Page 146 of Saved By My Buyers

“Yeah, I know. I can’t seem to be able to shake this feeling,” Jack mutters. Dolly gazes at him, and I remember the last time he said he had a gut instinct that he ignored. We’re stuck now, there’s no way out of here though, unless we want to blow off the recital.

Ciara and Thomas follow us pretty closely, and then it’s time for us to sit for the beginning of the show. I have to admit that some of the groups are insanely talented, while others don’t seem to mesh well together.

It feels interminably long, and I wince as I feel my bladder start to complain.

Leaning in, I whisper, “I’m going to use the restroom. I’m going to pee myself if I don’t go now.”

Jack’s lips twitch, even as his blue-green eyes are stormy with worry.

“I can manage to get to the bathroom,” I whisper.

“Take Thomas,” Dahlia whispers back.

Finally Jack nods. “If you’re not back in under ten minutes, I’m going to break into the bathroom,” he grunts.

Smirking, I nod, getting up and shuffling out of the aisle. Looking around, I don’t see Ciara or Thomas.

Where are they?

I waited so long, I’m about to start crossing my legs and whimpering. I really thought I could wait until intermission, but they’re an hour and a half into performances without a break. Sighing, I leave the ballroom to search for a bathroom, my heels clicking on the marble floor.

“Can I help you?” a staff member at the house asks and I nod.

“I’m looking for the restroom, please,” I say, and she nods with a smile.

“Go right down the hallway and take a right. It’s the second door. There are closer restrooms, but they’re currently occupied,” she explains.

God, I should tell her I can wait, except I really don’t think I can. Thanking her, I start walking down the hallway, hissing as my bladder fucking cramps.

“Shit,” I mutter. I hold my clutch tightly in my hand, wishing desperately that it was a crossbody, so I could have easier access to my knife. It’s like my security blanket after the attack.

As I walk around the corner, I break into a not quite run, yanking the door open.

“Thank fuck,” I sigh, seeing its unoccupied. Carefully making sure I’m alone, I shut the door, dropping the clutch within easy reaching distance and do my business.

There’s nothing quite like the knowledge that I almost didn’t make it. Thankfully, I did, and my eyes flutter in relief.

Knowing I’m working on borrowed time before Jack decides to come find me, I quickly flush and fix my dress before washing my hands. My heart is racing a bit, because I had to pee so badly, and I solemnly promise myself I’ll never do that again.

Picking up my purse after drying my hands, I unlock the door and peek out to see if there’s anyone out there.

“Funny you think anyone will hear you scream from here, daughter of mine,” a voice growls, yanking me into his arms.

Gasping in a breath, I scream, but Gareth squeezes my throat, stealing my voice. Stomping on his foot, elbowing him in the stomach, I do everything I’ve been taught to do to attempt to fight him off, but he’s so much stronger than me as he wraps his arm around mine, trapping me.

“Such a useless cunt,” he mutters, starting to carry me away. My fingers are curled in the strap of my clutch, and I let it go, despite knowing I have a weapon in there.

If Jack has a way of knowing where I was, he’ll be able to find me easier. I would never leave my belongings like that by choice. I continue to struggle as Gareth grumbles under his breath, sounding absolutely insane.

“You are the key, Bronwyn,” he says. “You’ve been gone for far too long, but I need your signature, and then you can go home with your sweet mother.”

My mother has been dead since I was young, I don’t know what he’s talking about, and I am beginning to see spots in my vision now. I use my shoes as the weapons they are, kicking him hard.

Unfortunately, the dress is really tight along one of my legs, so it fucks with my mobility.

“Hurry, you stupid lout,” hisses a man, and Gareth, the man I used to call my father, turns to walk over to him. He’s wearing a suit, but I can see the tattoos peeking out, and one of them is a skull that I still sometimes have nightmares over.

The Boxley gang.

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