Page 82 of Belonging to Them

Keith and the other two guys bring us out of the apartment.I try to bend over to check Cora’s pulse, but Keith yanks my arm so hard, it wrenches me away.I hold in my cry of pain, not wanting to endanger Gianna’s baby.He said he’d shoot her in the stomach.From the cold, calculating look in his eyes, I fully believe he’d do it.

The men usher us down the open corridor.I pray for someone to look out their windows or doors, but it’s late at night and most of the windows are dark.The few apartments with their lights on have thick blinds or curtains covering the view.

We go down the stairs to the ground level.I’m in front with Keith.The men aren’t slowing down.We need to go slower for Gianna.I turn around to look behind me and see she’s rushing along, her eyes wide with fear, sweat gathering on her forehead and temples.

“Please slow down for her,” I say.

Keith doesn’t even turn around.“Shut up.She’s fine.”

They bring us to the parking lot, where a huge black SUV is idling by the curb.

The back door opens.

Never get into a car with a kidnapper, my dad said.Fight like hell.

So I fight like hell.I kick back with my heel, ignoring the sharp pain I get when it makes contact with one of the guys’ knees.I use my elbow against Keith’s gut.Unfortunately, the guy’s made of pure muscle and it doesn’t even faze him.He tries to wrestle me into the car, but I kick and flail.He hits me in the face.I try to dodge, which makes his punch catch me in the eye instead of the jaw, where I think he intended.

I open my mouth to scream and he hits me again.I taste blood as my lip splits under the impact.

“Help me get her in there,” Keith growls to someone in the van.

Rough hands pull me back by my shoulders.I twist and reach back, trying to get someone’s face with my fingernails.

“Enough,” Keith says, holding up his gun.

He isn’t pointing it at me, though.He’s pointing it at Gianna’s temple.

She pees herself in fear, the liquid darkening her light gray leggings and puddling beneath her on the curb.

“Disgusting,” the guys say, stepping away from her while holding tight to her arm.He doesn’t have to hold her too tightly—it’s not like she’s about to run anywhere, not in her condition.

“Get in the car, or I shoot her,” Keith says.

I give up.I can handle being hit, but I won’t risk the baby or Gianna.

My dad said to fight like hell.

I fought…and I lost.

TWENTY-TWO

Sebastian

It’s a little after midnight when I finally emerge from the studio.I never did conquer those lyrics.The rhythm’s off, and nothing about that song feels right.

I feel like an ass for being a grump earlier, and even though I fucked it out of my system with Ella and Kingston a few hours ago, I feel the need to apologize to them both.

I just wish this uneasy, unhappy feeling would go away.

I come into the bedroom, but it’s only Kingston in there, sitting up in bed and reading on his phone.Maybe Ella’s brushing her teeth.The bathroom door is open, but no sound comes from that direction.

“Where’s Ella?”I ask.

“Sleepover with Gianna,” he says.

Something uneasy wakes up in my gut, lifting its head, sniffing the air.“With Gianna?”

“Yeah.”