Page 39 of Stone Cold Bad
“Let’s be on our way then, Jade,” Ray said.
“I want to see him freed first.”
“Cut him down.”
One of the men reached up with a sharp blade and cut through the rope.Colt collapsed.I caught him but my legs buckled under his weight.Two of the men grabbed his arms to prop him upright.
“Don’t do this, Jade.”Colt’s voice was low and gritty.
I pressed my hand gently against his face.Blood covered my palm as I kissed the side of his mouth that wasn’t cut.I stuck the car keys in his pocket.“I will find a way back to you,” I said quietly.
“No need,” Colt grunted.“I’m coming for you, so you wait.Do you understand, baby?You fucking wait for me.”
Ray walked over and wrenched my arm painfully.
Colt’s face reddened with anger.“I’m going to kill you, motherfucker.You’re a fucking dead man.”
Ray laughed.It was a sound that had always made me cringe.He dragged me toward the door.I stumbled reluctantly behind him.“What about him?I want to see him get in the car.”
Ray’s sharp whistle made me jump.“Bring the piece of garbage out to the parking lot.”
I glanced back.They held Colt up and made their way to the door.Ray’s fingers cut off the circulation in my arm like a tourniquet as he yanked me along to his car.I craned my neck to see what was happening with Colt.
They walked toward Amy’s car.Ray opened the door on the Mercedes and shoved me into the front seat.I kept my face glued to the window.Colt’s green gaze caught mine, and we stared at each other long and hard.The men were still holding him next to Amy’s car when Ray climbed into the driver’s seat.He started the engine.
“Why aren’t they letting him get in the car?”I asked frantically.
Ray didn’t answer.He circled the Mercedes around.The men pulled Colt back toward the white van.
“No!”I screamed.I grabbed the door handle, and it flew open as the car circled around.Ray grabbed my arm so hard, sharp pain shot up to my shoulder.He pulled me roughly into the seat and turned the wheel sharply so that the door slammed shut again.
“You were supposed to let him go!”I screamed.
Ray laughed.“Gullible little bitch.”
I threw a fist at his head.The car swerved into a trash bin, putting a gash in the side of his precious Mercedes.He returned the favor.His big, heavy hand came across and backhanded me so hard, I blacked out.
TWENTY-SEVEN
COLT
Ileaned up against the side of the van and took several deep, steadying breaths.I’d figured all along that I was a dead man.I just didn’t want to let Jade know.Now he had her.My teeth gritted in anger causing my jaw to throb with pain.
Red sat at the front end of the cargo hold with the gun held loosely in his hand.He’d apparently decided I was messed up enough to not put up a fight.They had tossed me inside the van without bothering to tie up my hands again.My head and body felt like shit, and I wasn’t sure if I could fight back.I closed my eyes to try and calm the pain messing with my mind.I needed to think clearly and get past all the bruises, cuts and broken bones.I planned to go out with a big fucking fight.Jade needed me more than ever now.I needed to get out of this for no other reason except to save her.
The van was moving along at a good pace.From the drop in temperature inside the van, it seemed we were heading back toward the water.I glanced over at Red.“We’re heading back to the boat, huh?It’s really nice of you guys to give me a ride back to my hometown dock.Don’t think I’d be able to make the swim with the way I’m feeling.”
“Yeah, you’ll be taking a swim all right.”
That was the plan.I’d gotten the fool to tell me without even asking.They were going to take me out on the water, shoot me and drop me into the ocean.My only chance was to grab red’s gun, but with the way we sat at the moment, there was no chance.He’d be able to shoot me in the face long before I made a grab for the gun.I needed to wait for the right opportunity.
The van veered right and slowed.We were leaving the highway.It was just a few miles to the private dock where they’d moored the boat.My body felt as if it had been through the fucking wringer.Working up any adrenaline to make my move was harder than I’d expected.But something told me, when the chance presented itself, I’d move into action.
We made several right turns.The van was getting closer to the beach house.A sharp turn and a bump told me we were traveling on the long path to the water.Then the van came to a sudden violent stop as if it had hit something.The voices were muffled by the dividing wall between the cargo hold and the cab of the van, but they grew louder.The driver and passenger doors opened.
Red got up and hunched over as he reached to slide open the door.I kicked his feet out from under him, and he hit the floor elbow first.The gun fell from his grip.I snatched it and held it against his forehead.
He scowled up at me.
