Page 117 of Losing the Rhythm

“Why not?” one of them said, his voice sounding rather dead. “She said you’d be easy. I didn’t think this would be this fun.”

A hand rested on my head and brushed down my hair.

“Soft hair, soft body.”

“Let me go.”

“After we’re done with you.”

He yanked my arms behind my back and pressed me harder into the cold floor.

“This is how you should have handled her in the first place. All that shit for no fucking reason.”

“How are we doing this?”

“You really don’t want to do this,” I pleaded. “This will ruin everything for you.”

The boy on me leaned forward. “Why? Are you going to tell? Go ahead. The moment you speak, a tape of you taking me will be released to every single person. They will know exactly what you’re capable of.”

His words nearly made me choke on my bile.

The door swung open, banging hard against the wall. We all looked up to see Laura sticking her head in. Her eyes widened, and she paled as she took in the scene.

“L-Laura,” I gasped out, tears pooling in my eyes at seeing her there.

“What the hell is going on?” Her voice boomed as she rushed into the room.

“Shit.” The dark haired boy let me go. The weight that had been keeping me down lessened. “T-this… it isn’t…” he blubbered on as he pushed himself into a corner so he wasn’t close to the furious Laura. She stalked forward, looking like she was about to murder someone.

“Get away from her if you know what’s best,” she said.

The second guy backed off rather quickly with that threat, joining his friend before Laura got into reach. I tried to climb to my feet, but my legs were too shaky. They didn’t want to work. And the pain shooting through my body was keeping me in place.

“Oh my God.”

I looked up to see Lillian and Hazel in the doorway with gaping eyes.

“Hazel, get security here,” Laura said in such a frigid voice I thought a blizzard was blowing through the room. “Then go get George for me. Lillian, come help Cadence.”

Hazel disappeared, Lillian appearing instantly at my side. “You’re okay,” she murmured. “They won’t hurt you. We’re here.”

I blinked through the tears as the fear that had been choking me finally disappeared.

“You did so good.” Lillian pulled me against her chest, wrapping her arms around me. It was warmth and kindness that I hadn’t been ready for. I wrapped my arms around her, unable to hold back anymore as I cried.

I couldn’t even hear what Laura was saying, but I knew she was going off on the two boys.

“You’re safe,” Lillian said, rocking me, lulling me into a state where I could think clearly again.

“H-how?”

“I saw one of those boys sticking their head out the door,” Lillian said. “They like to use this space for things like drug dealings, so I ignored it. But then we found Toby’s aunt freaking out because she couldn’t find you. So we decided to check here first. I’m sorry we didn’t come sooner. We should have called him out on it. I’m so sorry.”

Laura came over and kneeled before me. I glanced over at the boys, seeing the security guards now there talking with them. “I’m calling my contact at the police station. Hopefully, we can keep this low profile. I imagine if the station hears you’re in an incident, this will become an even bigger mess.”

“T-thank you.”

She smiled sadly. “I’m sorry I left you alone too long.”

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