Stolen (4 page)

With that they are gone, and I am left alone once more. I curl up onto the bed; my head is pounding. I cry myself back to sleep, wishing and praying that someone will save me. An entire day passes before I see the men again; they leave me with no pain relief, no water and no food. Blade comes down in the afternoon; his brown eyes look concerned, but his voice comes out steely.

“Have you learnt your lesson yet?”

“Yes.”

“Good, here.” He throws me some more painkillers.

“Why did you do this, is your life that bad?” I dare to ask, he looks long and hard at me.

“Yes it is, not everyone has the things you do.”

“Well I guess I never thought about it, I never thought about anyone else.”

“I figured; it’s selfish people like you that make the world a terrible place.”

“Right, people like me. So kidnapping and shooting an eighteen year old girl is not bad?”

“What choice did we have, we have nothing.”

“Maybe you should try working.” I mumble.

“Really, well let me tell you something for nothing. When you grow up with nothing, no schooling, no jobs, what chance do you think we have of getting anywhere? No one wants us; this is our only choice.”

“It’s never your only choice.” I point out, rather rudely.

“You don’t know anything.”

“Right, so when you get busted and believe me you will. Going to prison is worth all this?”

“Maybe it is, it’s probably better than what we have now.”

I shake my head, is their life really so miserable they have to kidnap a poor girl and actually believe it will work. Blade stands and leaves. He could be kind, maybe he is the only way I will be safe in this hell hole. Even though he acts tough, he has a soft side, he cares a little. I can see it. I can feel it.

I lay back down and roll over, whatever he gave me knocked me out once again. Are they drugging me? I am grateful regardless; I fall into a deep, painless sleep. Wondering what the next day will hold, thinking about Mum, Dad, Mark and Caleb. I wonder how long it will take for them to find me?

At least then I will know my fate.

CHAPTER 3

I wake up, and it is cold, freezing cold. The sun is shining down through the cracks of the door, but the room is dark and musty. I sit up, and I can see sweat drenching the bed, my head aches, and I feel sick. My hands are shaking. What is happening? I run my hand over my leg and scream in pain, shit.

The door above opens and the two men walk down chatting about something. When they see me, they both stop. Blade’s eyes narrow and he steps forward. I am trembling violently, and my teeth are chattering loudly. I feel like I am having a damn fit. What is going on? Is my leg infected?

“What is wrong with her?” Jock asks, his eyes narrow and his lips form a straight line.

“I don’t know.”

Blade leans down and presses his hand against my forehead.

“Fuck, she is hot Jock. Really hot.”

“Oh for
God
’s sake, I don’t want to kill the girl.”

“She has a fever; I think her leg is infected.” Blade panics.

“Well do something about it.”

“I don’t know what to do!” He snaps.

“Bloody get her in the cold shower. I will go and get some strong stuff to kill any infection
she’s
got.” Jock orders before turning and walking up the stairs.

Blade takes me in his arms and walks me upstairs. He doesn’t strip me when we get to the shower, he just steps in. Taking himself in with me. The water is freezing, but I don’t protest, I know it is the only chance I have. Blade just holds me there, not moving or speaking. I try hard to avoid his deep gaze.

“Why are you doing this to me? I am just a girl.” I whisper.

“Sorry.” He mutters.

Why is he doing this? He could just let me die; instead he is standing in a cold shower holding me. I feel his hand press onto my head and he mumbles something about being better. Then he steps out and wraps me in a towel. I am laid down on the couch and watch as Jock comes in with something strong. I have seen that stuff, and it hurts like hell. I don’t move as they unravel my bandage.

“Geez!” Blade mumbles.

“Yeah, that is pretty bad.”

“Tip that stuff on.”

Jock tips the liquid over my leg; I don’t scream, but I do clench my teeth together.
God
damn that hurts. Breathe. Breathe. After a minute, my leg is numb and Jock goes about cleaning it. I stare at the two men. Something about them tells me they truly aren't bad people, so why are they being forced to do this?

“Thanks.” I mutter.

“Right, I am going to ring your parents. They don’t believe us and so you need to speak to them.” Jock says, not giving me a chance to protest. He pulls out his phone and dials.

“I have your daughter, you don’t believe me well here she is.” He snaps and throws the phone at me.

“Hello.” I breathe.

“Emerson?” Mum’s voice comes across the receiver.

“
Mamma
, help me please.”

“We are trying love, are you okay? Have they hurt you?”

“Yes.”

“What happened, what did those monsters do?”

“Shot me.”

“Jesus.”

“Give them the money please, just give it to them.”

“It’s not that easy…”

“I am your daughter, give them the money. I am worth more than this”

“We are not just handing our life savings over to them; we are working with the police to figure out the best way to go.”

Before I can answer, Jock snatches the phone out of my hands and slams it shut. They both stare at me. I am crushed; mum has been getting calls and she is just letting me stay here. She could have saved me, could have gotten me out of this hell, but she doesn’t want to part with her precious money. If I ever felt unloved, it is now.

“Happy?” I growl, holding back the tears.

“Very, now get downstairs.”

“Please don’t keep locking me downstairs. I want to go outside.”

“You
aren’t
going outside.”

“Please?” I plead.

“I will take her, just outside the house. I will take the gun.” Blade offers.

“Fine, ten minutes and don’t try anything.”

