Page 68 of Kissed By the Alien
LEXI
“Come on, girlie,”Moses says as he unties the rope from the dump truck and hoists me to my feet, which are still tied together. At least I have shoes on. Well, slippers, and only because the tile floor of my hideout is cold. Still, better than being barefoot. The blood rushes to my head from getting up so fast, and all my muscles protest from hours of sitting in the cold without moving.
“What’s the plan, Moses? Did my father pay?”
“No, the asshole didn’t,” Virtue says as he unfolds a huge black canvas sack, as large as a body bag. He shoves the bag over my head and unfurls it down to my ankles.
“Take this off!” I demand, pushing against the bag with my bound hands. It’s cramped and stuffy in here. I’m warming up fast, but breathing’s becoming harder. I’m going to suffocate in here!
“Quiet down,” Virtue orders as I’m tilted on my side.
Two sets of hands carry me. The motion is nauseating. Picturing Lutan and feeding my desire to sink into his arms helps me hold myself together.
“Please,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “Tell me what’s going on.”
They drop me. Intentionally. On a flat metal surface that squeaks as it bounces slightly.
Nothing happens. I lie there for several minutes, fighting against the rope around my wrists. I stop moving when I hear raised voices and the sound of fists striking flesh.
Shouts from several men send my blood racing faster. A moment later, everything falls completely quiet.
“Get ‘im outta here,” Virtue says. “I’m taking the bitch to Bulldog.
The jingle of keys fill me with terror. I’m in the bed of a pickup truck. They’re moving me to another location.
No, no, no!
“Moses!” I shout, my heart racing as I pull my hands to my mouth and bite at the rope binding my wrists. “If my dad didn’t pay, I have other resources.”
“Shut your big fat mouth.” Virtue punches the bag, close to my head. Too close. He catches the edge of my shoulder. I don’t know if that was a warning or bad aim, but I shut up instantly, my mind spinning with too many thoughts fragmented by fear.
The truck squeaks as someone climbs in the cab and slams the door shut.
Moses never answered.
He’s dead or gone. Either way, he’s no longer in charge.
Virtue is.
The engine starts, the truck vibrates and sputters beneath me.
I can’t let him take me away. Women who are taken never return.
“Let me out of here, you bastard!”
The engine stops, as does my ability to breathe, to think.
Complete silence surrounds me.
Until that familiar squeak of the pickup’s door makes my spine stiffen.
The truck tilts as Virtue gets out.
I’ve pushed him too far. He’s going to hurt me.
I work the knot on the rope faster, biting into the braided cord, snapping only one insignificant strand. I’ll never bite through in time!
Hands grip my feet and drag me from the truck…
