Page 29 of Big & Burly Rockstar

Chapter 12

Elli

The first thing I become aware of is the steady hum of an engine and my cheek pressed against a cool surface. My groan is muffled by something in my mouth that makes my tongue feel dry and rough. My mind is foggy, and unconsciousness threatens to drag me under again. But I need to stay awake. I force my eyes open and am greeted by darkness.

I try to sit up, but my hands are bound behind my back and I can hardly move.

I’m lying on my stomach in the back of a moving vehicle, that much I’m sure of. Adam must have changed cars, because there’s enough space for me to stretch out fully.

My breathing is shallow, and my stomach roils. What is he going to do to me? Where is he taking me? I think of Dev and tears sting my eyes. What if I never see him again? I’ve finally found someone who just gets me. Someone I love. I don’t want our time together to be cut short. I don’t want my life to be cut short.

I have to fight. When we stop and he lets me out, I have to be ready. I look around the dark interior, looking for something that could help me free my hands. But there’s nothing. Not a single thing. There’s nothing in here other than me.

Despair makes me want to curl up into a little ball and cry. There’s something you can do. There has to be.

I breathe in deeply, trying to think. My feet aren’t tied. Maybe I could run. It’ll be difficult with my hands tied, but I have to try. I won’t go down without a fight.

The van slows down, and I steel myself. I can do this. I have to. But when we come to a stop, Adam doesn’t open the back. After the slamming of a door, there’s silence. Shit.

I push myself onto my knees and crawl toward a wall, my face pressed to the floor of the van. Then I turn until I’m lying on my back, my tied hands squashed painfully underneath me. I plant my bare feet firmly on the ground and push myself against the wall, dimly wondering what happened to my shoes. I push and push until, finally, I’m upright. As soon as he opens the door, I’ll jump out and run.

There’s shouting coming from outside, and then footsteps approach. This is it. I need to be ready.

I take in a deep breath. The sound of a key turning in the lock, and the door flies open. I run and hurl myself outside. I only make it two steps before strong arms close around my waist.

I writhe, stomping on his feet, screaming through the gag in my mouth. I need to free myself. I need to get back to Dev.

“Elli. Calm down, it’s me.”

I can hardly hear the voice through my panic.

“Elli, it’s Dev. You’re okay. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

The words slice through the fear clouding my brain and I go limp. The arms on my waist loosen and I turn to see Dev, eyes wild.

Tears fill my eyes and stream down my face. Seeing his face—it’s too much. I sob, leaning my head against his shoulder, breathing in his scent.

His hands go to the back of my head to untie the gag. “How? How did you find me?” I gasp once the gag is out of my mouth. “How did you know something was wrong?”

“Nick, the tech guy I called after you told me about the stalker. He tracked the bastard’s phone,” Dev says, untying my hands. “And Carrie called your mom, asked about your dad. They were watching a movie together.”

I shake my head. “God, I’m so stupid. I should’ve checked. But the text came from my sister’s phone…”

“Do you think she had any idea?” Dev asks carefully.

“No.” No matter how strained our relationship is, my sister would never do something like this. “He must have taken her phone.” I take in a shuddering breath. “I still can’t believe—can’t believe it’s him. Can’t believe he’d want to hurt me like that.”

An ugly expression flashes across Dev’s face. “He’ll pay for that.”

“Where is he?”

Dev gestures behind me, and I turn to see Stan pinning Adam to the ground. His face is covered in blood and he looks barely conscious. A savage sort of satisfaction flows through me at the sight.

Barely aware of what I’m doing, I walk over to him. When he sees me, he struggles fruitlessly against Stan’s firm grip. When I reach him, he goes still, giving me a nasty, bloody smile. “Come to ask me why? To cry and scream about how I could do this to you?”

I give him my most vicious smile. “No. I came here to do this.” I kick him in the ribs as hard as I can. I wish I was still wearing my heels. My bare feet don’t do nearly enough damage. Adam groans. I kick him again and again until a hand closes around my arm. “Cops are coming,” Dev murmurs.

Reluctantly, I step back. I wasn’t done with him. I want to hurt him as he hurt me. I want him to pay.

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