Page 23

Briar

I’m crammed into the back seat, my wrists aching from the rough cords biting into my skin. Moments after they abducted me, they’d pulled over to bind my wrists together. Every bump in the road makes me lurch sideways, shoulders bashing into the door. I’d give anything for one sliver of comfort, but there’s none here. Just me, a swirl of dread in my stomach, and the two men in the front seats who won’t answer a single one of my questions.

Heath is driving. Heath, the new bird trainer who showed up at the zoo not long ago, wearing that ridiculous tweed jacket. Does he even know a thing about birds? I can just see the back of his head, slightly turned so he can keep an eye on me in the rearview. Next to him, in the passenger seat, is Jason—my ex-boyfriend turned nightmare, the man I tried so hard to escape. It’s strange seeing them together, an unholy alliance I never saw coming.

My heart pounds so hard my ribs feel bruised. The engine hums underneath us, and the headlights cast fleeting shapes across the deserted highway, but it’s pitch-black out here, wherever here is. I can’t see any signs, no exit ramps, no gas stations—nothing.

“Where are we going?” My voice sounds surprisingly steady, considering my pulse is a frantic drumroll in my ears. Neither Heath nor Jason responds. They just keep whispering to each other, the low murmur of their voices drowned out by the car’s rumble. I struggle against my bindings, hissing at the sting. “Hello?” I shout, louder this time. “Heath! Jason! Where are you taking me?”

Heath throws me a glance in the mirror, but he remains silent. Jason turns around in his seat, and for half a second, the moonlight glowing in through the windshield catches the cruel twist of his smile. Then he faces front again, ignoring me. I bite my lip, frustration and fear mingling in my chest.

Why did I leave? The thought replays like a broken record in my head. I picture Orion’s place—safe, warm, with Jeb dozing in his cage. And Orion himself, determined and protective, a man who would have moved mountains to keep me from danger. But he lied to me , the bitter voice inside me reminds. He said he didn’t have feelings for me . Only now, trapped in this car, do I realize how foolish I was to let that overshadow the real threat. Now I’m paying the price.

The car jostles as Heath maneuvers onto a gravel road. I jolt upright, my wrists chafing painfully, and blink to clear my vision. The headlights sweep across a vast emptiness: weeds, broken fences, the outline of dilapidated buildings. My stomach churns. This place looks like it’s been abandoned for decades.

After what feels like hours of creeping through the darkness, the car finally comes to a stop in front of a large, decaying structure. The headlights reveal warped metal siding, graffiti scrawled across the entrance. An abandoned warehouse, from the look of it. A chill seeps through my veins as Heath cuts the engine, plunging us into a suffocating quiet.

“Out,” Jason orders, turning to me with a sneer. Heath steps out first, slamming the driver’s door, while Jason swings open the back door on my side. I recoil, pressing myself against the opposite seat, but there’s nowhere to run. His hand snaps forward, grabbing my arm so hard I yelp in pain.

“Let me go!” I twist, thrashing, but it’s no use. My arms are bound, my legs are free but useless without a clear path. He yanks me from the car with a force that almost wrenches my shoulder. My feet hit the gravel, and I struggle to regain balance, wincing at the biting chill of the night air.

Heath stands off to the side, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his mouth. This version of him is so different from the polite, poised trainer I met at the zoo. He was always too smooth , I think, remembering how Marcie lapped up his credentials without questioning. Now, he radiates smug confidence, like a cat that’s caught a mouse.

Jason slams the car door and keeps a grip on my arm, guiding me—no, dragging me—toward a gaping entrance at the side of the warehouse. My breath forms puffs of fog in the cold air, and my heart hammers like it might burst from my chest.

The interior of the warehouse is even darker than outside, but as we move in, I see a faint glow from a distant overhead fixture. It illuminates piles of broken pallets, scraps of metal, and dust dancing in the stale air. The smell is an acrid mix of rust, mold, and something chemical that turns my stomach.

Suddenly, more figures emerge from the shadows. My pulse spikes as I register two men speaking in hushed Russian. They’re big, broad-shouldered, wearing dark coats. One of them lifts a cigarette to his lips, his eyes flicking over me with casual interest, like I’m nothing more than another piece of cargo.

And then I hear the unmistakable squawk of a parrot. My heart lodges in my throat as I spot a cage in the corner, illuminated by the flickering overhead light. Inside the cage, perched on a branch, is a yellow-naped Amazon parrot—bright green with a splash of brilliant yellow on the back of its neck. My jaw drops in shock. “Chester?” I whisper, recognizing him instantly. Chester, the star of the zoo’s bird show, the one with millions of social media followers.

“What the fuck? Who the fuck is she?” one of the Russian men mutters in heavily accented English, giving a nod toward me. His cold gaze sends a shiver down my spine.

