Page 97 of Pretend You Love Me

“I told you - far from here. You’ll never find her.”

“I will find her, and you’ll pay for everything you’ve done.”

“I told you she was stupid.” Daryl looks at Gary and shakes his head. “Stupid like her mother.”

Gary just laughs.

“I’m tired of listening to your fucking mouth.” Daryl walks over to me and covers my mouth with duct tape.

I close my eyes. My mind races. How am I going to get out of here?

My legs and arms are numb. I shift in the chair. They’ve tied the ropes so tight it’s cut off the circulation. Tears start to slide down my face. I told myself I wouldn’t cry in front of him, but I’m so tired. My body hurts. It’s freezing in here.

I try to speak.

Daryl walks over and rips the duct tape off my mouth. “What?”

“I have to pee.”

“Nice try.”

“I do.”

“Well, I guess you're about to get wet.”

“Fuck you.”

He raises his hand and slaps me again. It sends pain searing through my body. I feel a trickle of blood on the side of my mouth.

“Shut the fuck up unless you want me to really make you cry.”

I shut my mouth tight. He doesn’t return the tape to my mouth. I close my eyes and hang my head. I can’t see a way out of this. I’ve really messed up this time.

I’m actually starting to nod off when I hear a loud crash and then a shot rings in the air. My eyes jerk open, and I’m trying to figure out what’s just happened. My ears are buzzing as I look to the back of the room. Gary is down on the floor, blood pouring out of his chest.

I scan the rest of the room. Daryl is wrestling with someone. I feel hands on me, and I jump.

“We’ve got you, Ginger. Don’t worry.” I look up to see Hawk cutting the ropes on my hands. I focus again on Daryl, and then I realize it’s Kip he’s fighting with. Kip has him pinned against the wall. I see Daryl reach into his pocket.

“He has a knife,” I scream a little too late. Daryl plunges the knife into Kip’s side, and I scream again. Kip jerks to the side, but just as he does another shot rings out. I snap my eyes shut but not soon enough. The bullet tears through Daryl’s neck, sending blood everywhere. I can’t open my eyes. I can’t look.

Time passes. I’m not sure how long. I hear other voices. I don’t open my eyes. Someone leads me out of the house. I’m shaking so hard my teeth chatter.

Finally, I open my eyes when I hear Hawk’s voice. “Brooklyn, it’s okay. You’re safe now.”

“Kip,” I say as soon as I open my eyes. “Is he dead?”

I can’t breathe. Hawk squats down in front of me. He puts his hands on my shoulder. “Breathe.”

I feel like I'm suffocating.

“Just breathe. It’s okay,” he says.

I take a shaky breath.

“That’s better.” He’s rubbing my back. “Kip is fine.”

My eyes flash to his. “Fine?”