Page 55 of Finding Her Panthers

“Look what I found, Sweets.” Sour breath washes over my face, making me want to vomit. Marie was right about this guy. He looks like he crawled out of a sewer. Dirty hair. Dirty clothes, obviously dirty mouth. So gross. I don’t even want to think about where the hands have been that are holding me against the wall.

I could take him easy, but I have to fight the instinct to do it.

Cindy strolls over to us. “Good boy, Scotty.” Cindy pets his hair and kisses his cheek. Icky. “Hello, Harmony. Did you like the video we sent?” Her grin was evil.

Why did I think of this plan? I fight the desire to rip her head from her body and settle for glaring at her.

“I can’t say I enjoyed it. Where’s Penny?” Maybe that was too firm, judging by the displeased look at my lack of fear. Crap.

“She’s alive for now.” I don’t have to pretend to be angry. “We’ll bring you to her. Our partner will be excited to see you,” she says.

“The deal is, you get me, and she gets to leave. That was the trade you wanted, right?” I fight dirty boy a little for the show.

“That was the deal, but plans changed.” She leans into me, my teeth bare, aching to take a bite. “Be a good girl, and we’ll see if that helps us change our minds.”

I’m about to say fuck it and kill her right now, but the dirty boy had taken advantage of my distraction and stuck me with a needle. Shit, this is not good. If they don’t kill me, my mates will.

***

I wake up disoriented and pissed off. When my vision is working again, I take in my surroundings and can’t hold in the laughter. I laugh so hard my stomach muscles hurt. I don’t care if it makes them mad. I can't help it.

Cindy stands in front of me in her tight jeans, low-cut shirt, and high heels. Her arms are crossed, tapping her foot, not sharing in the humor. But come on. This is classic. So predictable it would be sad if not so fucking funny.

I’m hanging from a meat hook, the chain tossed over the beam running down the length of the barn. A barn with old saws and tools laying everywhere, not to mention the hay bales. Could she get any more cliche? I roll my eyes at her grunt of displeasure.

“What’s so funny, bitch? Should we bring out Penny and see how funny you think it is when we beat her again? How about I let Scotty have his way with her?” She smiles at my noticeable change in demeanor.

Not much would wipe the smile off my face, except that. “Please don’t do that.” I will beg her all she wants if that will stop her. “We know what that will do to her. We went through that.”

“You know who I am,” she growls.

“I just found out. I’m sorry you had to go through that with that man.”

“You're sorry? Really? You left me in that demented man’s house to be played with. Do you know what he made me do to him? Of course, you don’t. You left me,” she screams in my face.

“The wife told me she was getting you out. I couldn’t control the actions he took to make that not possible.” I try to reason with her.

“That’s your fault. You made her get you out. If you had stayed, none of that would have happened. He would have been a good dad, a good husband. It’s all your fault!”

I study her distraught face, looking for any sign that she is joking. “You still talk to him?” I hoped it was untrue. I watch her face transform into total adoration.

“Of course I would talk to my dad, silly. He loves me and wants the best for me. He wants the best for you, too, and that’s why he sent his friend to me. He has the best drugs. He’s brilliant, and Daddy picked him just for you.” She beams like I should be bouncing on my toes.

“Who is he?” I ask cautiously. I think I should have stayed in the house.

“He’ll be here soon. Don’t worry, he’s very excited to see you.” She stares at me, swaying back and forth as a child would do.

“Can I please see Penny?” I have to endure this to get to her.

She moves over to me, tilts her head, and punches me in the stomach. I gasped for breath. That fucking hurt, and I wasn’t prepared for it.

She goes back to her original spot and sways back and forth, matching my swings from the force of her blow.

This bitch really is crazy.

“Soon, you can see Penny. We have to wait for Daddy’s special friend first.” She hums softly, still swaying.

“What is the plan here, Cindy? What do you want?”

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