Page 213 of Forced Vows

Knocking out the taillight to get an idea runs the risk of getting my captors attention from the noise. I don't want them to know I'm unbound and mobile.

The car lurches to a sudden stop and lots of yelling ensues. Near accident?

Whatever it is, I use the time we're stopped to wind gauze around the trunk latch so that when I pull the release, it doesn't pop up and alert the driver by showing in the rearview mirror.

Then I pull the latch, allowing the trunk to lift just enough to see out.

No cars behind us. Whoever they're arguing with must be near the front of the car.

I have two choices. Try to get help from him, or use the argument as a distraction to run. Not liking my odds either way, I choose to run.

For all I know they're arguing with someone who can't or won't help me.

I let the trunk open enough so I can slide my body out. I keep hold of the gauze, pulling the trunk closed behind me.

There's a clink as the latch catches again, but it's muted by the gauze and I'm hoping against hope they didn't notice it.

Staying low to the ground, I crawl away from the car. There's an alley about twenty-five feet back the way we came.

A truck and a minivan are parked on this side of the street. I use them for cover to get closer to the alley and then I run.

I don't bother to look back to see if I'm being chased because if I am, looking back will only slow me down. If I'm not, I still need to get as far away from them as I can.

A stich forms in my side and I'm panting when I finally slow down and try to figure out where I am.

I find a street sign and decide then and there, I am buying a LOTTO ticket this time for sure.

This is the street where the Shaughnessy warehouse is. The sound of a jet taking off tells me I'm close to the airport too. Which means not only is it the right street, but I'm in Queens and the warehouse can't be that far away.

People who are loyal to my family work at that warehouse. Even if I can't get down to the Bunker, they'll help me evade my attackers.

Considering what our nearness to the airport signifies, I shudder. They were going to smuggle me onto a private jet. I would have been in Pennsylvania before dinner.

With a new sense of urgency, I look around me. I'm not sure which direction the warehouse is and it takes me going the wrong way for two buildings before I realize the address numbers are increasing instead of decreasing. I have to turn around and start going the other direction.

Closer or further away from my pursuers? I don't know and right now if I think about it, it's only going to stress me out.

I'm only a couple of blocks from the warehouse when I see the car.

I quickly dodge behind a parked SUV. Did they see me? Ducking down, I peek around the back of the SUV.

The car is still crawling slowly along the street. A quick glance at the driver confirms that it's my captors.

I have to reach the warehouse. But my luck has run out because there is almost no cover between here and the building I'm aiming for.

If I run, they'll see me and, in a car, there's no chance they don't catch up to me. If I stay here, they might miss me. Do they know I'm headed for the warehouse?

Even if they do, if I wait for them to drive by and head back the other direction, I can go to one of the apartment buildings. Right?

I just have to stay where I am and out of sight. Shifting closer to the wheel, I hunch down, making my body as small as possible.

My heart pounds so fast, my chest hurts and I have to hold my breath so I don't start hyperventilating.

The sound of the car's purring engine grows louder, and louder as it gets closer. Am I visible? I can't check. If I move, I risk being seen.

The urge to run pushes my heart to an even more furious beat.

Gripping my kubotan tightly in my fist, I force my limbs to stillness.

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