Page 37 of Emerge

Chapter Twelve

Riley

When the trailer came to a stop, I prepared myself for a fight. I was stronger than I was before, and it would catch my kidnappers off guard. I didn't know how to throw a punch to save my life, but how hard could it be? Tuck the thumb... or was it leave the thumb out?

Crap. I was going to end up with a broken thumb.

Buttercup flicked her tail and gave me a look that made me think she was calling me stupid.

"Don't give me that look. You're the one that got me into this mess," I whispered.

There wasn't anything in the trailer, so I had no weapon besides my fists. I prepared myself by the door, which also happened to be behind the horse. I hoped she didn't kick me.

Instead of the back opening, one of the side windows opened a crack and something was sprayed inside. I covered my face with my hands, but it was too late.

Ten Years Ago

"Are you really sure this is what you want to do, Nat? It might not even work or could even accelerate it." A man's hushed voice floated up the stairs as I peeked around the corner, trying to get a glimpse. I couldn't see a thing.

My mom had given me a new book and told me to stay in my room while she met with the contractor who was remodeling our townhouse. It was outdated and needed some updates. I thought it looked fine, but I was only seven and didn't know anything about houses.

"I don't want either of us to be forced to make a choice like my mother had to. There's only one knife, Travis. This is for the best." My mom sounded sad, and I resisted the urge to run down the stairs and hug her.

"I understand. I don't think you'll be able to avoid the inevitable forever. It's in her blood." The man got farther away, like he was headed to the door.

I had no clue what they were talking about. My mom did have a lot of knives. Maybe she was discussing how to best organize them in the new kitchen.

"If we could just get them out of there, we wouldn't have to worry anymore." My mom sniffled. "Did I give you enough money?"

"Yes. I wish I didn't have to take any at all, but the price to get people to turn a blind eye has gone up."

The door shut and I tiptoed back to my room before my mom caught me.

I wokeup handcuffed to a plane seat across from my mom. Her hair fell in a wave of glossy brown over her shoulder as she studied what looked like a map that was on the table in front of us.

We weren't just in any plane. I could already tell we were on a private jet and were seated in an area with four seats clustered together with a table folded out from the wall.

"Mom?" I was disoriented and wasn't sure if I was hallucinating.

My mom looked up and smiled. "Hey, sweetie. How are you feeling?"

"How am I feeling?" I wanted to rub at my eyes, but my wrists were handcuffed to the seat. "What's going on?"

She sat back in her seat and looked out the window. "Freeing our people is the right thing to do."

"What? Whose plane is this?" I looked around again, not really understanding what the hell was going on. "Why am I cuffed to the seat?"

"I wasn't sure how you'd take it." She had to have lost her mind again.

A curtain by the wall was pushed aside and Dylan walked through, a grin spreading across his face as his eyes landed on me. "Good, you're awake."

He sat down in the seat next to my mom and kissed her cheek. I was so confused. I stared at the two of them. My mom looked sheepish, and I narrowed my eyes. What the hell was she doing and what happened to her being in love with Finn?

"Is someone going to tell me what's going on here?" I gripped the armrests of the seat, trying to calm myself down. Although, if I got angry enough, I could probably break the armrests and free myself, but then what? We were on a plane going who knows where.

"We need your help." I waited for Dylan to continue. If my mom was in the mix now, there was no reason he needed me. She could use the knife. "Your mom is going to be the distraction and you're going to help me get what I need."

I took a calming breath to tamp down my rising anger. Knowing we were far away from my guys made me nervous that I would lose control. "And why would I help you?"

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