Page 98 of Desperate Needs

“What do you want?”

“Oh, we’re not here to take a piss. We’re here for you. But whether you come alone or drag your friend with us will be entirely your decision, princess.”

“No! Please. I’ll go with you. Just leave her alone,” I said.

“Good. Just what we wanted. Now, get in the van,” he said.

My heart hammered as I walked between them to a big white van. It was more like a mail truck. A Grumman, I thought it was called.

The bigger guy slid the side door open, and I paused, not sure what to do.

“There’s no seat,” I said, wanting to delay, but hoping like hell Coral didn’t come out anytime soon.

“Shut up and give me your hands.”

The older man secured my wrists together in front of me with zip ties, emptied my pockets, laughing when he chucked my pepper spray on the ground.

Then he shoved me into the back of the dirty van.

Talk about cliché.

Lucky for me, the moron didn’t check my pants pockets. He was still smirking at me as I watched as the bathroom door open and a still yapping Coral came strolling out.

“Coral! Run!” I screamed, but the older man slapped me hard while the bigger one started moving.

He clapped a fat hand over her mouth, and I was still seeing stars as she struggled. Her big eyes were wide, and she looked scared.

“Don’t hurt her, please,” I begged.

The two men kidnapping me didn’t seem to care what I said. They grabbed duct tape and slapped a piece over both our mouths, binding her wrists before tossing her in the van beside me.

She started to cry, and I crawled to her side, blocking her from them while trying to offer comfort.

“We were only supposed to take the one,” the big guy said.

The older man snarled and turned towards us.

“Just lie low, shut the fuck up, and everything will be okay. Hit it, Al,” the older man said.

I did as he said, and I hoped like hell he was right.

Chapter 43-Connor

I was about thirty-minutes from my final destination when the sound of an incoming call rang over the sound system.

The name J. Aziz flashed across the panel, and I frowned, tapping the screen to accept the call.

“She’s gone. Someone took her.”

“Who?” I snarled as lightning raged within me, thunder crackling through my veins.

“We don’t know. They took her and Coral from a gas station while they were using the restroom about twenty minutes from the house. Jade and Shelly were getting gas, and they waited about ten minutes before seeking them out, so we don’t know exactly how long since they were grabbed.”

“Cameras,” I asked, using my right hand to text Balor, Angus, and a few of my other top guys.

I needed everyone accounted for, as I had no doubt this was about me. But I hadn’t relayed that gut feeling to Aziz just yet.

“Shithole had one, but someone busted it.”