Page 130 of Heavy

41

Calista

Idon’tknowhowlong I’ve been knocked out, but when I come to, my hands are bound behind my back and my mouth is taped.

It takes me a moment to adjust to the dimly lit room, and when I do, I can see Genevieve gagged and restrained against the furthest wall from me. Her eyes are puffy, snot and tears soaking down her face.

My own eyes fill with despair, this was not supposed to happen. What delusional part of me thought that Samantha and her plan to get revenge would just cease to exist when I said ‘no’? I’m no assassin, no mastermind in strategic mercenary work—I’m an ignorant, privileged, girl in a world I don’t understand. My stupidity has got Genevieve and I kidnapped.

What have they done to Ronan?

Am I too late? What do I do?

I pull hard on the zip ties that are cutting into the skin of my wrists and scream loud through the tape.

When I take a deep breath, Gene hums something to me, getting my attention. As I refocus on her, she has her eyebrows pinched hard together.

“How…” It sounds like she has something in her mouth that’s taped shut. “How could you?!” Her voice is muffled, but when she speaks low, I can make out the words.

“I’m… sorry…” My voice is also strained, but I don’t have anything inside my mouth. The cover over my lips just makes it hard to emphasis my words.

“You lied… to me…” Her shoulders jerk as she throws out her foot, kicking my shin.

I wince, but don’t move away. I deserve for her to hurt me and won’t hide from the pain she wants to inflict on me.

She shakes her head violently, and I feel my tears slip down my cheeks. I have to be careful—if my nose gets too stuffy, I might pass out from the lack of oxygen.

“It was never meant to be like this.”

She throws both of her feet at me, kicking and screaming through her gag.

My arms tighten at my side, making myself smaller while feeling the ache that’s building under her attacks, and my heart.

Are they out there right now going after Ronan? The thought makes my stomach churn and actually gag under a choked sob.

What will they do with Gene once things are done? Will they let her go?

Where’s my mom? I don’t care about her wellbeing, even if she was forced into making me come over as a setup. I’d have never done something like that to my child, and even as I look at my best friend screaming something unintelligible and kicking me, I wouldn’t have even pickedherover my baby’s safety.

“I’m sorry…” I say, but I know she can’t hear me over her hysterical screaming.

She has always been this calming presence, and being a therapist, that makes sense. This, however, is distress. She’s been taken, because of me, her best friend. I can’t blame her for hating me or going berserk.

“I’m so sorry—”

Suddenly the door to the closet flies open, and Gene curls further away from it. I don’t even get the chance to scream as I’m immediately grabbed by the collar of my shirt and yanked out. My hip grinds against the concrete floor, and I watch as the door I was dragged out of, shuts.

There’s only one car in the three available spots, and its back door is open. I jerk my shoulders, fighting to break free from the person pulling me across the floor. I search desperately for anything I can grab onto to keep from being shoved into that vehicle.

The fight drains out of me the moment something cold presses against my temple.

“Such a fucking pain,” a deep male voice reverberates in my ears. “Get up.” He grabs hold of my neck, pulling me to my feet. My back presses against his chest as he turns us and walks me toward the car. In the back seat, I see Samantha, a smug smile curling on her lips.

I’m thrust into the black SUV, and because my arms are restrained, I’m guided up to a seated position. Since being with Ronan, I’ve had a lot of practice moving with my arms behind me. However, I’m not going to make this easy on them.Fuck them.

As I’m situated, they don’t even bother putting my seat belt on. Instead, the woman beside me gestures with her head, directing them to close the door behind me, and raises her own gun to my head.

“I hope his dick was worth it.”