Page 19 of Vengeful Lies

“That’s right!” Gabriella encouraged her little student. “T-R-U-C-K spells truck, that’s awesome! You're going to be reading in no time.”

“Then I can readyoubooks at bedtime,” the little girl said, preening with enthusiasm and pride in herself.

Since they’d been there for over two days, she had to get creative in what she could do to keep a young and active child occupied. Since Essie loved learning and was always enthusiasticabout learning her letters and numbers, Gabriella had decided to start trying to teach her some more words. So she was sounding them out, and letting Essie think which letter made each sound and how the letters went together to form a word.

It was a poor substitute for spending what should be her first day of kindergarten at school with her teacher, making new friends, and embarking on a new adventure, but at least she was learning something and having fun while doing it.

So far, no one had made any move to do anything to the little girl, nor had they made any move to contact Cade. At least as far as she knew. Obviously, since she’d been stuck in there, she couldn’t know for sure that they hadn't, but she wasn't stupid, she knew the reason they had been taken was to put pressure on Cade and his family to get them to back off. The best way to do that was to hurt them and send the Charleston Holloway family proof.

While she may not be a part of that family by blood, she knew they cared about her enough that they weren't just hunting for Essie but for them both. They’d do whatever they could to get them out of there alive and she hoped they found them sooner rather than later.

“You sure can. You can read me one every night and then I’ll read you one,” she agreed. Keeping up a positive attitude was wearing on her, especially since she’d barely slept again the previous night and still had pretty much no appetite. Since Essie had been so proud of the lunch she’d made yesterday, Gabriella had nibbled on a bit of it and done the same at dinner when Essie had excitedly proclaimed she’d cook again. Now they were basically out of food, and she dreaded what she’d have to do to get them more.

The door to their room suddenly swung open, and even before anyone said anything Gabriella’s stomach dropped.

Something bad was happening.

Other than yesterday morning at breakfast, no one had come for them. She knew someone was always out there because whenever she knocked and asked if they could use the bathroom someone answered, but it was always only one man.

Now four of them strolled into the room.

If the number of them hadn't set off her alarm bells, then the smarmy looks on their faces would have.

They were excited about what was coming next.

She, on the other hand, was terrified.

Picking Essie up, she stood and clutched the child against her chest. Whatever was happening they weren't hurting this little girl.

Any sacrifice she had to make to ensure that, she was prepared to do.

“Who’s ready for a little photoshoot?” one of the men asked as he prowled toward them.

“I think we’ve let daddy stew for long enough, don’t you little one?” another asked.

When he reached out a hand to touch Essie, Gabriella quickly stepped back. “Don’t touch her,” she snapped. Her inner mama bear was coming out. Just because she wasn't Essie’s mother didn't mean she didn't love this child as though she was. Anyone who tried to hurt her would have to go through her first.

The man chuckled like she was hilarious. The hand that had been going to touch the little girl instead grabbed a handful of Gabriella’s red curls and yanked her closer. “You want to be the star of the movie, I think we can make that happen. Don’t you, guys?” he asked his friends who all snickered and whooped in response.

“Let’s go,” one of the other men said, and with his hand still tangled in her hair, the man who had grabbed her threw her forward, almost causing her to lose her balance and fall.

Somehow, she managed to remain upright, and with no choice but to follow the men, she clutched Essie tighter in her arms and walked where she was led.

“It’s okay, cuddle bug, I won't let them hurt you,” she whispered in the girl’s ear.

“I don’t want them to hurt you neither, Gabby.” Essie whimpered, her little face wet with tears.

“I don’t want you to worry about that, Essie. I'm a grown-up and it’s my job to protect you. Okay?” How could she explain to such a little girl the love she felt for her and how it precluded anything else?

“Put the kid down,” one of the men ordered when they walked into another small room like the one they’d been kept locked up in. Only this one wasn't completely empty, there were two chairs in the middle of the room, and a camera had been set up facing them.

Even if she had zero imagination and zero idea of what to expect when they’d been kidnapped, she could have figured out what they had planned in less than a second.

“On one of the chairs,” another added.

As badly as she wanted to refuse, Gabriella was afraid of what would happen if she did. These men could quite easily force the little girl out of her arms, and if they did, they wouldn't be gentle about it. Essie would wind up hurt and she couldn’t allow that.

So feeling backed into a corner, she slowly crossed the room and deposited the child on one of the chairs.

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