Page 42 of Addiction

“And if you want her back in one piece,” Craig scoffed, “then I suggest you pay close attention.”

Bennett lifted his chin, his focus finding the sky. Had Ella looked up recently and seen the same cloudy prospect? Shit, what had he been thinking offering her to a swine like Tucker Bowman? He should have known better, should have done better…

“Fine.” What else could he say? “What’s your plan?”

He listened as Craig outlined his proposal, noticing several of the other men grunting with approval. It seemed the average intelligence level of Craig’s men was about the same as a glass of water. That was likely why Kenner had chosen them. Stupid people were less inclined to ask questions, but Bennett was worried that spending so much time around them might be ebbing away at his own I.Q.

“You two.” Craig signaled to a couple of guys waiting to his left. “Check out the smaller outhouse and keep in touch. The rest of us will head up to the cabin and surround it.”

Bennett watched as the designated men trudged up the gradient toward the cabin. They stooped, remaining low as they ran past the cabin’s window in the direction of the second rugged building.

“I can’t believe this is where he’s been keeping her.” Bennett shook his head as he eyed the shitty little hut once again.

“I can’t believe any so-called father would have given his own girl to a brute like Bowman.” Craig’s voice was laced with ridicule. “But we are where we are, Bennett.”

Fuck you.

The words hovered at his lips, though he found the will to hold them back. Getting into a row with Craig definitely wouldn’t aid his objective, however tempting the idea might be.

“Let’s go.” Craig motioned for the collective to get into position. “The sooner we do this, the sooner we can get out of this place.”

Bennett watched as the group crept forward, ascending the slope to the outside decking in groups of two. He loitered behind, aware that he was the only one who wasn’t armed, yet still wanting to be the one who rescued Ella. Maybe, if he was lucky, his daughter would be so impressed, she’d elect to live with him from now on. He could only hope.

Keeping back from their approach, Bennett edged forward, his heart picking up its pace as the group assembled around the cabin. Craig crouched by the door, signaling for him to stay low, and unthinkingly, he complied. He could imagine Bowman waiting just beyond the dark window with his weapon cocked and ready to unload. Even as his gaze darted to the pane to confirm for the fortieth time that there was no one visible, the mental image was all too easy to conjure.

“On three.” Craig mouthed words, his focus flying between the six men nearest him. The one to the left nodded as he slowly rose by the side of the door, his hands gripping his gun.

Bennett’s pulse accelerated as Craig lifted one hand and counted down the numbers with his digits. Time protracted as he watched them slide from three to two, his throat drying as he pushed his belly against the ugly decking. By the time only one finger was left erect, Bennett could hardly catch his breath.

The scene was reminiscent of an old movie as he watched Craig and four others spring into action. From his place on the dirty wood, the strangest thing was that everyone seemed to be moving in slow motion as one thrust back the door and the others crashed into the tiny space. The weight of the silence, once they’d vanished from his sight, was deafening, ringing in his ears until Alexander was certain he was going to vomit.

Pressed onto the splinters, he couldn’t decide what noise he feared hearing the most. Was it the hoarse and desperate scream of his own daughter or the splintering sound of a gunshot as it punctured the oppressive forest? Trying to slow his ragged breathing, he could only conclude that the tense hush suffocating him might be even worse.

“Fuck.” He whispered the word to the wooden decking. “What is going on in there?” His question was answered seconds later when multiple pairs of filthy boots stomped back into view.

“She’s not in there.” Craig looked livid at the shocking realization, but Bennett wasn’t worried about the moron’s hurt feelings.

“What?” he demanded, rising to his feet and striding toward them. “What do you mean, not there?”

“He means she ain’t here,” hissed the especially ugly one with a petulant sneer. “No one is.”

What?

Stunned disbelief resonated in Alexander’s head as the idiots strode away, and even though he had no reason to suspect they were lying, he found himself walking to the entrance to see for himself. Gripping the door frame, he surveyed the scene with wide eyes. The shitty interior was even worse than the outside suggested, the limited possessions Bowman owned splayed all over the floor as if the residents left in a rush.

Because of me.

Something akin to guilt twisted in his chest. He’d created the panicky urge to flee in Bowman when he’d called him. Why had he done that?

His breaths came faster as he glanced quickly around the place, his attention settling on the small, rickety-looking bed at the far end of the space. There, dangling from all four of the posts, were what looked like blue neckties. Hypnotized by the odd discovery, Bennett edged closer, the well of nausea stirred by the sight of ropes secured to the middle of the bed.

Bowman had binds attached to his bed. Dread dissipated through his system as the freezing realization washed over him. There was only one reason a man like Bowman would have binds attached to his bed, and it meant bad news for Ella.

Shit.

Bennett’s hand rose to his mouth, as though the gesture alone would hold back the threatening stream of vomit. What the fuck had been going on in there?

“Come on, Bennett!” Craig’s gruff tone startled him from his paralysis, and turning away from the bed, he tried not to think about what fate might have befallen his daughter.

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