Page 70 of Guarded from Sabotage

Who cares why? All that matters is getting out of here.

“Please,” I plead, “Just let me go. I don’t know why you’re doing this, I don’t care, just let me go. I won’t say anything, I just?—”

“Shutup.” She snaps, and steps forward to kick me again. This time, I can’t stop the cry of pain that bursts out. “I didn’t gag you in the car because I was afraid you might throw up and choke on it. And a dead person covered in vomit isn’t the kind of thing I want to have in my car.”

“But—” My mouth clamps shut as her foot twitches towards me.

But I can’t stay silent. I have to know. How else do I have any chance of getting out of this? “Please,” I say quietly. “I don’t understand. Why?—”

Her foot flies out, slamming into my stomach. “I told you toshut.Up.”

Oh. It hurts. So much.

“They’re steel-toed,” Julie sneers. “I changed into them while I left you in the office. High heels aren’t really conducive to lugging a person around.” She nudges me in the side, right in thespot where she kicked me. “Good thing you’re small. Once I got you in the suitcase, it wasn’t too bad.”

She put me in a suitcase? Lugged me where?Why?

“I guess you’re probably wondering why you’re here.” Julie paces back and forth in front of me. “I thought about just killing you right away. But then you won’t know. And I think you should.”

Am I supposed to answer her? Or will that get me kicked again?

But she’s staring at me expectantly, her hands crossed over her chest, so I brace myself and ask quietly, “Why?”

“Why?” She laughs, a hard, angry sound. “Why? Don’t you know who I am?”

No. Not even in the slightest. I have a good memory, especially when it comes to remembering people, and I know I’ve never met her before today.

Realizing she’s expecting a response, I whisper, “No.”

“Of course you don’t!” Her boot crashes into my shoulder and something pops, bringing pain so intense, everything grays out for a second.

I’m dimly aware of hot tears streaming down my cheeks.

I don’t want to die. Not now.

Where is Dante? Does he know I’m missing? Does he know where I am?

Then, through the panic and fear, I remember something that gives me a flicker of hope.

The earrings. I’m wearing the earrings with the trackers in them. When I don’t get back to Blade and Arrow, one of the guys will call Dante. They’ll realize something is wrong. And they’ll track me to… wherever I am. I just need to hang on until they get here.

Julie crouches down in front of me. Fury twists her features. “My name isn’t Julie. It’s Tamara.”

Who?

Her upper lip bares back in a rictus of a smile. “Tamara Morris. My brother was Blake.Nowdo you know who I am?”

Oh, God.

I almost throw up all over the floor.

Blake. From college. The man who assaulted me in the bathroom.

“So you do remember.” Julie—no, Tamara—stands up and starts pacing again. “My brother. I’m glad you remember, at least, considering you ruined his life.”

“I didn’t.” It just comes out without thinking.

“Yes, you did!” she roars, and kicks me hard in the ribs.

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