Page 58 of Deceiver

I get in the car, praying that the phone rang and Western answered, praying that he heard some of that. If Bill decides to do something, at least Western might know where to look.

I pull on my seatbelt and close the door, and before I can say or do anything else, the car speeds off down the road. I sit, staring at my lap, trying to keep calm as we drive. Bill doesn’t say another word to me, but there are three men in this car and only one of me. I know I’m out of options if he decides to attempt something. I close my eyes, praying for some sort of miracle, trying to figure out what the hell he has taken me for.

We arrive at an old house about twenty minutes later, and the man sitting next to me gets out, coming around to my door and hauling me out. He isn’t gentle, and I’m immediately concerned over what might happen here if they get too rough. I’ll never tell them I’m pregnant, I’ll never give them that advantage, but it doesn’t mean I’m not worried. I just need to stay calm. It’s the absolute best I can do right now.

Gripping my upper arm, the man follows Bill, dragging me beside him until we enter the house. I make note of everything we pass, because it doesn’t look like anyone lives here. In fact, it looks like the perfect location to hide teenagers before you sell them. It’s secluded, and from the outside, it looks abandoned. If they drive me out of here, I make note to try and remember the way. This could be important.

Walking me into the middle of a starkly empty living room, Bill shoves me down on a chair. It’s rickety and old, and I try not to pay attention to the dark stains on the concrete floor around it. That’s blood, of that I’m sure. I take a deep breath and meet the eyes of the man now standing before me, looking like he’s more than a little angry. Before I can even ask what it is I’m doing here, he lashes out. His fist connects with my face and sends me tumbling backward on the chair, slamming the back of my head onto the ground as I land.

A cry leaves my throat as pain bursts through my skull. My vision blurs, and I don’t even get a moment to think before I’m being hauled up, a fist slamming into my stomach over and over again. No. No. They have to stop. They can’t do this. “Stop,” I beg. “Please stop. I’ve done everything you’ve asked!”

The hitting stops, and Bill steps forward, speaking in a low voice. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

I shake my head, tears rolling down my cheeks. “No, I don’t.”

“The information you gave me lead me nowhere, it sent me on a fucking chase to nothing. You set me up!”

“I didn’t,” I say, my voice scratchy, the pain in my stomach making my heart break little by little. “That’s what they told me. I swear to you, that’s the information they gave me.”

Bill studies me, his face wild with anger.

“You expect me to believe that they’re not in on this?”

“If they were in on this, do you really think you would have the chance to abduct me off a damned street corner?” I yell. “They have no idea what’s going on, they think I’m on their side, I’ve gotten every bit of information you’ve asked for and that’s the truth.”

I hold my breath, praying it works, because if it doesn’t, he’s going to kill me.

“Then they’re covering something,” Bill mutters. “They must suspect something, because that information led to nothing, which means they must have known you were looking for it.”

“They don’t know I’m looking, but that’s not to say that they aren’t worried someone is looking. I found that information– it was left out. I can’t promise you that they didn’t leave it out as a trap.”

Bill considers this. “This is bad for me, Bonnie. Very bad.”

“Then fix it,” I mutter. “I’m only doing as you ask.”

“Very well, I will fix it. If you are telling the truth, you’re going to tell the club you’ve found some information that is going to give them exactly what they want. You’re going to lead them to a location, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Meaning what?” I ask, the pain in my stomach intensifying. I need to get out of here, and I need to do it soon.

“That’s not for you to worry about. If you do this, you’ll be free.”

That’s two lots of people who have said those same words to me in the last few weeks. The club wants me to get proof from Bill and now Bill wants me to lie and lead them to a location where he will, potentially, kill them.

Either way, I’ll say whatever I need to to get out of this mess.

“I’ll do whatever you want. I just want this to be over.”

“Tell me again exactly what the club knows.”

I exhale. “They think I’m working for them getting information from you. They have no idea that I’m actually working for you to get information from them. I’m giving them exactly what you’ve been telling me. The information I gave you from the club was legit. I didn’t know they had set it up.”

Bill studies me. “I’m sure you’re aware of exactly what will happen if you’re lying.”

“You’ve made that clear,” I growl. “Now tell me what you want so I can go home.”

Bill grins. “Very well, let’s get started, shall we?”

I hope he is quick.

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