Page 74 of Sheriff's City Girl

The back hatch—of what I now knew was an SUV—opened, flooding me with light. I couldn’t make out anything from the blinding sun, other than the fact that the men were in ski masks. Someone reached in and stuck something over my eyes, taking it all away before my eyes could even adjust.

Damnit.

“What are you going to do with me?” I muttered as I was dragged out of the back of the SUV. My voice came out groggy and sullen, like I had been sleeping for twelve hours.

“Maybe we should get the duct tape?” Deep Voice chuckled. “I don’t wanna hear her run her mouth all night long.”

“Whatever,” the other one said.

Hands that felt like iron claws held me still as the sound of duct tape filled my ears—and then the sticky tape went right over my mouth. I tried to fight, but my body felt so incredibly weak. I wasn’t sure what they had given me, but it was enough to make my arms and legs feel like bags full of sand.

It was miserable.

“We’re just gonna have to carry her,” Deep Voice grumbled. “Get over here and help me.”

“Yep,” the familiar voice said. I felt hands grip my ankles, and the sensation of being lifted into the air came shortly after. I longed to grab for my stomach, as if that would somehow protect my baby from the people who kidnapped me.

They carried me for what felt like ages, but in reality, it was more than likely only minutes. I grew even more nauseous as my body was jerked around, the two of them climbing up steps of what I assumed was a porch. The flooring squeaked under them, and one made a joke about it caving in.

The smell of cedar mixed with must hit my nostrils as soon as they got me inside whatever building we were entering. It reminded me of the way my grandma’s old attic smelled when I was a kid, and I didn’t like it then… and I didn’t like it now.

“Man, for such a little thing, she’s starting to wear on my shoulders,” the man with the deep voice groaned. “Get that basement door open.”

I heard the creak of a door swinging, and I braced myself the best I could as they started to descend steps. My brain envisioned them dropping me, and I nearly panicked at the thought of what that kind of fall might do to the baby…

The baby that I might never get to meet if I didn’t make it out alive.

Stop thinking like that.

It felt nearly impossible to keep my wits about me, but I continued to struggle with it, even as they sat me down on a cold, dank floor.

“Well, I guess we will just leave her here,” the man with the deep voice said. “I don’t know what he wants to do with her for now.”

“This shit is making me sick to my stomach,” the other one said. “It’s one thing to do someone’s dirty work, but this is on a whole new level for me.”

Deep Voice chuckled. “Oh, son, you’ll get used to it. You’ll start to realize it’s just another day at work—and once that happens, it’s all good from there.”

“You’re a cold, sick bastard.”

“Yep, I’ve heard that before.”

Part of me wanted to shout at them that Mason would find me, and the other wanted to demand why they had taken me… But the best I would be able to do is mutter things against the duct tape covering my mouth—and my head was still so foggy. It felt as though I was drunk…

And I hoped like hell that they hadn’t given me anything that would hurt the baby. The thought brought tears to my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. I didn’t want to give these guys the chance to see me be anything other than strong.

“You don’t try to talk much,” one of them jostled my leg. “You trying to be tough or something? Because you know, no matter how you act, you’re gonna meet the same end either way.”

I shivered, refusing to say anything in response. I wasn’t sure if he was playing with me to scare me, or if he was planning ongoing through with that threat. Either way, it wasn’t worth me reacting to.

Mason will find me.

Unless they hurt him, too.

No, I shook my head, reminding myself of what they’d said. Mason was unharmed, and I knew that. The one guy said that he would more than likely burn the whole town down to find me, and as crazy as it was, that made me feel so much better about where I was…

All I have to do is survive.

The sound of a radio going off startled me, and I jumped sideways, my shoulder crashing into the wall. However, what came over it was music to my ears, sending a glimmer of hope bursting in my chest.

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