Page 118 of Destined To Fall

“Elaborate, or no dice.”

“I used some fruity shit condoms and broke out in a rash a few days later. Obviously,I panicked and got tested. Satisfied?”

Damn it.“Hardly.” My head is spinning in a million directions, Laura’s voice screaming in the back of my mind,you fucking idiot. Think!“Fine, but my mouth is strictly off limits. Youwill besuitedat all times, and I’m going to need to inspect the…goods before we get down to business.”

“As you said, fine.” Waving his hand dismissively, he gestures for the goons to continue counting the money.

My stomach twists as I watch the notes spin. I can’t believe I’m going through with this.

“Vivienne, no. Keep your dirty money.”

“Max, it’s okay,” I whisper.“This is what I do. I’ll be fine.”

“No. I’ll never forgive myself if—”

“It’s not like I didn’t see it coming. It was always a possibility.” At this, his eyes go wide.“We got what we came for. Let me finish this. Take the money and go.”

“Viv—”

“Trust me.” I put every ounce of will, of feeling, of whatever I have into those two words, then into him.“I have this under control.It’llbe okay. Please. Leave.”

He’s shaking his head so violently it’s almost comical. But before Maxcouldprotestfurther, Daniel’s goons rush up behind me, push the cash-loaded duffel at him, and shove him out the door.

I hear the muffled screaming on the other side, the metal twang as he bangs on it before he’s no doubt dragged out of the building. I silently pray he makes it home in one piece and with all the money we worked so hard for.

I can cope with what’s next if he can. If not, then this will all be for nothing, and I might not survive that.

I’m dragged through several doors and down some stark corridors until I’m pushed none too gently out a back door into an alley behind the warehouse, a blacked-out van waiting.

Another goon steps out, opens the side door, and glares at me until I get the hint and get in. Once again, I find myself pushed in from behind. I stumble a few times, my shoes catching on my dress. I scoot to the far side, right up against the door as Daniel climbs in behind me, leering and ogling. What he plans to do with me is flashing across his glazing eyes.

A shudder slips out, and I wrap my arms around myself, desperately wishing I’d been able to put my coat on first.Shit. What did I do with my cell?

“Don’t worry, Princess, I’ll be warming you up in no time.”

I shoot him a faker-than-fake smile, but even that I can only manage at half-mast. I’m surprised he’s not mauling me already.Though I’m not sureif this is a good thing or a bad thing. But I’m concerned all the same.

The van fills with the sound of the locks clicking into place, and my heart burns in my chest it races so hard. I’m jolted back as it speeds away in the pitch-black night of pre-dawn. The silence that follows leaves me no choice but to go over and over the last few hours, weeks, even. A twisted montage of Max and Jeremy meshes and swirls in incoherent jumbles. As if this night couldn’t get any worse.

The van comes to an abrupt stop, and Douche yells at the goons in the front as he gets out of the car.

I’m hauled out by my arm, stumbling to avoid having it ripped off completely, and just barely prevent itfrombeing pulled out of the socket.

The concerned that I don’t have a damn clue where I am or how the fuck I’m going to get out of this situation I so readily got myself into is high. Stupidly getting so lost in my head left me with no freaking idea how long we were driving, what direction we went in, or any turns, sounds, or lights. I couldn’t really see out the windows all that well anyway, but all those crime shows I’ve spent a crazy amount of time watching have come to nothing. I am without a doubt the worst crime junkie. And if I ever get out of this and get kidnapped—sort of—for real, I’m screwed.

I’m literally screwed.

I try to make up for it now, takingwhatI can of my surroundingsin, but I’m hurried so quickly down the side of a house toward the back that I barely see anything but shrubs. There are a few sirens blaring in the distance,but nothing else to give me any indication of where I am.

Before I can stop myself, I ask,“where are we?”

“Nowhere. You’re nowhere now.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

I’ve been here before. A long, long time ago, but I remember the drill. You go to your happy place. You picture puppies and kittens, rainbows and unicorns, whatever can take you out of your body, out of the external world. I learned to do this as a child when my parents would fight. I would escape, play hide and seek with myself, count as high as I could, until eventually, someone would find me and bring me back.

But I’m rusty. I am so damn rusty that all I can hear, smell, feel, and think is this creep is touching me, and it’s only going to get worse.

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