Page 177 of Devious Knight

The next few moments feel like I’ve been thrust into hell. We fight, we shoot, we try to survive.

Soon there is one man standing. I get him with my knife and I rush back to the kitchen to get Isabelle.

But she’s gone.

She’s nowhere to be found. And the back door is wide open.

Fuck…

Oh God. No.

They took her.

They took Isabelle.

Chapter 41

Isabelle

The truck speeds along down the bumpy road.

I’m gagged and bound in the back like an animal being taken out to slaughter.

It’s so dark I can’t see myself and I’m so scared I’m afraid of my own breath.

Twice tonight men have held guns to my head. The second time was when they took me.

Two monstrous men kicked in the kitchen door and lifted me off the floor like I was weightless.

They came for me minutes after Kade left me there. I screamed for help but no one heard me. Then the man who picked me up covered my mouth and carried me out the back.

There was so much commotion coming from the front room where Kade and Tobias were that I knew there was no hope of them getting to me.

Now I have no idea where I’m going. Or what will become of me.

And there’s no way I can get myself out of this.

My only consolation is the actual situation. If these people wanted me dead I’d be dead. They wouldn’t be carting me off in the back of a truck to God knows where.

My mind races with every breath I take, my chest burning with fear. I keep thinking of what I can do but I come up blank.

They’ll stop at some point and open the doors. Then I’ll know where I stand and who wants me. I already know the why part.

I’m leverage, but then I’ll be collateral damage.

We drive down a road with deeper potholes and I bounce up and down so badly I heave like I’m going to throw up.

I hit my head several times and with my hands and feet bound there’s nothing I can do to prevent further damage.

A pang of terror grips me when I think that this could be my last few moments on earth.

I don’t want to die, but if this is it then I don’t want my final memories to be filled with darkness and doom.

I balance my thoughts, slow my breathing then visualize all the things I love.

My father, Kade, my friends, my art.

They were my happy place.