Page 97 of Mayhem

I don’t stop until I feel the car move.

“What a fucking asshole,” I mutter to myself, settling in for the ride.

I know Nate won’t go against his brother, even if he disagrees with him. He has unwavering loyalty. Hailee might help me, but she’s hurt. I don’t want to put her in that position.

No. I need to figure this out myself. I won’t sit on the side idly while my mom’s in danger. We might not have a traditional relationship, but I don’t want her dead. Even if I entertained the thought in the past, she still doesn’t deserve death. No, I’d much rather her live with her shortcomings.

I always thought it would be the drugs that would take her, not some psychopath hell-bent on making me his bitch.

The ride to wherever they are taking me seems like it takes forever. I feel around in the trunk for anything I can use as a weapon, but don’t find anything.

Probably for the best. I don’t actually want to hurt Nate.

I scratch my first idea of popping out of the trunk and hitting him to get away.

Instead, I move onto Plan B. I’ll wait until we get to where we are going and play demure. Let them think that all the fight has left me. Hopefully giving myself to figure out a way to escape.

We finally slow down, coming to a stop. I hear a garage door opening, telling me we have arrived at our destination. I hear two doors shut on the car as the garage door closes. They wait until the noise stops before slowly opening the trunk. I lie still, gazing up at Nate and another man I don’t recognize.

“Are you going to give me trouble, Will?” Nate asks.

I huff. “No. It’s not your fault your brother is a complete dick.”

The new man chuckles. “I’m sure he loves hearing you say that.”

I narrow my eyes at the man. “I don’t really give a flying fuck what he likes or doesn’t like.”

Nate reaches out a hand to help me out of the trunk. “From the sounds coming from your room last night, I’d have to call bullshit.”

I let him help me out, but as soon as I’m out, I punch him.

“Ow. What the hell?” Nate asks, rubbing his arm.

“That’s for your smart-ass comment. Keep the commentary to a minimum.”

“She’s got you there, Nate.” The unfamiliar man reaches his hand out to me. “Finley. Nice to meet you.”

I ignore his hand, walking past him. “I wish I could say the same, but well, I was kidnapped.”

“It is what it is. Let me show you around,” Finley offers, moving in front of me to the door that leads into the house.

“Where are we?” I ask as I follow him.

“Don’t answer that. I don’t think she needs a tour. She’s acting suspiciously calm,” Nate says from behind me.

I throw a glare over my shoulder, softening it when I see Hailee.

“How are you?” I ask her.

She gives me a small smile. “As good as I can be, I guess.”

I look over her shoulder, shooting my glare at Nate. “Did you have to drag her here too?”

“It’s the safest place for her. For you, too. If you would get your head out of your ass, you’d see that.”

“I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but I can handle myself.” I turn back forward, stopping in the foyer. It’s beautiful. There’s a chandelier hanging with a set of stairs to my right. Another door with decorative glass sits to my left. I can see the front lawn through the obscured glass, telling me it’s the front entry door.

“Don’t think about it. Anytime a door or window is opened in this place, I get an alert on my phone. You won’t make it far,” Finley tells me.

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