Page 47 of Broken Minds

“Mr. Vale,” the older man said as he approached. “What a pleasure it is to have you with us today.”

Hayden’s arm around my waist tightened. “Thank you. Beautiful marina.”

“Oh, we try. You know how long you’ll be staying yet?”

“Not yet. Just charge my card by the day, if that works for you.”

“No need for that. We’ll work you up a bill once you’re set to leave.”

“Great, thanks.”

My heart was pounding, but I held my tongue. This place felt too precarious to try to escape. Too much water around for someone to end up pushed into and drowned. And this old, overweight man didn’t look as though he’d be much help against someone like Hayden. I’d get one chance at this, and I didn’t want to blow it.

“Your car is waiting outside our offices,” the man said. “Someone from the rental company delivered it this morning. I have the keys right here.” He fished them out of his pocket and handed them to Hayden.

“That’s perfect, thanks.”

I gave the man a tight smile. His gaze darted between us, perhaps picking up on some level that something wasn’t quite right. I still had the shadow of bruises beneath my eyes from where I’d banged my nose a few days earlier, and my hair covered the mark across my forehead. I wasn’t sure this man would say something even if he saw it. Money had a great way of making people turn a blind eye.

“If I could just get you to come into the office and fill out some paperwork.”

“Of course.”

We left the boat and followed the man up the jetty and into the dockyard. Ahead of us was a group of single story buildings, and parked outside of the buildings were several cars. Immediately, I knew which one was Hayden’s—an expensive looking, shiny black SUV sitting among all the older, beaten up trucks.

We followed the man inside the office, and he went behind the desk to pull the paperwork together. Hayden and I stood side by side, waiting for him to finish.

Hayden shot me a look to tell me to stay quiet.

Panic rose inside me. What if this was my last chance to try to get help? He’d put me inside that SUV—complete with blackout windows to hide me inside—and then drive to my old house. There he could tie me up or lock me away, or do whatever the hell he was planning, and I’d be no better than if I was still beneath the house on the island.

In fact, I’d be in an even worse position because my father would be on his way.

It was getting dark again, and most of the boating people had already finished for the day and were on their way home. If there were more people around, I could just run and assume that Hayden would be outnumbered, but I didn’t know what this other man could do against him.

“There you go,” said the older man, pushing a handful of sheets of A4 paper toward Hayden.

Hayden picked a pen out of the pot and leaned over to sign the paperwork.

My heart thrummed, my breathing shallow. It was as though I could see time running out through an hourglass, and I snatched glances between the office door and Hayden’s back.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a young man in his early twenties pushed through. He had a rag in one hand and was wiping something like oil off his other hand, his head down so he didn’t notice us at first. He was well-built, at least six feet, and from the way he was dressed, I guessed he worked on the boats, so I hoped he’d be as physically strong as he looked.

This was my chance.

I threw myself toward the new arrival. “Please, help me! He’s kidnapped me! He’s been holding me hostage.”

I’d been expecting the man to grab me and maybe pull me behind him, or challenge Hayden, but instead he stared over my shoulder, his eyes wide.

“Please!” I begged again. “You need to help me.”

He didn’t even respond, just continued to stare. My skin prickled with fear and my stomach dropped, and I slowly turned back toward Hayden.

Hayden stood upright now, his face a mask of fury. In his hand was a gun which was pointed directly at the older man’s head.

“That was very stupid, Jolie,” he snarled. “If anyone tries anything else, this guy’s brains are going to end up splattered all over the desk. Got it?”

My eyes filled with tears, my nostrils flaring, and I managed to nod. I’d had no idea Hayden was armed. I’d never intended to get anyone else hurt, and the idea of another person ending up dead because of me was sickening.

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