Serenity
A ubree forced me into the back seat of her car, so I was sitting beside Brandon. For the first time, he seemed to realize this was serious, and he might not make it out alive.
“What the hell are you into?” he hissed.
“I told you to leave.” I arched my brow at him. “Were you really going to kill me?”
He shook his head. “I should have just waited and let them do it.”
I sniffed. “Yeah… right. You’re just having a bad day, all the way around.”
“Shut up.”
Not about to do that, I continued. “But why kill me? That makes no sense. You’d get nothing.”
“You’re wrong about that. I took out a hefty life-insurance policy when we got married. Once you’re dead, I’ll be set for life. But it has to be sickness, murder, or an accident. And the accidents don’t seem to work.”
“Oh, so you were going to make it look like murder?”
Aubree and Johnny got into the car, and Brandon clamped his lips together. Johnny drove, and Aubree glanced back at us. “Having a little spat, are we?”
“I want her dead,” Brandon began. “Like I said, we’re on the same side. I don’t care how you do it, just let me go, and I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
“We’ll see.” Aubree faced forward again. “If you cooperate, we might let you go.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
She glanced over her shoulder, and a satisfied smile twisted her lips. “That’s just what I wanted to hear. I think we can work something out.”
Brandon let out a breath. “Thank God.”
I shook my head. Didn’t he see how ridiculous this was? What an idiot. “What happened to you? A life-insurance policy? That’s what this is all about?”
“Of course not. But you changed into this… this… freak.”
Aubree glanced my way, then at Brandon. “What are you talking about?”
My breath caught. “Shut up, Brandon. You already sound crazy. Don’t make it worse.” I bit my lip, praying he’d keep his mouth shut. Would they keep me from touching them if they knew?
“Oh…” Aubree grinned. “Now I really want to know.” She lifted her brow in an invitation for Brandon to confide in her.
He glanced my way before settling on her. “Serenity can see things after she touches you. Like where you’ve been, or where you’re going. It’s like she steals your thoughts. She’s a psycho.”
I huffed and shook my head. “And you’re delusional. ”
He pursed his lips together. “Trust me, we’d all be better off if you were dead.”
“Ouch.” Aubree’s brows rose. “And you’re still married to each other?”
Brandon sighed. “I need the insurance money. If we’re divorced, I won’t get it.”
She shook her head, glancing at me with pity in her eyes before turning around.
“We’re almost there,” Johnny said. “Do you think he took the bait?”
“Let’s hope so.”
My heart lurched. What bait? Was this another trap? Oh hell. Now what?
We’d driven out toward the dump and a bunch of warehouses and old buildings. Johnny pulled off the road onto a side street that took us behind a row of buildings.
He stopped beside the back entrance of a large warehouse and turned off the car. “Stay here with them. I’ve got a few things to finish up before everything’s ready.” He stepped to the door and hurried inside.
Aubree got out of the car and leaned back against it, watching both ends of the side street for signs of trouble. After a few minutes, she locked the car doors and stepped inside the building.
Now was my chance. With my hands behind my back, it was hard to move, but at least I didn’t have a seat belt on. I twisted to unlock the door and managed to push the right button, but nothing happened. “Damn! She must have the child lock on.”
Brandon had tried the same thing, with the same results. Now what? I could try getting into the front seat, but maybe I should touch Brandon first. Since he was involved, that might help me know what was coming and how to get out of this .
I scooted toward him, and his eyes got big. “You are not touching me!”
He used his shoulder to push me away, but I slid closer. Before I knew what was happening, I lost my balance and tipped over, my face falling into his lap. “Ugh! Oh my gosh! Get me out of here!”
Brandon wiggled under me. “What the hell, Serenity. Get off me.”
“I can’t. You’re going to have to help me up.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Figure it out.”
With his hands tied behind him, the only thing he could do was lift up his pelvis. As he did this, I tried to get some leverage to pull away, but without my arms it wasn’t enough. He tried it again, but it wasn’t working. Frustrated, he began lifting his hips up and down like he was trying to buck me off.
As my face came down in his lap over and over, I could feel him getting hard. Holy hell! How was I ever going to get off him?
The front passenger door flew open, and Aubree stuck her head inside. “What the hell is going on back there?”
Brandon froze, and I turned my face to get some air, positive my cheeks were red from rubbing against his jeans so violently. “I fell over and now I’m stuck. Can you pull me up?”
She froze for a moment before slamming the door. A few seconds later, my door opened. Aubree reached in and grabbed my upper arm, pulling me upright with a grunt.
“Uh… thanks. Can I get out now? It’s getting hot in here.” I glanced at Brandon, but he wouldn’t look at me. If things weren’t so dire, I would have burst out laughing.
Aubree stepped back and propped the door open. I took that as a yes, and scooted around until my body faced the door. I kept scooting to the edge until I could get my feet out, but, from this angle, I couldn’t stand without my arms.
I squinted up at Aubree. “Will you help me up?”
“Oh, for the love of God.” She rolled her eyes before grabbing my upper arm, and pulled.
I got my feet under me, but managed to sway into her. She braced me up, and my fingers brushed against her arm. As a vision rushed over me, I staggered a bit, then froze in place until I caught my balance.
“Come on.” Keeping hold of my arm, Aubree led me toward the building. Knowing I’d die if I went inside, I waited until the last moment, then wrenched my arm out of her grip. I ran like hell, grateful I’d kept up with my exercises.
“Stop, or I’ll shoot!”
I kept going, willing to chance it. A shot rang out, and a sharp pain in my thigh sent me tumbling to the ground. I tried to get back up, but the pain was too much.
Footsteps pounded on the pavement, and I glanced up to find Aubree looming over me. “You had to run, didn’t you. Well, guess what? Stone’s already in the building. Johnny’s got him, so I don’t need you anymore.”
She raised her gun to shoot me, and my breath caught. This was it. I was going to die. A shot rang out, but I didn’t feel any pain. Then I noticed a dark red stain blossoming on her chest. The gun slipped from her fingers, and she went down in a heap.
A few seconds later, her ragged breathing stopped.
More footsteps sounded, and I glanced up to find Ricky beside me. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.” He cut through my zip-tie with a knife.
“Where’s Nate? Aubree said Johnny had him.”
“We need to wrap your leg.”
I grabbed the front of his shirt. “Where is he? ”
Ricky finally met my gaze. “He’s inside, but I don’t know more than that.”
“Shit. We have to get him out.”
“I know. We will.”
“No. You don’t understand. Johnny’s planning to blow up the building, and he doesn’t care if he goes up with it.”