Page 20 of Midnight
When he makes a turn, I can tell we hit gravel because of the crunch under the tires.He's driving slowly for a while before he stops.Even though I can hear the vehicle being put into park, doors opening and closing, but it seems like forever before I hear him messing with the latch on the trunk.
I know there are two of them because I can hear two different voices.Though I can't hear too much of what they are saying.My dad once again pulls me out, puts me over his shoulder and carries me where he wants.
Kicking and trying to fight is useless with my hands tied and the bag over my head, but I still it makes the attempt.
When I can no longer feel the sun on my back, I know we are inside.The loud echoing indicates we are in a large empty space.The sound of their footprints on the hard ground as they walk and the echo of them make me sick.
Then he stops and abruptly throws me into the waiting chair.They are messing with my hands because a moment later the bindings that have been on my hand are gone and new ones replace them.I try to move my hands and just as expected they were bound.
Then he rips off the bag over my head and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight filling an abandoned garage, though it has quite a few windows.
My father walks over to talk to a few men in the far corner who are looking at me.Their looks make me extremely uncomfortable and my skin crawl.I want to cry because I can't think of a way out of this.Even though I know Nate was notified when my father tripped the alarm, there was no way for him to track me here so he will have no idea where I am.
No, it's on me to try to figure something out.
I tense up as the group of men my father is talking to walk toward me.
"She just turned eighteen and she’s a free spirit, but that can be broken quite easily," my father says.The men nod and circle around me.
"To be honest, you'll want to keep her nice and drugged and sedated because she's been nothing but a pain in the ass to me.I think all virgins are full of sass and vinegar.Am I right?"
I can hear the underlying tone of nervousness in my father's chuckle and the men show no sign of emotion.
"Can you ensure her virginity is intact?After all, she's worth significantly less if she's not a virgin.And you promised me a virgin," the tallest man in the group says and his voice is ice cold.
This bullshit again?Really?
While the guys are all looking at me, something behind them catches my eye.It took me a minute to realize that it's Nate and his team.Nate locks eyes with me and then holds a finger up to his mouth indicating I should be quiet.
How he found me I will never know, but I have never felt more relief than I do in this moment.
I return my attention to my dad so he doesn't catch me staring at Nate and blowing his cover.I'm so focused on trying not to blow Nate's cover that I don't hear a word my dad and the guys are saying.The next time I look over at Nate his eyes lock with me and he nods.Somehow I just know that they need a distraction.So, I focus back on to what my dad's saying to the men.
"Once you prove the girl’s virginity, we can move on with negotiations, or I’ll deal with you for wasting our time," the taller one says.
"Well, I can settle that for you real quick.I haven't been a virgin for a little while now being that I'm married and all."I mouth off to my dad and his face turns bright red and all the men turn to look at me.
My dad's face turns so red but I think he's going to have a heart attack from his blood pressure spiking.What I don't see is his hand coming out of nowhere and striking me against the side of my head so hard that I go flying, taking the chair with me as I hit the ground.
There's a searing pain at my temple as everything goes black.
Chapter 15
Nate
Iwatchherfatherhither hard.In almost in slow motion I see her fall to the ground and hear the sickening thump of her head hitting the concrete floor.
James is standing right beside me and he knew my instinct was to run and protect Harper, so as it was happening he locked me into a hold so I couldn't move.The rest of the men swarmed the scene to apprehend her dad and the men he was talking to.
The moment they have them in custody James lets go of me, and I run full speed towards her.
"Harper!"I yell out, trying to get her attention as I fall to my knees and slide the last few feet towards her.
There’s blood on the floor, she's pale, and unconscious.My training tells me not to move her until the paramedics get here, so I quickly go behind her and cut her from the chair, while holding her hand in mine.
"The ambulance just pulled up," James walks in and tells me before paramedics come rushing over.
Harper gets rushed to the ER and I refuse to leave her side.Even when they send her in for scans, I'm right there waiting for her, shamelessly using my badge to get me places that a normal family member wouldn't be able to.
