Page 85 of Mine to Keep

“Olivia’s dad called, said she’s giving him a hard time about coming in but has been complaining about some pain.”

“Pain where?”

She shook her head. “Didn’t say, I assumed her leg. Is there any way you can drive down there for today’s therapy? If she’s hurting, I’d really rather her not miss this.”

If I hadn’t known better I’d have thought Camie cared, but I realized a missed session was less money.

“I don’t have a car today, I was driven in.”

She pursed her lips. “They aren’t far from here, I can drop you off at her house. Call when you’re done and I’ll get you.”

I didn’t want to tell Camie about what had been going on in my life. Knowing her, she’d fire me to protect herself.

“Let me just get what I need. Can we go in a few?”

“That’s fine, I told him you’d do it.” She winked.Such a bitch.

I gathered my supplies and glanced at the time. Lenny was probably just getting there or close to it. I’d text Gabe in the car and let him know where I was going and ask him to meet me there to pick me up.

“Let’s go,” Camie shouted, and I jogged over. “I’m parked in the back.”

I hefted my bag up, and took my phone out of my pocket. She drove a top-of-the line Mercedes because of course she did and had her own private spot tucked into a little space where no other people could breathe on it.

I reached for the car door handle when anoofsound caught my attention, and I spun to find Camie on the ground.

“Oh, my God. Camie, are you okay? Did you trip?” I dropped my bag and ran to her. She was out cold, and there was blood trickling from her head. “Shit.” I stood to get help, but someone grabbed my throat from behind and pressed me to their solid chest.

“Always so sweet.” They sniffed my hair, and I froze. “I’m sure she’ll be okay, but if you don’t come with me quietly, I promise to shoot her in the head.”

I couldn’t see who had me but they were strong, and their voice was altered, so I knew it was my stalker.

“Please, don’t do this.”

“Shhh, you don’t know what you want, Matt. I do, trust me. Now, are you coming quietly, or are we gonna get bloody?”

I didn’t like Camie, but I didn’t want her to die. I couldn’t be responsible for a death. I closed my eyes and took a breath.

“I’ll come.”

They chuckled. “Good. Let’s go, Matt. Forever is waiting.”

I was forced into a blue SUV where my hands were tied behind me, duct tape was pressed against my lips, and my legs were wrapped in rope. I prayed the whole time for someone to come out and see what was happening but this was the back. No one came here unless they were coming or going from Rybelt, and all the trainers were in.

“It’s a bit of a drive. So you don’t get bored, I’ll just let you sleep.”

I mumbled behind the tape and thrashed when they took out a syringe. They had sunglasses on and a medical mask; I had no idea who they were.

All the fighting I tried to do was useless. There was a pinch in my arm, and everything went fuzzy, then black.

I cameto with a horrible headache, the worst case of dry mouth, and I was immobile. My vision was slightly blurred, but I was able to move my head. I was clearly in a bedroom since I was lying on a bed. There was a little light creeping in from behind dark curtains, but I couldn’t see much of the details of the room.

My shoulders ached from my arms being pulled behind me, and my legs were stiff. I listened intently for any sounds, but it was dead quiet. I rolled to the side as best as I could and rubbed my face against the comforter, desperate to remove the tape.

I stopped every few seconds to listen, and once I was sure nobody was coming, I kept trying. I understood how bad this was for me. While whoever this was might not kill me, there were far worse things in this world than death.

When I had successfully removed the tape, I took a few much-needed breaths. I wanted my mouth free in case the opportunity came to shout. Truth was, I was stuck. My legs were wrapped so tightly, I wasn’t sure I could hop. The dark room made it hard to see where there was a door, but I wasn’t going to give up.

I rolled back and forth, building up enough momentum to shoot into an upright position. My head spun, and nausea rolled around. I swallowed and took a minute. Once I was sure I wasn’t going to vomit everywhere, I shuffled to the end of the bed and slowly stood.

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