Page 78 of Keeping Eveline

“Tell me Cass has been able to follow the van through the traffic cameras,” Ox demanded.

“Yes.”

It was something at least, but Ox didn’t like the way Irish had only said one word on the subject.

All he could do was wait until they got to the office and hopefully by then, the van would be stopped, and Cass would have a map on the screen showing them exactly where Eveline was.

“Hang on, baby. I’m coming to get you.”

It was taking everything inside Eveline not to throw up. The vehicle swayed side-to-side as it traveled along a bumpy road.

Even the person who was in the back with her was grunting every now and then. At least he was probably sitting up.

Anytime she’d tried to move, Eveline had been shoved in her back with a booted foot and told to stay still, stay lying prone.

Sweat trickled down the side of her face, and she was thirsty. The thick bag over her head created a furnace-like atmosphere.

Finally, the swaying stopped as the van came to a halt.

Panic settled in Eveline’s bones. What was going to happen now?

While they’d been moving, there’d been a modicum of safety. Nothing bad could happen in a moving car. Well, apart from kicks, but the man with her had plenty of opportunities to do horrendous things to her.

As far as Eveline could tell, there were just the two of them in the back. There was no one there to tell him not to do anything. Or stop him if he wanted to rape her.

Yet, all he’d done was tell her to shut up and not move.

The muffled sound of the door opening reached her through the bag, and tiny pinpricks of light penetrated the fabric, not enough to make Eveline squint, but she was grateful for the hint of sun after the darkness of the past few hours.

Large hands grabbed her under her arms and dragged her along the floor.

Eveline bit back the cry of pain as her spine bounced along the ridged floor.

Even when they had her upright, she couldn’t run. Couldn’t lash out as they had her bound so tightly.

Warmth and humidity hit, and in her little cocoon, she concentrated on what she could hear.

Nothing.

No bird song. No swish swish of water lapping against a dock or the shore. Not even the rush of air through trees.

It was as though they were in the middle of a desert, or they were in a dome where all outside sound was cut off.

Why wasn’t anyone talking?

Someone had a vice-like grip around her biceps, the fingers digging in. If she attempted to pull away, she’d fall flat on her face.

Should she say something?

The lack of conversation was getting to Eveline. She wanted to scream. Yell. Rage at them all for taking her. For hurting Kyle.

Eveline bit her lip tightly to stop the cry welling up from deep in her belly. During the journey in the car, once she had her emotions under some sort of control, she hadn’t allowed herself to think too much about him. If she had, she would’ve cried, and she hadn’t wanted to show any weakness to the man who was in the back with her.

Now though, she couldn’t stop the thoughts from running rampant through her mind.

Not having Kyle in her life anymore would break her. Not being able to wake up next to him every day. Not kissing him. Laughing with him. Feeling his body move inside of her as they brought each other pleasure. Not having any of that didn’t bear thinking about.

No. He’s alive, and he’s going to find me.

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