Page 104 of Hendrix

“There’s a real nice spot about a mile away,” he stated. “Don’t want you walkin’ that far. You’re seven months pregnant.”

“It sounds great,” I said with a grateful smile. “But I don’t want to go that far. I’d like to be close to Hendrix when he gets back. How about we walk down to the hotel’s boat mooring? It’s peaceful there and we can get back in minutes if Carina calls, and I don’t want to be out long anyway.” I rested my hand on my stomach. “This one tires me out quickly these days.”

Something flashed across his face, but it was gone before I could recognize it. “Right, well, I need to go to the SUV and grab my shades. Left ‘em in there earlier when I went out for supplies.”

A feeling of uneasiness stabbed at me.

Something wasn’t right.

“You know,” I murmured. “I think I will go for a nap after all. Everything’s hitting me, plus my head’s starting to hurt, so the thought of sitting out in the sun doesn’t appeal.”

Tweety’s eyes turned to slits, and he snarled, “Get your ass outside and get in the fucking SUV.” He grabbed my elbow and began to pull me toward the door.

My blood ran cold. “What are you doing?” I cried out, trying to tug my arm out of his grip, but Tweety just held on firmer.

“Shut your fuckin’ mouth, or you’ll never see the kid again,” he bit out. “I swear to God, if you make a noise or draw attention to us, she’s dead. Now, plaster a smile across that pretty mouth and come quietly. Thread your hand through my arm like I’m helping you. We’re on camera, so look as if you’re enjoying yourself, and if you make a wrong move, you’ll make it worse for the kid.”

Saliva filled my mouth, and I threaded tremoring fingers through his arm like he’d told me.

“Good,” he muttered. “If we see anyone, you smile and nod and leave the talkin’ to me. Got it?”

I inclined my head sharply, my eyes sliding toward the door.

If I went with him, I knew everything would turn to shit, but how could I not? Addie needed me. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” I demanded as he walked me to the door. “It’s not as if you’re proving yourself exactly trustworthy.”

“The gun in my pocket, pointed to your stomach, says you’ll do as you’re goddamned told,” he spat. “Get your fat ass in the car and come quietly, and I’ll let the girl go.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I lowered my gaze to see his hand in his pocket angled toward me.

He pulled it out slightly to show me a glimpse of metal and ordered, “Move.”

My eyes lifted to his and I saw defiance there and a tiny flicker of panic. “You haven’t got Addie at all, have you?” I demanded accusingly.

“Stop fucking talking,” he grated out, and muttered to himself, “Gotta lotta mouth for someone with a gun pointed at her fuckin’ baby.”

“You won’t kill me,” I challenged, my voice full of bravado.

He barked a short laugh. “Doll. If I go down, don’t think for one second you won’t go down with me. Got nothin’ to lose at this point, I’ve played my hand.”

A sick feeling slammed through me.

He meant it. Tweety would take me out, and if I died, my baby would, too.

I allowed him to guide me into reception and outside to the deserted parking lot, and I sent up a prayer that somebody would stop us.

Usually, the place was filled with bikes, the odd truck, and brothers shooting the shit. Except today, everybody was either out roaming the streets looking for Addie or down in the basement with Blade, Colt, and their crew, carrying out their recon.

I prayed one of them would see us on camera and notice something was amiss. I hoped with every atom in me that someone would get a gut feeling that the scene didn’t add up. Holding my breath, I waited for somebody to run after us and shout for Tweety to halt, but all I heard was the sound of birdsong and running water from the river in the distance.

With every step, my heart sank a little further until, finally, we entered the garage.

This was it; I had to make a choice. Either I fought back, or I went quietly into what would no doubt be my death.

Tweety’s hand came out from his pocket, empty of his gun, and I knew it was now or never.

I stepped back, twisting toward the double doors to the vast garage, intending to dart between the cars to get the opportunity to run.

Pain radiated from the back of my skull, and I cried out in distress as I felt myself being dragged backward by my hair.

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