Page 99 of Fighting a Riot

A disgusted frown twisted Prime’s face. “No, it was because of fuckin’ Yak. Another reason to take his woman.”

My goal had been to edge farther and farther away from the car. Unfortunately, I hadn’t edged far enough away to make a break for it before Ghost noticed.

“Get the fuck over here, bitch!”

I hated these men anew. Part of me wanted to run, but I sensed it was a bad idea. I had some energy, but it definitely wasn’t enough to outrun either one of them. My better bet would be to get a gun away from one or the other of them.

I had to pray I hadn’t blown it by trying to sneak away.

The moment I was within arm’s reach, Ghost gripped my bicep so hard I knew it would bruise. “Let’s fuckin’ go.”

I scrambled to keep up with him while he dragged me to the large patio area. From behind us, I heard the car door open and close again.

“Wait!” Prime yelled. “Before you do anything with her, we need to unlock her fuckin’ phone.”

Dammit! I was hoping they’d forget about that.

Ghost stopped short and glared down at me. I noticed how gaunt his face was. Part of me wanted to ask if he was ill because he looked anything but healthy. “No fuckin’ funny business, bitch. Or you’ll regret it.”

Prime brought my phone over, and I entered my unlock code. Ghost jerked me inside the patio and two men wearing prospect cuts grabbed me while Ghost bound my wrists with a zip tie.

“Put her in the closet and don’t let any sweet-butts in there.”

I didn’t know what kind of closet they planned to put me in, but I knew I wouldn’t like it. The various scans I had to endure for cancer treatment had only exacerbated my sense of claustrophobia. I wasn’t about to spend days inside a closet because these assholes said so. One of the prospects pulled me forward, but I stood firm on the patio. He turned and glared at me.

From behind, Ghost said, “Fuckin’ dumb bitch. Move before I knock you out.”

He gripped the back of my neck so hard pain radiated down my spine, making me cry out. I had no choice but to climb the steps into the mobile home. The air reeked with the stench of various types of smoke. Prime squeezed past us into another room.

Ghost shifted me to Prime, who shoved me with so much force I almost took a header into the closet door. He flung the door open and rammed me inside. I hit a wall instantly. I turned around and the door slammed in my face, darkness enveloping me. Anxiety reared up and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stay calm.

I heard rustling and gasped.

“It’s me… another woman they took. I’m scooting over for you,” the woman whispered.

“Uh, is there… are there any other people in here?” I asked when my heart rate was under control, though I sensed it was just the two of us.

“No. Just me.”

I hesitated, not sure if I wanted the answer to my next question. “How long have you been here?”

“I’m guessing anywhere from four to six hours. They took me outside my work this morning.”

“Ugh. I don’t know what time you report to work, but it’s close to three-thirty.”

She sighed. “That would put it at the six-and-a-half-hour mark then.”

She sounded older than me. That seemed strange if traffickers were involved.

“Can I ask your name?”

“Suzy. What’s yours?”

“Nora.”

“Wait…not Nora, as in… Yak’s Nora?”

Something that felt like hope bloomed in my chest at Yak’s name. “Yeah. How’d you guess?”

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