Page 33 of Ruthless Beast

Ugh…ouch…my head…

What the hell happened? Where am I?

I open my eyes very slowly. The last thing I remember is rushing for the front door of the gallery. Then…

I sit bolt upright. I remember now. The tall man rushed me, and then my world went dark. My arm hurts, so I run my fingers over it. Is that a needle mark? What the hell!

My heart is racing out of my chest. Is this the same man who murdered David? Why did he kidnap me? Why not simply shoot me like he did to my brother? I don't understand what he wants from me. This isn't good. Oh, Lord. Help me!

I look around the room. It’s rather plush. Not the type of accommodations you would drag someone to if your intentions were to kill them anyway. What the hell is going on? Where am I?

I try to stand, but I feel a bit squirrelly, so I stay seated for a while longer until the dizziness passes. That’s better. I get up so I can assess my dilemma better. The room has no windows, just a door. Not a good sign. I walk over to the door and bang on it a few times. No response. I hammer it harder.

“Hello! Is anybody there? Hello!”

Damn it! Now I’m pissed. How dare he, whoever he is, do this to me? Isn’t it bad enough that he ripped David from my world? Now he has to torture me. What the hell did David get himself mixed up in?

Dannie. Oh, no! Poor Dannie is waiting for me. She’s going to be gutted if anything were to happen to me too. No. This is bull! I’m going to get out of this alive if it’s the last thing I ever do. This son of a bitch isn’t going to get away with this. I’ll scratch his eyes out. He got the jump on me the first time, but he won't catch me like that again. This time, I’m ready for him.

I’m not feeling great, so I walk back to the bed and sit down. The cocktail of whatever my attacker jabbed into me has me all loopy and nauseated. I hope it passes soon, or I’ll be incapable of fighting back when the bastard comes for me.

I don’t understand this. Why not kill me at the gallery? Why would he drag me here? Is it information he wants? Does my kidnapper think that I hold secrets that David wouldn’t reveal? Will he kill me when he finds out that I know less than nothing about whatever David was into?

I check my watch. It’s 11 p.m. Poor Dannie must be frantic by now. I hope she’s called the cops. Someone must be looking for me. Please let someone be out there looking for me.

I’m suddenly very drained, so I lay my head on the pillow for a few seconds. I’ll close my eyes for a moment. I’m listening intently for any noise, but it’s dead quiet.

It’s okay, Ems. You’re going to be fine. You’ve got this.

* * *

It’s 7 a.m., and I’m still here. I must have fallen asleep again. Am I going nuts, or can I smell Lucas’ cologne? That’s it. I’ve finally gone stir crazy. It must be the drugs. Talk about the power of positive thinking.

I wonder if Dannie called him. I wish now that I’d taken him up on his offer to help me. If I hadn’t been so stubborn in my determination to go it alone, I would have been tucked away safely now. Instead, I’m in a stranger’s bunker with no clue as to whether I’m going to live or die.

Oh, my word. I’m so hungry! All I can think of is the Chinese food that Dannie bought for us last night. I can’t believe I didn't get to enjoy it. I would kill for a dumpling right about now. Is my kidnapper planning on starving me to death? Does he know that I’m one of those people who becomes hangry when I haven’t eaten? Good luck to him if he doesn’t feed me soon.

Is that a key I hear rattling in the lock? My heart leaps into my throat, and I’m instantly high on adrenaline. Fight or flight? It would seem like after yesterday’s flight, my body has chosen fight mode this time around. Come on, you bastard. This time, I’m ready for you!

I jump off the bed and take on a defensive stance. The door opens slowly, and in steps a man I haven’t seen before. He’s not the same one who ambushed me last night. This man is stocky and bald. He’s carrying a plate with a sandwich on it in one hand and a set of clothes in the other.

Perhaps I can get past him. But where would I go? I don't know what’s on the other side of that door. I could be in the middle of nowhere, for all I know. No. I have to employ a different tactic here.

“Who are you? Where am I? What do you want from me?”

I’m trying to stay as calm as possible, but my voice is a little shakier than I’d like. Even so, I push out my chest and act with as much gusto as I can. The image of a feral cat challenging an elephant springs to mind. I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t bust a gut laughing at all five feet, two inches of me and my bravado.

“Here’s something to eat. I’m sure you must be hungry,” he says in a voice that is far too soft and refined for a man of his physical stature.

“Where am I?”

“You’re safe.”

“Safe? From what?”

The man ignores my question and places the food on a table in the corner of the room. There’s no point in attacking him because he’ll probably swat me off like a fly. I glare at him when he turns around, but he ignores me and heads for the door.

I grab a glass from the nightstand and throw it at him out of pure frustration. The glass misses his head and shatters against the wall.

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