Page 125 of Done Waiting

My jaw clenches as I picture Ben’s smug face.You started a fucking war, Ben. I’m coming for you. When I find you, you’re gonna wish like hell you’d never met me.

48

MADISON

My eyes pop open, my body jostled around as the sound of an engine fills my ears. My head pounds and I wince, trying to raise my hand to it. But I can’t. I look down, realizing my wrists are tied together with rope.

Son of a bitch.Fucking Ben.

Everything comes rushing at me, making me dizzy. Ben kidnapping Abby. The resulting headache I had when I realized that Jagger, Jason, and Ben had no idea where she was, nor how to get her back. I went upstairs to get pain medication from Jagger’s medicine cabinet and that’s when I saw the sleeping pills. As I read the dosage instructions, a plan formed. God, I hated doing that to Jagger, but I saw no other way. He and Jason were adamant they weren’t trading me for Abby. But Ben said if they didn’t trade me for her, he was going to kill Abby.

I took matters into my own hands and did what I had to do.

Now I need to figure a way out of this mess. It would have been much easier if Ben hadn’t hit me in the head so hard it temporarily knocked me out.

My hair tickles my nose and I lift both wrists, trying to push it away. It’s sticking to my sweaty skin. I try again and this time,I’m able to push it away. As I do, I feel the sticky substance near my temple. I know it’s blood before I touch it, but even so, when I lower my hands and see it, the pungent metallic scent assaulting my senses, nausea wells inside me. Swallowing hard, I breathe through it.Focus, Maddie. Closing my eyes, I turn my thoughts inward, focusing on the sound of my breaths, the rise and fall of my chest as my lungs expand and contract.

Opening my eyes, I take in the darkness, my body jerking as the engine roars, bouncing over bumpy terrain. I close my eyes again, trying to get my stomach to settle. Vomiting won’t help anything right now.

A low moan behind me causes me to stiffen. Taking a deep breath, I expel it, slowly moving my head so the world doesn’t spin again. I finally tilt it enough that I see the familiar outline of a body. Letting my eyes adjust to the darkness inside the van, a jolt of familiarity hits me.Mom.

“Mom,” I whisper. “It’s me, Maddie.”

A loud moan comes again as she shifts slightly. Her hands are bound in front of her, just like mine. As I shift and wiggle, I realize my ankles are bound with rope too.

Son of a bitch.

Finally, my mom’s low voice cracks through the vehicle. “Maddie.”

“Yeah, it’s me,” I whisper, not wanting to draw Ben’s attention. “Ben knocked me out and tied me up. Obviously, he did the same to you.”

She groans. “It’s starting to come back to me.”

“Shhh,” I whisper. “We don’t want him to hear us.”

My mom nods. “Right. I remember someone rushing through the door. I thought it was you.”

In an instant, Jagger’s conversation with Jason fills my head.She didn’t even bother looking for me. I was safe with Jagger, but that’s not the point. If Ben had me for that long, I wouldhave been raped and dead without her bothering to even attempt to find me. A torrent of hurt rises inside, my lungs constricting.Does she even care about me?

“No, it wasn’t me.” I bite out in a whisper.

She hesitates, her brow wrinkling as she wiggles. “Why do you have a tone to your voice, Madison?”

I bristle. “I was safe, thank God. But the person I was with understands you weren’t looking for me.”

Her voice raises. “Why would I? I assumed you were busy working, writing, and spending time with your friend and roommate.”

“Nice of you to check on me, considering Dad died and I was still grieving.”

Her voice comes out in a huff. “You grieved for too long, Madison. You need to move on with your life.”

Jagger’s face floats through my mind, the agony of missing him so painful my heart aches. “I have moved on.” And how fucking dare she put a timeline on my grief?

My anger dissipates as I wonder if Jagger is awake and has read my note. I have no idea how much time has passed or how long the sleeping pills would work, but knowing Jagger, not for long.

God, he must be furious and so worried about me by now.

Determination makes my muscles tight.I will find a way to get back to you, Jagger. Any opportunity I get, I’m taking it.

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