Page 49 of Charity's Redemption

Where was I?

How did I get here?

Three questions I probably would have to find the answers to on my own.

I groaned and leaned as far as I could to the right as my stomach soured. I pulled my hands forward to keep my hair out of my hands, but they came up short. They’d bound my wrists behind me. This couldn’t be good.

A cold sweat broke out across my skin before my stomach bunched up, compelling me to dry heave over my armchair.

“Ew,” said the woman with a high-pitched squeal, “she’s going to puke.”

No.

I recognized that voice, but from where? My fuzzy brain refused to do any remembering as my skull threatened to explode all over their walls. The tickling sensation running down my neck continued from my hair down onto my chest.

Blood.

Its dark crimson blotch saturated my shirt. The sight of blood brought waves of warmth across my body. It was familiar, something to latch onto to help me focus—to push the shock and nausea aside and take purchase on my situation.

I focused on the blood as the shuffling came closer and louder.

“She’s got a pretty severe knot on her head. I think you gave her a concussion,” the male said.

Wait. His voice…

“I said I didn’t mean to. Alright?”

Her name was on the tip of my tongue, but where…

I sucked in an audible breath, bringing my head up slowly to look at her. My nostrils flared as fury rose inside of me. This girl just signed her death warrant... once I freed myself and took an Advil.

My blurred vision focused on the blonde woman. A laugh broke free from my lips. “Kandy Weir.” Her eyes widened as I seethed. “You have got to be fucking kidding me? Out of a city full of enemies, it’s you that gets the upper hand. What a fucking joke.” I clenched my fists behind me as the pent-up aggression of my entire day peaked to the surface the moment this tramp became a solid object before me. “You’re so stupid. I cannot wait to watch what little brains you have slide down that wall.” I pinched my lips, my insides vibrating with asperity.

“Threats will get you nowhere, Charity. We just want to talk.” I whipped my head too fast to the man, sending my vision into a tilt-a-whirl.

“Agent Harding. While I can’t say I’m not surprised by you slumming it with this fucking whore,” I paused, swallowing back the bile rising in my throat. “I am surprised that you’d resort to kidnapping. Tsk, tsk.” My stomach churned.

I swear to God if I puked…

“Why don’t you go get her a towel for her head,” Harding said to Kandy, who jumped to his command. She exited the room, and he came closer, placing his hands on my knees as he kneeled before me.

“If you touch me again, I’m going to break every one of your fingers in two separate places.”

Harding glanced down at his hands on me, then pulled them off my lap. “You’re not really the one in the position to make threats like I said.”

I may not be the one in a position to enact my threats, but I sure as shit would hold to them the moment I could. “I suggest you make this quick, Owen. You don’t have much time.”

“It’s Agent Harding. And I have all the time in the world. No one knows you’re here.”

I tipped my head back and laughed, ignoring the pounding it caused. He was delusional. “The clock is ticking, Owen.” Eying him with a wide grin, I hoped he’d soon understand that whatever he had in store for me wouldn’t compare to what I’ve inflicted.

I’ve done worse.

I’ve thought of worse.

And there was nothing he could do to me that would accomplish his goals, whatever they may be. “I’d suggest starting with the fingernails; it’s incredibly painful but not life-threatening.”

He frowned, then stepped back from me, shaking his head. “I’m not like you. I don’t have to torture people to get what I need from them.”

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