Page 36 of Bren

Alec chuckles, “Because you’re a control freak who likes to be in charge of her life and you’re amazing at running a business. What’s going on?”

“Thank you, Alec, I needed to hear that today, well maybe not the control freak part, but the rest I definitely needed to hear.” I heave a deep sigh before continuing, “It’s been one of those days that if something can go wrong, it has.”

Filling him in on what’s been going on and why I’ll be late tonight. I’m going to miss putting Lexi to bed, and my heart hurts; at least she has Alec, though. Finishing off, I tell him, “Give Lexi a kiss for me and tell her I love her; you should have enough milk in the fridge.”

“Okay, baby. Be safe, call me or text me before you leave so I know what time to expect you.”

“I will, love you, Alec, see you later.”

“Love you too, Bren.”

Ending our call, I get up and walk to the door to find Ellie and let her know we’ll be going home late tonight.

It’s hours later, but the order for the new client is on the truck and out for delivery for the next day as we’d arranged. Breathing a sigh of relief, Ellie and I wait while Deb closes up, only getting in our vehicle when she is in hers.

Taking my phone out, I type out a quick text to Alec.

Me – Just leaving the factory now xxx

Alec – OK, baby, see you in twenty xxx

We’re the last ones to leave, Deb having left while I was texting Alec.

“God, I’m so glad the day’s over. I can’t wait to have a long, hot bath with a glass of wine and a book,” Ellie sighs tiredly as I drive out onto the main road that will take us home.

“Only twenty minutes and we’ll be home. A bath sounds like bliss,” I agree, just as tired as she is.

We’re about ten minutes from home; we haven’t passed a car in a while. There are headlights coming up fast behind us. I tap on my brakes, knowing that there is a sharp bend coming up. When the headlights get closer, showing no signs of slowing down, I frown and tap my brakes again.

Ellie sits up straight in her seat, “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a car behind us coming up fast. I’ve tapped my brakes because we’re coming up to the sharp bend, but he’s not showing signs of slowing down,” I explain as I tap my brakes again. Whoever it is, is now on my rear bumper.

“It’s like he wants me to speed up,” I mutter. Ignoring the blinding lights, I flip my rearview mirror button to stop the glare. I can’t lie, though; I’m getting a little worried.

“Ellie, call Dad,” I instruct urgently. Something isn’t right. Ellie does as I ask, and she’s on the phone with Dad, explaining what’s happening when the car suddenly revs its engine and overtakes us. Both Ellie and I breathe a sigh of relief as she fills Dad in on what’s happened.

I’ve relaxed slightly and take the sharp corner slowly, then shout out, “Oh, shit, Ellie, brace,” just as the vehicle that overtook us comes barrelling out of the darkness straight for us, clipping the corner of my vehicle. I try to correct, but we’re on a straight trajectory for the trees lining the side of the road. I manage to turn the wheel, narrowly missing one, but can’t miss the next one, and we hit it hard enough that both our airbags deploy; Ellie loses the phone, and the last thing I hear as blackness takes over is Alec shouting my name.

When I gain consciousness, my head is throbbing, and my stomach is roiling with nausea. My shirt is sticking to me where I’ve leaked milk. I take comfort from the fact that I still have my clothes on. Keeping my eyes closed, I listen, but all I can hear is one other person breathing. I’m hoping it’s Ellie. I try to move my hands, but they’re restrained, and when I move my feet, I find they’re also restrained. Knowing that panicking won’t help, I try and recall everything we’ve been taught over the years. Slowly opening my eyes, I look around trying to assess where we are. The one window is boarded up, but there is a little bit of light coming through.

It’s just enough light allowing me to make out some of where we are. It looks like some sort of office by the looks of the desk and chairs; the walls look like they were once white but are now streaked with dirt.

Sitting up, I slam my eyes shut again as the room spins. Leaning to the side, I lose what little I’ve eaten today, grimacing slightly as the stench hits my nose. I shuffle over a bit away from the mess I’ve just made, bumping into something soft. I’m relieved when I realise it’s Ellie. Nudging her, I whisper, “Wake up, Ells.”

She lets out a groan, so I whisper her name again. Ellie jerks slightly as she wakens. Whispering to her, I say, “Come on, Ells, wake up. We’ve got to find a way out of here.”

Luckily, my hands are tied in front of me. Reaching into my shirt, I pull my necklace out and press on the tiny button that will alert the MC as to where we are.

Ellie slowly sits up next to me before leaning slightly against me. I’m starting to feel a little better, even if my head is still throbbing. Relieved that whoever has taken us hasn’t stripped us, I inch my trousers up so that I can get to my boot. I’ve never been so relieved as I am now that Aunt Noni had gifted us with them on our eighteenth birthdays. Slipping my fingers into the edge, I slowly work one of the knives out of the hidden compartment and go to work on the rope they’ve restrained us with. I’m glad they didn’t use handcuffs. We’d have got out of them too, but it would have taken longer. Next to me, Ellie is now sitting up, “Press your tracker, Ells.”

“Already done,” she replies and takes her knife from her boot and starts cutting her restraints.

“Good,” I reply, standing as the last of the rope falls from me. “Means Dad and the brotherhood will know where we are.”

Going to the window, I use my knife to remove one of the nails holding the board to the window and grimace when I see the bars covering the opening. It’s still dark out, so we haven’t been missing for long. The light in the room has come from the outside security light. It looks like we’re on some kind of industrial estate.

Leaving the window, I join Ellie, who is at the door studying the lock.

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