Page 23

23

Niki

“Are you going to see him today?” Ryker asked.

I shook my head, keeping my expression neutral. “No. He doesn’t remember me. It’s been two weeks, and he hasn’t called. When he does, I’ll go. Until then, there’s no point.” I exhaled. “Now, where are you sending me?”

“I need you to go to New York and find Jada. She hasn’t checked in since Monday, and she knows she has to call daily.”

“What’s she doing there?”

“She was investigating a missing woman. Her sister thinks her boyfriend kidnapped her for human trafficking—said he was acting strange before she disappeared.”

My stomach tightened. “I’ll do my best to find her,” I said thinking that this reminded me of the cartel, and I prayed I didn’t see anyone who would recognize me.

“I know you will. Just don’t take any unnecessary risks. If something feels off, call me .”

“I will.”

Ryker studied me for a moment. “How long are you planning to work for me?”

I forced a smile. “Until Lyon remembers me. Then, we’ll get married and have a dozen kids.”

I found Jada’s hotel and knocked on the door. When I turned the handle, it swung open.

My instincts went on high alert.

The place was trashed .

I pulled out my phone and dialed Ryker.

“I’m in her room. It looks like a struggle happened here. She put up a fight. I’m looking around for clues.” My gaze landed on something. “Wait—I found her phone. She took pictures. I’ll call you back.”

“Don’t put yourself in danger,” Ryker warned. “You have all those babies waiting for you have them.”

I smirked. “I won’t let anyone hurt me. I promise.”

“Call me twice a day, and I mean it. I wish I could be there, but I’m already on my way overseas.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,” I said before hanging up.

I sat down and went through Jada’s phone. She had recorded everything.

A video played, her voice low but determined. It’s the boyfriend. I befriended him so he’d take me. I need him to bring me to Sherry.

I clenched my jaw.

She had set herself up as bait.

Now, I was going to do the same.

It took a week before he finally took me.

He thought I was stupid. Thought I was weak .

I could kill him in the blink of an eye—and when this was over, I planned on doing just that.

I was shoved into a dark room. Seven women were tied to the walls—naked, bruised, and terrified.

Jada was among them.

“You don’t open your mouth,” the man growled. “If you do, I’ll beat you like I beat the others. I’m collecting as many women as I can to trade for a shipment of drugs. I’m going to make a fortune .”

So this was all about money.

“Are you saying it’s just you ?” I asked, hoping he’d slip up.

A second voice cut in. “No, there’s me too. And you were told not to speak.”

A fist flew at my head.

Pain exploded through my skull, and I slumped, pretending to be unconscious so he wouldn’t hit me again.

“ Tie this bitch up! ” the man barked. “I told you to get teenagers ! You can’t even do that right. I don’t know why I let you talk me into this. I’m calling to have these women picked up.”

They bound my wrists, but at least they left my clothes on.

I kept my eyes closed until they left.

When I finally opened them, Jada pressed a finger to her lips, nodding toward the surveillance camera in the corner.

Damn it.

I had to wait. They had to sleep at some point.

A sliver of light peeked through a window painted black. It was daylight—meaning I’d know when it got dark. I leaned my aching head back against the wall, planning my next move.

I must have dozed off because I woke with a jerk as rough hands grabbed my arms, dragging me to my feet.

“You get to please me tonight, darling,” the man sneered. “Aren’t you the lucky one?”

My stomach churned.

I retched—and vomited all over his shoes.

He lost it .

His fists rained down on me—my ribs, my back, my face.

I threw up again.

The more he hit me, the more I vomited.

The other women screamed for him to stop.

Eventually, he did—cursing as he stormed out.

I collapsed against the wall, dizzy, hurting, gasping for air.

Jada’s voice cut through the fog. “ Niki—wake up! ”

I forced my eyes open. She was crouched beside me, her face tight with worry.

I followed her gaze to the broken camera.

He ripped it down in his rage.

“Why are you here?” she whispered. “You should be on your honeymoon.”

My chest tightened. “Lyon was in an accident. He doesn’t remember me.” I swallowed hard. “As soon as he does, we’ll get married.”

Jada exhaled. “If there’s anything left of you.”

“I’ll kill that bastard when I get a chance,” I muttered. “Both of them.”

My throat was dry. I needed water. Damn it, Lyon, hurry up and remember me.

If those two men came back, I wouldn’t let them hit me again.

Jada could fight—Ryker said so.

Maybe I should have called for backup.

At least I wasn’t throwing up anymore.

But the room reeked .

“Sorry about the smell, ladies,” I said, my voice hoarse.

Sherry forced a weak smile. “Maybe it’ll keep them away from us.”

I turned to the group. “We will get out of here. The next time they come in, we take them down.”

“They have tasers,” Jada warned. “They’ll use them.”

I nodded. “Then we have to be smart. Do both of them stay here?”

“The ex-boyfriend has an apartment on the outskirts of the city,” Sherry said. “I only went there once—when he drugged me.” She shuddered. “If I’d seen his place before, I would’ve dropped him like a hot potato.”

I clenched my fists. “We need to get out before they sell us. Listen to me—when they try to take you, you have to fight. If they sell you, it only gets worse.”

One of the women hesitated. “What if we don’t know how to fight?”

I gave a grim smile. “Then you grab him by the balls and squeeze like your life depends on it. Because it does , don’t let go. That’ll bring him to his knees. Then you kick him and run like hell.”

They all nodded.

Then silence fell.

I closed my eyes, but Lyon’s face filled my mind. His blue eyes. The way he looked at me— except now he didn’t even know who I was.

God, it hurt .

I felt a single tear slip down my cheek.

The women would think it was because of our situation.

They didn’t know it was because my fiancé had forgotten me.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

It’s not his fault. At least he’s alive. That’s all that matters.

Now, I had to get out of here.

They had my left wrist zip-tied to a metal ring on the floor and my right handcuffed to a ring in the wall.

I studied the cuff.

It was a cheap one—something you’d buy on the internet. Idiots.

I twisted my hand. Pain flared up my arm—a reminder that my casts had only recently come off.

One more twist—

Snap.

I was free.

The others followed my lead, working at their cuffs. Jada was the first to break hers. One by one, the others slipped free.

The zip ties would be harder.

“Someone’s coming!” Jada hissed. “Put your hands back in the cuffs— now! ”

A man stepped in.

“I’m giving you water. Don’t try anything.”

He held out a cup to our lips, and we drank.

Next time, I vowed. Next time, you die.

The next time I woke up, we were on a boat.