Page 31 of Gemini
He rose and stepped away, and I thought that was the end of it. Until the other men were surrounding me.
One shoved me to my side, then together, they attacked with feet and fists. A foot knocked into my face, making my head fly back. The pain in my stomach worsened with each blow. Then someone stomped on my legs so hard I thought I was going to pass out.
I think I did pass out if only for a second. Because one moment they were over me and the next they were scattering as a flood of white lights overtook the lot.
As I lay on my side, I tried to lift my head, the light blinding me at first. It was a set of headlights. And a group of people were coming my way.
A pair of men charged ahead, their faces covered by masks. Red and black faces. One with a smile, grinning ear to ear, the other with an angry frown.
My vision blurred in and out, but I heard the shouts of men, and the sounds of shattering glass piercing my ears, followed by a gun shot or two.
Everything started to grow distant, the sounds fading away, the dark setting in. Only the masks came into view as the pair closed in around me.
CHAPTER NINE
The roar of an engine brought me back.
I could feel the motion under me, the jolt of the car as it sped down some unseen road. I smelled a hint of smoke as my head lolled to one side and rested against something smooth but hard.
Something like leather.
As I came to, so did the pain. It was everywhere. In every breath I took. A low moan escaped me and I tried to open my eyes but found it harder than usual. My face felt swollen, a tingling sensation spreading around my jaw and mouth. I tried to lick my lips and flinched at the stinging pain. I tasted the bitter tang of blood on my tongue and realized I could feel it trailing down my chin. I tried to blink and saw yellow and blue lights passing by from the windows at a ridiculous speed.
I squirmed a little, realizing I was sitting up but something was keeping me in place. I felt movement against me and a pair of arms holding me firm.
I blinked in confusion. Then a sudden memory hit me.
Two men in masks…one carrying me to a vehicle…a Mustang with a stripe down its side…a man forcing me on his lap...
Memory and reality collided, and I started to panic. I let out a small whimper as I tried to break free, but everything hurt too much and whoever held me kept their grip on me tight.
“Shhh, hey, it’s okay,” said a voice against my ear. “I got you.”
I stiffened. A shudder ran through me as another memory collided in my head. A memory of that voice whispering in my ear, holding me almost the same.
I trembled. I couldn’t help it.
Leslie.
This was the third time he’s held me, and it was never in a good situation.
My muscles tensed as I noticed his presence all around me. His warm body flushed against mine, the smell of leather and smoke hitting my senses, the rise and fall of his chest against my back.
With slow movement, I tilted my head down. No knife on me this time. At least there was that.
Another groan escaped me as I let my head fall back on his shoulder.
“That’s it,” he said. Did I detect a crack in his voice? A tremble of fear? Maybe. He stroked my hair, still trying to calm me. “You’re safe.”
What a bizarre turn of events. But I didn’t try to fight, I was in too much pain. I did wonder where they were taking me, where Dom was going at such high speed. Surely the hospital.
I really didn’t want to go back there. Just another repeat of what I had gone through before, with my family having to suffer more, to see me all messed up again and all because I’d gone looking for my sister. I didn’t want that, didn’t think I could take it.
I squirmed in Leslie’s hold. “Don’t…” I tried to say.
“We’re almost there,” he replied, still stroking my hair.
Turning my face toward him, my mouth practically on his neck, I forced the words out of me. “No hospital. Please…no.”
