Page 3

As the pipe gave way, a loud ricochet echoed over the walls. It wasn't the ideal object I was looking for, a bit smaller than I wanted, but it would have to do.

Backing against the wall, I slipped down into a crouch and waited.

I wasn't sure how much time had gone by, I had no way of checking. I was stripped of everything—no purse, no keys, no phone.

Even my fucking shoes were gone.

Maybe it was hours that had passed, maybe minutes, or even seconds. Either way, sitting in a barely lit room filled with nothingness was torture in itself.

But I still waited, still listened, gripping the pipe like it had been glued to my hands.

Then it happened. It all happened so fast, and I hadn't fully thought about what I would do.

The voices came first, starting off distant, barely a whisper in the air. They grew stronger the closer they came, the thumping of feet mixed with proverbial chuckles and words I couldn't make out.

They're laughing?

They're fucking laughing while they have me locked in here?

A rage filled my gut, heating my core with a madness I hadn't felt before. The men approaching the door were chatting and talking as if this was a normal situation, a day to day activity like they were going to play fucking basketball.

Standing quickly, I held the pipe like a baseball bat, ready to strike the second the door opened. The handle jiggled, and I could hear the distinct sound of the key clicking the lock open.

The door opened easily with no hesitation.

I was fairly certain with how they entered so brazenly that they didn't expect I had gotten loose. In one quick swoop, I swung the metal rod, hitting the first man on the head.

A loud growl shot out from the back of his throat, his body lunging forward and falling to one knee as he cupped his skull. A second man ran in from behind, and I did the only thing I could.

I kept swinging.

Adrenaline purged my veins, my heart slammed around inside my chest, beating against my ribs. But it didn't matter how much pain I had felt before, because right then I felt nothing.

His arms were flailing, darting around my body as I swung blindly in the air. And as the thought crept in that maybe I had a chance to escape, a chance to run and free myself from whatever these men had planned for me . . .

It all came crashing down in a quick flash.

My arms were grabbed from behind me, thick fingers curled over my biceps, yanking my limbs to my spine. Screaming in pain, the pipe fell from my grasp, landing with a heavy thud on the floor.

“Get off me! Get the fuck off me!” I could hear my screams, but I didn't recognize the voice. It wasn't me screaming, it was fear screaming.

“You stupid fucking bitch! You dumb, stupid, fucking whore!” The heated words were followed with a palm across my face.

Prickles of pain shot over my jaw, searing the bone just under my eye. Another hit came down on my face, knocking my head in the other direction. My neck snapped, hair falling into my eyes and covering the tear that trailed over my cheek.

I will not let them see me cry.

They don't deserve the satisfaction.

The taste of iron filled my mouth, coating my tongue in liquid metal. “Fuck you,” I hissed, spitting in the direction of his voice.

A deep, throaty laugh filled my ears behind me. “You hear that, Tony? She wants to fuck you, she is a whore.” I could feel the hot air leave his lips, slinking over my neck.

I wanted to wash my skin, get the feel of his breath off my body. “Let me go, and you won't get hurt.”

The laugh turned louder, hitting a higher pitch. “Us? Who's gonna hurt us, Sweetheart? Looks to me like you're talking out your ass.”

“Shut up, Vince.” The man's hand came up and brushed the hair from my face. “Do you know who we are?”