Blade grabs his gun and takes me outside. I don’t plan on trying to run, I was not risking that again. Besides, I am hobbling like a little old woman. We walk towards the trees, and I breathe in the fresh air.

“Why do you do everything he tells you?” I ask, and Blade stops, turning to face me.

“He is all I have. Without him I am toast; he is a monster at times but he is my brother, and he saved me when I had nothing.”

“He is your brother?” I gape. They look so different.

“Yeah.”

“I guess I would do the same for my brother.”

“So your parents don’t want to give up the money huh?”

My chest clenches and I look at the ground.

“So much for being worth anything.”

“I think you are worth something.” He says, and I meet his gaze. The man is gorgeous, the kind of gorgeous that you don’t see often. He has a sweet face, determined but sweet.

“Why did you save me back there, you could have let me die?”

“I wasn’t going to kill an innocent girl, you did nothing wrong to us…”

“My parents don’t even sound worried, they didn’t even try and stop you from taking me. They have that money; I know they do. I can’t believe they would just let me go.”

“Maybe they are in shock?”

“Or maybe their money is more valuable than me.” I snap.

He stares hard at me; he is stunning and my heart flutters again. I quickly look down.

“I am sorry we did this to you, if I had known you then I wouldn’t have done it.” His voice is genuine.

“Thanks, but maybe I needed this to happen. You don’t frighten me so much.”

“We don’t?” He smiles a little, and I can see, he has a dazzling smile.

“I said you don’t…”

“I am being nice to you, but I will hurt you if I have to.” He reminds me, as if to keep his control.

“I don’t think so.”

“Don’t be so sure, I have done worse…”

“I still don’t think you will hurt me.”

“How old are you?”

“Eighteen, how old are you?”

“Twenty nine.”

“Hmmmm, such a hard life to be having. Someone with a face like yours should be on billboards, not kidnapping spoilt brats.” I whisper with a small grin.

A ghost of a smile plays around his lips. “No choice. Like I said, my life was not so easy.”

“But you could have met a nice girl, got married, and things could have been better.”

“Yeah but they aren’t so can we drop it?”

“Okay.”

“I shouldn’t be so nice to you. Let’s get back, I can’t be your friend.”

“Yes you can.”

“No I can’t.
Let’s
go.” He snaps.

He takes me back inside and throws me back into my room.
God
in heaven, will I ever escape this place?

CHAPTER 4

Nearly two slow weeks pass and nothing. No one tries to save me; no one offers the money needed. My heart aches; I want so much to go home, but I wasn’t sure if I was worth it anymore. I spend most days down in this cell; they feed me and let me shower. Occasionally they take me outside, but neither say much. I think
a lot
about my family and Caleb, wondering if they have forgotten about me. Did they just decide I wasn’t worth the effort, and so they were willing to risk me dying? Or maybe they figured what the heck, we can just buy another daughter. Bastards.

Finally, the day comes that I am allowed out. I get the feeling they are getting used to me now, even fond of me. They are no way near as harsh. Blade gives me a smile here and there; Jock doesn’t threaten me so much anymore. They give me nicer food and much more to drink. I even have scented soap for my showers, which one of them clearly made an effort to buy for me.

“Hi.” I say, when they come down one afternoon.

“We are going to town, stand up and go get in the car.
You’re
not to move from that car, if you do we will shoot you again.” Jock warns.

“Fine.”

I stand up; Blade grips my arm and drags me out to the car. He pushes me in and then they both slide in the front, pushing the gun under the seat. We start driving, they don’t even bother to cover my eyes. Aren’t they worried I will see where I am going? When I start to
recognize
the scenery, I know we are heading into L.A. I wonder what they are doing in here?

Then the strangest thing occurs to me. They haven’t locked the doors; we are slowing down at numerous traffic lights. All it will take is a quick second and I can be free; they wouldn’t shoot me in the middle of L.A. I reach my hand down and very quietly undo my seatbelt, then I wait. My heart is beating wildly.

When we slow down at the next traffic light, I grab the door handle. Within seconds it is open, and I am rolling out the door. I hit the pavement hard, but I don’t stop to think, I just roll across the rough ground and then stand up and run. I bolt as fast as I can into the middle of the city, I hear heavy footsteps behind me, but I don’t turn or stop.

I rush into a nearby toilet block, then curse. Shit, I have backed myself into a corner. Idiot! I slide into a cubicle, hoping they won’t enter. They can’t wait forever right? I slide onto the toilet and hear the door open. I see a set of shoes at my door and then Blade leans down and looks under. The jerk is actually grinning.

“Nice try.”

“Why can’t you just let me go?” I sulk.

“Not that easy darlin, come on.”

“No, a woman will come in here soon and scream and then you will be in trouble.” I grin defiantly.

“No, I will just say my difficult girlfriend won’t get out of the toilet because we had a fight, and I am trying hard to love her but she won’t let me.” He smirks, I roll my eyes.

“What makes you think that will work?”

“Look at me, it will work.” He smiles, the damn man looks stunning when he smiles.

“Tickets.” I mutter.

“Yep, now come on. Jock will be so angry.”

“I don’t want to go out there, angry or not I don’t care.”

“You know that I can’t just let you go, besides I don’t want to.”

“You don’t want to?”

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“I like you.”

“Right.” I mumble.

“It’s true, now come on. If your parents don’t give in soon, we will consider letting you go. But if you run, Jock is only going to get mad.”

“You’re probably just saying that to get me out.”