Page 73 of Captivated By Him

A sob breaks free from my chest, but I suck it back as best I can. I don’t have time to break down. I have to get out of here, and clear of Chicago. Slinging the bag across my back, I shove my phone in my back pocket and grab my wallet.

I’ve been stashing my paychecks into my checking account; I should have enough for a plane ticket to California, or maybe south. Maybe I should get out of the country.

All set to go, I open the window in the living room where the fire escape is. Jakub removed the extra babysitters at the side of the building where the fire escape leads, which makes my escape from the apartment easier. But once I’m in the gangway and I roll the ladder back up in place, I realize there are cameras at both entrances of the building, and the guys inside will see me as soon as I walk past their electronic eyes.

I grab my phone, pressing myself against the building as flat as I can. The sun is still high enough in the sky, I’ll be spotted if anyone looks down the narrow path between the buildings. As fast as I can, I fire up the car service app on my phone and request a ride.

Luck is on my side. There’s a car only a few blocks away. By the time I get up to the front of the building, I see the black Civic pull to the curb. The app logo shows brightly on the windshield. Holding my bag against my body, I hurry to the car and jump into the back.

“Thanks,” I say, ducking down.

“Hi. O’Hare?” the middle-aged man asks while messing with the AC controls.

“Yes.” The front door of the building opens and one of Jakub’s men steps outside. “I’m running really late; can you get me there as fast as possible?”

He looks over his shoulder at me and smiles. Most of his teeth have rotted away and the ones left don’t look so great either.

“Yeah, sure,” he says and pulls away from the curb, faster than I expect him to. I’m thrown back in the seat.

I settle into the seat, resting my head against the coolness of the window. What the hell am I doing? Running away again?

Should I shoot him a text while I’m on the plane? My chest aches, my entire body hurts. I’m being too rash. I’m overreacting.

I need to get my ass back to the apartment. His men will tell him what happened, and he’ll rage at me for a bit. But it will be all right. Or I can go to the club. Yes. I’ll go to the club, change into something nicer. I’ll get what I want by being at the opening, and Jakub will have a solid reason to beat my ass when we get home.

But in the end, we’ll be okay. I’ll be okay.

No more running.

Finally coming to my senses, I look out the window. Really look at where the driver is headed.

My stomach drops.

“Uh, this isn’t the way to the airport,” I say, leaning forward and touching his shoulder.

“I know,” he says flatly.

“Look. I don’t want to go there anyway. Take this next left. I’m going to the Katfish club.”

He shakes his head. “No.”

“What do you mean no?”

The car pulls to a stop at a red light at an empty intersection. The stores are closed for night already, and there aren’t any people around. This entire area is practically abandoned.

I grab the door handle, but it won’t budge. The door won’t open.

“Hey!” I say, kicking the back of his seat. “Open the door.”

The light turns green.

“No.”

“Stop saying that! Turn this car around!”

His answer is to turn the car radio on.

“Let me out,” I say, my voice shaking. I can’t catch my breath, and my heart is somewhere where my stomach is supposed to be.

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