Page 53 of Ruining Hattie

HATTIE

I ’ve never been as terrified in my life as I have been in the past twenty-four hours.

While a large part of me feels like Sean won’t hurt me because he needs me to draw Bast here, this man is clearly unhinged.

I’m not sure if that’s a result of the drugs he’s been doing throughout the day and night, or just his usual self, but every time he comes over to me or looks in my direction, it takes me real effort not to fall apart.

My parents are probably wondering why I haven’t called.

I told them I was coming to Seattle, though not the why.

My mom would never have let me come here if she thought it was to beg Bast to be tested as a match.

But when I told her I was ready to talk to him to discuss what happened between us, she gave me her blessing.

God, I hope she’s okay and that nothing drastic has happened with her health while I’ve been tied up—literally.

They’re keeping me in what I think is a chop shop. Day and night, people have brought cars in here, then immediately guys strip them down into parts.

My skin is crawling, and I want out of here so badly. But the thought that if and when I get freed, it will be because Bast is here makes me sick. The idea of him in harm’s way panics me. Will Sean really let us both walk away if Bast comes through on his promises?

Somehow, I doubt we both make it out safely.

But Bast has to know that too, right? He’ll come with a plan.

“Less than five minutes, sweetheart. Think your man will come through for you?”

Sean’s standing behind the chair I’m tied to, on my right side and bent down so he’s speaking into my ear. His warm breath on the side of my face sends a shudder up my spine.

“Aw, don’t worry. I’m sure he will.”

I say nothing. Though I’ve barely said two words the entire time I’ve been his victim, this time it angers him. He grabs the hair at the back of my head and wrenches back my head.

“You think you’re too good for me or something? Can’t bother responding?”

I whimper when his hand tightens in my hair, pulling hard.

“Get your fucking hands off her.”

The sound of Bast’s voice eases some of my anxiety, but at the same time ratchets it up. This is when all my fears could come true.

Sean does that annoying, awful laugh of his. “Glad you could join us. You have the money?” He extends an arm past me, and he’s holding a gun. My gut twists.

Bast’s gaze is solely on me, running over me once, then again and again, making sure I’m in one piece before his eyes flick to Sean.

I’ve never been more sure than now that what he said about his feelings for me being real is true, though I suppose the fact that he showed up here at all should have proven that.

Still, his eyes show a mixture of panic, regret, and relief.

“It’s all here.” Bast tosses a duffel bag a couple of feet in front of him. It lands with a loud thud on the concrete floor.

Most of Sean’s goons cleared out of here an hour ago—in anticipation of this meeting, I suppose—but there are a few I can still see and likely more hiding in the shadows.

Sean nods at one of his guys to check out the bag. He walks over, picks up the bag, and brings it closer to Sean, where he unzips it. My eyes bulge out at the stacks of money inside. The guy pulls out one and lifts it to his nose, then takes out a few to feel them and examine them closer.

“It’s good,” he says to Sean with a nod.

“You’ve been so helpful, Bast, really. It’s a shame it has to end this way.” Sean shifts the gun, holding it to my head, and an anguished cry leaves my lips.

The warehouse lights shut off, and I scream as we’re plunged into darkness. There are shouts of men all around, trying to figure out what’s going on.

When a set of hands lands on my shoulders, I yelp.

He runs his palm down the side of my face.

Bast.

Then I feel his hands undoing the rope binding my wrists behind me. They loosen and I tug, but it’s not enough to free me.

The loud sound of a gunshot echoes through the dark.

Tears sting my eyes as I wait for Bast to free me, and I try to be patient and not move so it’s easier for him. But more gunshots ring out, and I wait for the searing pain of one ripping through my skin.

It’s chaotic and loud, and the flashes of light throughout the space make it impossible for my eyes to adjust to the dark.

The rope goes slack, and Bast yanks me up out of the chair, lifting me under the armpits.

“We have to get out of here. Can you run?” he whispers in my ear before a gun goes off again.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t let go of me.” He takes my hand, squeezing, and leads me through the darkness.

I can only trust that Bast knows what he’s doing and where he’s going.

The yells from the fighting grow quieter as we move away. Bast opens a metal door in the back corner, and the sunlight scorches my eyes. It takes my eyes a minute to see anything, but I blink past watery eyes as Bast leads me down the side of the building.

Once I can see clearly, I realize that he has a gun in his right hand and goggle-looking things on top of his head. They must be night vision goggles.

“C’mon,” he says, picking up our pace.

We round the corner of the building, and Bast comes to an abrupt stop, causing me to run right into his back.

“Bast, what…” I step up beside him and see why he’s stopped.

Sean has a gun pointed at us. He must have left through another exit. The duffle bag Bast brought is in his hand.

“Just take the money and go,” Bast seethes, squeezing my hand to give me some reassurance.

Sean cocks his head, and one corner of his lips pulls up in a grin. “After all the trouble you caused me, I think I’m due more than just a bag full of dough, don’t you?” His eyes narrow.

Before Bast can respond, Sean pulls the trigger. The gunshot rings through the beautiful sunny afternoon, and I watch in horror as the bullet collides with Bastion’s chest. His hand slips from mine, and he falls limp to the ground. I scream, dropping to my knees beside him.

“Bast, no, no, no!”

He lies on his side, facing away from me, and the pain of loss rips through me.

“You bastard!” I shout at Sean, who’s laughing again. That horrible, jarring laugh.

I move to stand and bolt at him just to feel the satisfaction of my fingernails ripping through his skin when movement at my side makes me look down at Bastion. In one swift movement, he rolls over with his arm outstretched, gun in hand, and presses the trigger.

Sean sinks to the ground, blood pouring out of his head. Relief floods my veins.

“Oh my god, we need to get a doctor.” I give Bast the once-over, but I don’t see blood. “Where did you get shot?”

He rips his shirt open to reveal a bulletproof vest.

I plunge forward and wrap my arms around his neck, tumbling him onto his back. “Thank God you’re okay.”

His arms wrap around me, and for the first time since he left Wisconsin, I feel safe. I feel as if everything will be okay.

“Careful, I might think you still care about me.”

I back up to meet his gaze as my own fills with tears. “You came to save me.”

Bast places a hand on each cheek. “I told you, I love you. I may not have started out loving you, and I should have told you everything sooner, but my feelings for you were very real. Are very real.”

I kiss him with everything I have, pouring every ounce of love and acceptance and gratitude into the kiss.

When we pull away, he rests his forehead against mine. “We should probably get going. The crew that was here to help me will clean everything up.”

I nod and hug him again.

It doesn’t matter to me who those people were or how Bast knows them. I’m just grateful they were here.

We stand and Bast grabs the duffle bag, leading me down the side of the building and through a series of streets to his car.

Once we’re in the car and far enough away, he turns to me. “Hattie, we need to talk about?—”

I shake my head, effectively cutting him off. “Tomorrow. Today, I just want to go home and shower, then make love to you, okay?”

He takes my hand and squeezes it. “Sounds perfect.”