Page 72 of Virtue & Vengeance

20

EDEN

I LOST TRACK of how long I’d been tied to the chair in the hotel, but at some point, I fell asleep. When Winston and Rodger busted through the door of the hotel, I woke with a start. They were talking so fast my sleep induced self could barely keep up.

I wanted to cry out when I attempted to move because my arms and legs had gone numb sitting in one position for so long. Not to mention the pounding in my head and the pain that was radiating through my face.

“Monty wants us back by tomorrow morning, so if we’re going to do this, we need to do it now.”

I had no idea what they were talking about, but I was now fully awake.

“Think we can trust her to do what needs to be done?”

At that, they both turned and looked at me.

“I’m sure we can,” Winston said.

“What’s going on?” I asked with a shaky voice.

“Monty did a little more digging into your Zander Hale, and he’s decided that he’ll do just fine in getting his money back.”

“But I told you-”

“I know what you said, but there’s only one problem with that.”

I swallowed. “What’s that?”

“We don’t fucking believe you. So, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to go to Zander, and you’re going to do whatever you have to do,” he said looking up and down my body. “Just get him to give you five hundred thousand dollars.”

My jaw went slack, and I thought my heart stopped for a second.

“Five hundred thousand? Allen said-”

“Allen’s dead. And unless you want to end up the same way, you’re going to do exactly what we say.”

“And if he doesn’t give me the money?”

There was no way Zander Hale was going to hand me half of a million dollars with no questions. It was a joke even to consider it.

“Well, for your sake, you better hope we don’t have to find out.”

“He’s going to see right through this. Look at my face! How am I going to explain this?” I said, referring to the damage Allen had done, even though I had yet to see it myself.

“Looks to me like you’re just a clumsy girl. What do you think?” Winston asked Rodger. Rodger nodded slowly and then shrugged. “In any case, we got some stuff that might help tone it down some.”

He dropped a bag on the counter and then moved toward me. After the last twenty-four hours, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“I’m just going to untie you,” he snapped, and then he pulled something out of his pocket.

I breathed again when I realized it was just something to cut the zip ties. He cut each wrist that was tied to the armrests of the chair, and then he cut the one around my ankles.

“Now, go freshen up in the bathroom.” He handed me the bag and pointed toward the bathroom.

I stood, but my legs felt like they were going to give in at any moment, so I stood there for a minute. Once I was able to feel my feet again, I made my way into the bathroom, shutting the door and leaning into it.

My head dropped forward, and I stared at the tiled flooring. I didn’t want to look into the mirror. I could feel the swelling and pain. I didn’t have to look to know it was bad, but when I finally lifted my head and saw my reflection staring back at me, I instantly wished I hadn’t looked. It was much worse than I’d envisioned.

I gasped, moving toward the sink and leaned into the mirror. I examined the bruising that pretty much covered the entire right side of my face. My eyes were swollen, but thankfully not completely shut. I lifted the bag and set it on the counter of the sink, knowing whatever was inside wasn’t going to cover enough of the bruising.

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