Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Jack opened his mouth to argue when Ian’s phone rang. Ian frowned. “It’s Jameson.”
Jack watched as Ian answered the phone, frowning deeply. “Fuck. Okay. Yeah. All right. We’ll be there soon.” He turned to Jack after ending the call. “It’s William. Apparently, Maggie’s mother called him and he answered.”
“Fuck. Why didn’t we take his phone away?”
Ian grunted in agreement. “Well, she must have told him everything that was going on and he . . . he didn’t take it well. He got into a rage and ended up badly hurting himself. Jameson has had him admitted.”
This was turning into a giant shit show.
Jack just had to hope they found someone who knew where their girl was.
51
Something was really wrong with her.
She knew that because she kept hallucinating. She kept seeing Jack and Ian. Even Jameson.
They would come to her to tell her to be brave. At any moment, they were going to find her.
But no one was coming.
How long had she been here? Three or four nights? She was losing track. Everything was hazy.
It felt like none of this was real. That she’d wake up and find that her ribs weren’t hurting. That her eye wasn’t swollen shut. That her wrists weren’t being rubbed raw.
She’d be back in that house. With her guys. With Uncle Willy.
She hoped someone was looking after him.
What a tosser she’d been to think she could take care of him. She couldn’t even take care of herself.
Jameson was right. It was neglectful not to have a plan in place. What would happen now? Her mum would have to step up and God knew what she’d do.
Reaching up, she tugged at her hair until pain slashed through her scalp. She didn’t know why she was still pulling her hair when she was already in so much pain. But this was a pain she had control over.
Stupid, right?
A whimper escaped her as she heard something. She didn’t want the woman to come back. When she wasn’t here, things were better. She got water. Some food, even though she didn’t eat it.
“Shh,” someone whispered.
The voice was feminine. But it wasn’t her.
“I drugged the guards, but just in case we should be quiet. We don’t want anyone to know I’m here.”
“Who . . . who are you?” she whispered.
“Best you don’t know that. Then when you’re questioned once I get you back, you can say you don’t know. See? KISS.”
“You want me to kiss you?”
A small giggle. “No, silly. It’s an acronym. I like them. Keep It Simple Stupid. See?”
“Yeah, I like silly sayings too. I’m thinking of becoming a T-shirt Queen. I’ll have an empire. Things like: Don’t get kidnapped, it sucks.”
“Hey, I like that. It has a nice ring to it.”
“Thanks. Thought of it all by myself.” She sniffled. “Are you a figment of my imagination?”
The other woman grasped hold of Maggie’s hands and started to do something to the cuffs. “Sometimes, I think I’m a figment of my imagination.”
“That’s deep,” Maggie told her. “Can I use that for my T-shirt empire?”
“Sure, babe. Happy to help.”
Suddenly the cuffs gave way and Maggie let out a cry of relief that was quickly stifled by the woman’s hand over her mouth. She shied back. She couldn’t stand to have someone touch her like that.
But the other woman was strong.
“Shh. Remember. Quiet. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help you.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because these assholes are planning to hurt you. Maybe even kill you. They wouldn’t have let you see their faces if they were going to let you go.”
As she spoke, the other woman slid her shoulder under Maggie’s arm.
“I had that thought.”
“So, we need to get out of here. Get you back to safety and your men.”
“I don’t have men.” They weren’t looking for her. Why would they? They didn’t want her.
“Really? So the big grumpy one and the terrifying one who have been scaring the shit out of every member of the Purity Party they can get their hands on aren’t doing that because they’re yours? Huh. And then there’s the Doc. Didn’t think he had it in him, but he’s been in there too.”
“What? Seriously? They’re looking for me? Even Jameson?”
“Yeah, babe. Now, I need you to put your arm right around my shoulders so I can grab hold and help you up. Can you stay quiet?”
“Yep.” Now that she realized this woman was really here to help her . . . and that Jack, Ian, and even Jameson were searching for her, it had given her the boost she needed.
So even though it sent waves of agony through her, she let the stranger help her up. They crept through the camp, past sleeping guards. Including the asshole who hurt her.
She must have tensed of something as the other woman spoke up.
“Don’t worry, he’ll pay,” the woman said. “I’m really sorry. We have to walk for a bit.”