Jason steps forward, tightening his grip on my arm. “We brought her for reassurance,” he says, directing his words at the Russians. “She’s the bird expert. She can take care of Chester.”

“What are you planning to do with him?” I snap, fear and anger warring in my chest.

The second Russian man waves a dismissive hand, as though my question is pointless. “You will do what you’re told,” he says flatly. “Chester is valuable. Your job is to keep him healthy and… content. Or else.”

A wave of revulsion washes over me. They’ve kidnapped Chester, the zoo’s most famous bird, for some sinister reason. And apparently, they need someone to care for him—and I’m the perfect candidate. I shoot Heath a glare, realization dawning. He must know nothing about birds.

Heath’s smirk deepens, and he steps closer, tapping the cage with his knuckles. Chester flutters, letting out a sharp squawk and ruffling his feathers. My heart breaks for the poor thing. He doesn’t deserve this. Neither of us does.

“What do you want with the bird?” I demand, trying to keep my voice steady. My heart’s pounding so loudly I can scarcely think. “You realize the whole world knows Chester? He can’t just disappear.”

“That’s none of your concern,” Jason snaps, leaning in so close I can smell the stale coffee on his breath. “All you need to worry about is keeping him happy. And yourself alive.”

I swallow, tasting bile. Orion warned me about the dangers lurking around Jason, around the zoo. Guilt roars in my gut. I should have listened. I shouldn’t have let my hurt feelings cloud my judgment . Now I’m trapped in a grimy warehouse surrounded by men who clearly have no qualms about using violence to get what they want.

One of the Russians nods toward a rickety folding chair. “Sit.” The command is cold, absolute. Jason and Heath maneuver me over, forcing me to sit. My arms are still bound, and my shoulders ache from the strain.

Heath crouches in front of me, that smug expression never leaving his face. “You’re going to cooperate, aren’t you, Briar?” he says, voice mocking. “Because if you don’t, Chester won’t be the only one in a cage.” He glances at Jason. “I don’t know what your obsession is with this bitch. We could have easily kept the bird safe on our own. I say we just kill her.”

Jason steps forward, anger radiating off him. “Shut the fuck up.” He steps closer. “We need her.”

Heath rolls his eyes, and the Russians laugh.

My stomach turns. I glance over at Chester, who’s now eyeing me with what looks like equal parts curiosity and fear. Parrots are perceptive creatures; he must sense the tension. I take a shaky breath, trying to gather whatever courage I have left.

“If you hurt him, I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” Heath cuts in, chuckling darkly. “Let’s be real, Briar. You’re in no position to negotiate.”

I can’t deny that. I’m bound, outnumbered, with no idea where we even are. The harsh truth sinks in: I need to bide my time, look for any opportunity to escape or call for help. And Orion… My chest squeezes at the thought of him. Does he know I’m gone? He must. But is he even looking for me? He lied to me. The memory stings. Yet a tiny flicker of hope remains—he might still try to find me, even if his feelings weren’t what I believed.

One of the Russians nods at Heath and Jason. “Find her a place to sleep. She’ll stay here until we’re done.”

My heart lurches at the finality in his tone. Until we’re done? That could mean days, weeks—even longer. I glance at Chester, who shifts on his perch, letting out a low, uneasy whistle.

Jason wrenches me to my feet, dragging me away from the men and into a side corridor. It’s dark, the flickering overhead light barely illuminating the chipped walls and broken pipes. I trip on a loose piece of concrete, wincing as I crash into Jason’s side. He doesn’t even slow, just continues yanking me along.

Behind us, I hear Chester squawking again, the sound echoing through the cavernous warehouse. The Russians’ laughter bounces off the walls. My heart feels like it’s in a vise.

Stay calm , I remind myself, forcing each ragged breath in and out. If I’m going to survive this, I have to keep my wits about me.

“You’ll stay here,” Jason says, shoving me into a room with a single cot in the corner. His eyes are on fire as he stares at me. “You let that bodyguard fuck you?” He pushes forward as I slink away to the other side of the room.

“It’s none of your business.”

Jason keeps stalking closer. “Did he stick his cock deep inside you? Do I need to fuck him out of you?”

Tears spring behind my eyelids. “Leave me alone.” I try to stand my ground, but I know I’m losing control. I’m regretting my decision to leave the safety of Orion’s home.

Jason reaches out his hand to touch my face, and I jerk away. “He’s not coming for you.” He laughs, loud and boisterous and it sends a chill skating through my system. “Even if he does, this is the bratva … he’ll never find you.” Jason steps so close to me, I flinch.

He laughs as I do, and then finally backs away.

He leaves the area. A few minutes later they place Chester’s cage in my room, and I smile at the parrot.

“Looks like it’s me and you. We need to get out of here.”

Chester nods his little green head, like he understands everything I’m saying. And I’m pretty sure he does.