Page 73 of Sacred Vow

“Craig, we both have to get out of this.”

“You’ll be safe. You have to do what I say, though. Okay?”

“Don’t talk like that.”

“Izzy. When they open this trunk, you say nothing. You just let me do the talking. Then when you get out of this, when you go home, tell Andrei to go to our post office box. Everything is in there. Tell him.”

“Why? What is it? Who are these guys?”

The trunk opened, and flashlights were shone in my eyes, blinding me.

“So, you’re up finally.” A hand rests on my shoulder a second before yanking me back around.

I stumble a step back, barely catching myself before falling on my ass.

“Who are you?” I ask, my voice raw.

“Andrei didn’t tell you?” He laughs. “That man just loves his fucking secrets.”

“No. What do you want?”

He’s as tall as Andrei, so I have to move back a step to look up at him. His eyes are small, like little black beetles, and his lips are so thin they’re barely visible.

A hard slap across my face knocks me to the ground. Gold stars sparkle in my vision.

“You know what I want. I want to know what your stupid brother told you. I want to know where he put it.”

“Put what?” I struggle to get back to my feet.

“Don’t fuck around with me. You can’t have selective memory, not when your life depends on it.” He grabs hold of my arm and drags me with him as he hurries between the rows of cars. I have to take small steps thanks to the chain, which makes it harder for me to keep up. When I slip on a small pebble, he yanks me back to my feet and keeps going.

I freeze when we step into an open area, and I see the monstrosity before me.

My chest squeezes.

“Oh, god.” I try to pull back from him, but the drugs in my system have left me weak.

He stops walking, though, and turns to me.

“You finally remembering?” He shakes me. “What is it?”

My attention stays glued to the hydraulic compactor that’s crushing a Ford Explorer.

“You… it was you.” I struggle harder trying to get away from him.

“Ah, good, you remember. Now tell me what your brother told you.” He pulls out a gun, points it at me.

“Andrei’s going to kill you,” I threaten him, my fear from moments before turning to rage.

My captor laughs. “He’s probably still trying to figure out where you are.”

“No. He’s right here.” Andrei’s voice breaks through my panic and anger. “Get your hands off her, Mason, if you want any chance of saving your son.”

Mason spins around, pulling me in front of him as a shield.

Andrei stands with Viktor and Sergei right behind him. They all have their own weapons drawn and ready to use.

Relief floods me. Andrei’s here. Andrei will save me. I have no doubt in my heart.

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