Page 73 of Ferocious Nightmare

I grit my teeth to keep from crying. I really was about to die. I would never have kids, never tell Coulter I loved him, never see Rose or my Papi again.

"The boss said not to kill her," Crooked Nose finally interjected. He grabbed my head, pulling it backwards, slapping duct tape over my mouth. “There. Now put your fucking gun away.”

Rubber Lips drug me across the pavement, but I didn’t even care that he was scraping me up. He’d just saved my life. Crooked Nose punched in the code to call the elevator, and when the doors opened, they threw me inside. Rubber Lips sat on me, heaving and out of breath, all the way up.

Whether to keep me still, or keep Darth from killing me, I would never know.

I still fought them though when I got out. I would never give up.

"Stupid whore," Crooked Nose said as they dumped me on the floor. "Not worth all this trouble."

The other two grunted in agreement. Rubber Lips leaned down, his face serious as he shook a finger at me. "Don't move. Stay here until Nero comes for you. You get hungry or gotta piss, you wait for him. Okay?"

“We just leaving her here like this?” Crooked Nose stared at Darth for permission.

Darth seemed to consider it, and I lay still for the first time. If they walked out, I could find a way to escape.

Crooked Nose surveyed me, his gaze lingering on my breasts. “She would be a good one to tame, no?"

He laughed, and Rubber Lips sighed, shaking his head. “She’s not worth the trouble.”

Still considering me, Crooked Nose’s lips twisted into a sneer. “If you get bored in here, just let me know. I know how to entertain you.” He grabbed his junk.

I raised my knee, aiming straight for his crotch, but he was too quick. His hand snapped out, and fingers dug into my skin. "Not today, little princess."

He shoved my knee towards the floor, and they both straightened. Darth hadn’t spoken. He was watching me silently. I was pretty sure he was still trying to decide if he was going to kill me.

I watched them, breathing heavy, trying to catch my breath. I didn’t fight, hoping that would give them the encouragement they needed to leave me here.

Finally Rubber Lips grunted. “Let's go. She'll behave."

"But if you don't," Crooked Nose licked his lips, "we'll be right outside the door." He jerked his head towards the main office door. “If you do anything to make those people out there worry, we’ll come in. And you won't like that. Do you understand?”

I scowled, but shook my head yes.

He threw me one last lingering look before they both walked off, grunting something to each other in Russian. Darth just watched me before finally turning to follow them out the door.

I waited until I heard the lock click before I moved into action.

The idiots hadn't thought to pat me down.

It was a bit awkward, but I managed to tug my knife out of my dress pocket.

I was covered in ash and had lost one of my heels in the struggle. I was sure my hair was a crazy mess and my ears were still ringing from when the asshole had boxed them, but otherwise I was okay.

Just spitting, raging, angry.

And worried about Coulter.

He could be dead by now, and a deep, canyon sized tear hollowed out my chest. I pushed all my emotions down, except for anger, which I used to cut myself free. I started with my feet.

It took me a bit, but finally they broke free. My hands were sticky with sweat and ash, and it was awkward to cut into the tape on my wrists.

The knife slipped several times, either falling to the floor or nicking myself, but I kept going, determined to free myself.

I was deep into cutting through it when the elevator door dinged.

My heart lurched in my throat and my head snapped towards it.

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