Page 76 of I'm Not in Love (I Promise)

Meeting his gaze with a neutral expression takes every ounce of resolve I have left. “Probably just dinner and a movie. It’s loud here and we need some time to decompress after everything that’s happened.”

He nods and runs a hand down his face. “That’s a good idea. I was going to come in and tell you that the guys want to go check out a few places tonight, so I’d feel better knowing you’re in a public space.”

“That’s true. I hadn’t thought of it that way.” He tilts his head an inch to the side, narrowing his gaze.

“Come here, Angel. You look terrified.” With his arms wide open, he gestures for me to come to him. I’m so torn between mygrowing feelings for this man, and the spiral of doubt and fear snaking around my mind. The farther I can get from him, the better, but for now I need to play it cool.

Stepping into his embrace is like sipping sweet poison; I’m lured in by the taste, but by the time I’ve drunk, the cyanide ends me.

“It’s going to be okay. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.” His deep murmurs settle in my core as he slides his palm up and down my back.

I fake a smile and step away, planting a kiss on his lips. “I know you’ll never let anyone hurt me.”

The irony of his words. It’s him that will hurt me.

“Be safe. I’m going to make sure Falin is armed.”

Before I can argue, he’s out the door.

Releasing a breath, I wait until I hear them leave the house, then finish gathering what I need. Falin hurries back in. “Okay, they’re gone and the Uber’s on its way.”

I peer around the apartment, unsure if this is the last time I’ll be seeing it. We’ve made so many memories here in such a short amount of time—memories that will be ingrained in my mind forever.

Falin slings her arm over my shoulder. “Let’s go. It’ll be here soon.”

I hold back tears as we pass Mrs. Langston's door, silently hoping she’s in a better place. My wrecked car still sits forgotten in the driveway, reminding me of the phone calls I need to make in the morning. Maybe I should just say screw it all and go with Falin to San Francisco. My life is in the same state as my car and I can’t see it getting better any time soon. I doubt Brennan would mind. He knows he’s not around anyway.

“It says it’ll be here in two minutes,” Falin says, checking her phone. “Shit, I think I forgot my charger up there. What’s thecode? I’ll run up and grab it. If the Uber gets here, just hold it for me.”

I tell her the code to the door and stare off at a yellow falling leaf across the street. Whether we go back to Brennan’s or to a hotel room, I don’t care. I just want to rest.

A black sedan pulls up, so I grab my bag and hoist it over my shoulder. The passenger window rolls down and the driver smiles wide.

“You’re our Uber driver?” I ask, stepping toward the back door.

Before I know what’s happening, the door opens and I’m yanked inside the backseat by a huge man wearing a black mask, similar to the one Damon wore the first night. In my struggle, I drop my bags, but I can’t overpower him. His grip on me is too strong.

I open my mouth to scream, but he slams a covered hand over my lips. “Shh, little doll. It’ll all be over soon.”

I feel a pinch and my vision begins to darken at the edges like burning paper. I try to swing my arms or kick my legs, but my body is too heavy. I’m weighed down and falling through space. The last thing I see is the leather seat before my world fades to black.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

BLAKE

I’m hitwith a wave of nausea so powerful that I empty my stomach before even opening my eyes. Realization crashes into me—I was taken. Flashes of those moments before I went under cross my mind. The car, the man in the black mask, the leather seats. It all happened so quickly, I can barely make out the blurred edges in my own mind.

My head throbs as I lift my bound hands to wipe my mouth. With my eyes fully open, I blink to adjust them to the fluorescent lighting above. I’m in some kind of store closet, tossed on the floor with my feet bound by plastic zip ties that bite into my skin.

I don’t know if I should scream or keep quiet. Screaming could bring the wrong person’s attention and that’s the last thing I need. At least I’m alone and can take a few minutes to get my bearings.

I know it’s only a matter of time before the guys find me. So I need to figure out how to stay alive until then.

I scoot toward one of the industrial shelves, holding cleaning supplies and sealed boxes. One of the shelf edges may be sharpenough to cut through the zip ties on my wrists. If I can get my hands free, my feet will be much easier.

With my heart pounding out of my chest and residual dizziness, I do the best I can rubbing the zip ties in a sawing motion against the edge of the metal shelf. I keep glancing over my shoulder, terrified that they’ll be back, but I need to stay strong. I’ve gone through more than enough crap in my life to surrender now.

Sweat beads on my forehead, dripping into my eyes. I wipe it away and check my work. I’ve been at it for minutes by now and nothing. It’s probably a complete waste of my energy, but I can’t just sit here, paralyzed by fear.

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