Page 53 of Darkened Truths
Students can’t have guns.
Panic settles deep. It radiates from every pore on my body. My palms sweat, my heart races, and I can’t think straight. I know if it pulls me under, I’m as good as dead. Whoever these men are won’t care if I cry or beg. They are here to do a job, and nothing will get in their way. The fight leaves me in a whoosh as one of them trains the barrel between my eyebrows.
I turn to look at Derek and grind out, “Why?”
Derek holds up his hand, showing off Julien’s handy work. A single splint is the only thing amiss with him. “Your boyfriends need to be knocked down a few pegs. What better way to do it than through you?”
I shake my head back and forth, trying to understand. What gain does he get out of this?
“I never wanted you to get hurt, Derek,” I plead as the men drag me toward a white plumber’s van. With the gun to my head, I don’t fight. The back door slides open and the one holding me backs up into it, dragging me with him in his arms and forcing me inside.
Derek places his phone to his ear. “It’s done.”
TWENTY-SIX
RILEY
They shackle my arms above me, securing handcuffs around each wrist and settle in nice and close—one man on either side and one in front of me. The men rip their masks off as soon as the door shuts and the driver heads toward the edge of the property. I’m right. Definitely not students. These men are easily in their mid thirties and rough looking. The students here look like prep-school kids in comparison.
My shoulders jerk, shaking against the restraints as the metal clangs together. My head hangs low, tears streaming down my face, blurring my vision as I fight to breathe. I’m not cut out for this crap. I half expect someone to jump out and yell “surprise” and tell me I failed a test I didn’t even know I was taking. Everyone would get a good laugh at my expense. And honestly, right now, I wouldn’t care. I’d laugh with them. You fooled me. Ha. Ha.
Except I know that’s not what’s going to happen here. I know it from the way the men leer at me.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask, keeping my head lowered. “You know my father’s going to be looking for me. Michael Whittier, the Governor?”
The men exchange a curious look, but they don’t seem bothered by the information. In fact, the one to my right, his eyes light up like a tree and he licks his lips as his beady eyes travel the length of my body, stopping at various spots.
I’ve never wanted to vomit more in my life. “Who do you work for?”
No answer. Not that I actually expected one, but a girl can hope. The van slows, and I know we must be at the front gates now. This is my last chance before we’re off school grounds. The driver rolls down his window and says something to the posted guard.
“He—” I yell and the man across from me with the gun smacks it across my cheek, my head snapping to the side from the force of the blow. Pain brands my skin as I struggle to take a deep breath. I turn my face into my shoulder as the tears flow in rivulets down my cheeks. I think he broke something. My face is numb and throbs all at the same time.Son of a bitch, it hurts!
“You don’t know when to stop, do ya?” he whispers in my ear. “I’m going to have fun breaking you. Boss never said anything about no stops along the way.”
I shake my head, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. “No, please,” I say quietly as my crying picks up. My entire body wracks with sobs.
The van pulls forward again, and I know that was my last chance. Unless I can escape, I’m at their mercy; and no amount of fighting is going to put me on top. These men easily have eighty pounds or more on me. And being restrained, I don’t have a chance. They are going to do whatever they want to me, and I won’t be able to stop them.
I don’t have my phone. No one knows where I am, or who I’m with. And I only know that someone turned off the cameras. Which means Zander is probably the one who was calling mebefore Derek dragged me out of my dorm. I know how much he watches those things.
The van jostles us and the men carry on a quiet conversation, as if I don’t exist. I listen, hoping for any useful information. Because I’m damned sure I will find a way out of this, and these fuckers will rue the day they messed with me. I’m not going down without a fight.
The van comes to a sudden stop and I lift my head, trying to look out the windshield to see where we are. It was already dark when they kidnapped me, which means I can’t see a damned thing outside the headlights. Plus, I have no idea where we are. How far from campus did we get on the short drive? Was it actually longer? My sense of time has flown out the window with each sense on high alert.
I say nothing. I know it won’t do me any damn favors, and I don’t need my face bashed in more. The front door opens and closes, and then the driver slides the back door open. It stops with a final bang and I jump in my spot. I glare daggers at him as he squats down, so he's directly in my line of sight.
Dark hair and eyes, some face scarring that looks like acne caused them. He’s covered from head to toe in black, which covers any distinguishing marks, like tattoos, on the rest of his body. I file as much as I can to memory, hoping it will serve me well.
“You know, it’s been a long time since we’ve had merchandise as pretty as you.” Merchandise? So I’m being sold off. That answers that question. He drags his finger down the side of my cheek that I know is probably turning a deep shade of purple, then gives it a slap. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have hurt, maybe just a slight sting, but with the bruise, I cry out in pain.
“I like when they fight. Makes me hard as a fucking rock.”
I glance between his spread thighs and then back up to him. “You’re sick.” I try to sound as disgusted as I feel, but it comes out scared. I’m terrified. My body shakes involuntarily and I know the three of them see it.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his cold, dead eyes. “All part of my charm.” He looks at the other men. “Let’s play a game, boys.” He opens his hand and holds up two small white pills. “Open your mouth.”
I shake my head quickly. “No,” I whisper. He laughs and puts the gun against my temple. “I said open. Your fucking. Mouth.”
