sun burned through my closed eyelids like lasers. Weird sounds came up above. I swore vultures must’ve circled overhead. Yawning, I opened my eyes and saw seagulls.
I sat up in a deck chair and groaned at the stiffness in my limbs.
Last night, Baptiste had knocked me out with some pill he’d forced me to swallow in the car. We’d been at the airport. I must’ve been out for a long time. I didn’t even remember the plane ride.
Several hours later, I woke up at a beach resort. The water was too blue, the sand too white. I knew I was no longer in New York, but not sure of anything else. The only thing I knew was that the resort was clothing optional. A lot of people strolled the beach naked.
Baptiste had told me earlier that he’d reserved a fifth level room, so I could sit outside on the balcony but not escape or even yell to someone without getting his attention.
We’d arrived this morning. I had no idea what time it was after that.
What the hell is going to happen now?
I studied the sky, thinking it might be close to the afternoon.
“Room service just arrived.” Baptiste stepped onto the balcony, holding a cup of coffee. “Are you hungry?”
I shook my head.
“You should eat. I don’t want to kill you.”
My voice was hoarse. “Then what are you doing?”
“I need Hunter to kill me.”
“Well, this is a great way to go about it.”
Baptiste walked over to the balcony’s railing. “I told you about Nakita and me? Our love?”