The man came over, released the cuff, and pulled her to her feet. With a gun pointed at her side, he motioned to the back of the jet where a door was already open and waiting.
“Move.”
Too scared to argue, Avery did as she was told. When they got to the opening, she saw that it was a staircase leading down to the pavement below.
Gripping the railing as she went, Avery was hit with a wave of hot, humid air as she took each step with caution. They were pretty high up, which was scary enough, but add in her drug-induced state, the heels she was still wearing, and her fear from the gun pointed at her back, it was a wonder she could move at all.
When they got to the bottom of the steps, the man got a meaty grip on her upper arm—the same arm that had finally healed from the abuse it had taken by those jerks from before—and led her to a fancy black car that was parked across the tarmac.
The windows were tinted, so she couldn’t see inside, but something told her whoever was behind all of this was in there right now, waiting for her.
Forced into the backseat, Avery barely had time to get her feet inside before the door was slammed shut and she was locked inside.
Her first reaction was to try to get out, but the doors had been childproofed. There was no way for her to escape.
A long ride and several tears later, the car stopped, and Avery was pulled free. She was taken by surprise when she found herself being led toward the biggest, most beautiful mansion she’d ever seen.
What the hell?
The big brute with the meaty hands took her around back. Once again, she found herself in awe of the gorgeous scenery.
Huge, beautiful palm trees set off to the side of an enormous inground pool. An intricate brick layout made up the patio portion where a set of decorative chairs and matching table awaited them.
If she wasn’t completely terrified, Avery would find the place incredibly enticing.
A rough hand guided her into one of the two chairs. The man remained silent, his only form of communication the gun that was still pointed directly at her.
“Who are you?” Avery finally spoke up. “What do you want with me?”
The arrogant prick smirked but said nothing.
Before long, however, another man joined them. One she found vaguely familiar.
I know him. How do I know him?
Unlike the big brute next to her, this man wasn’t dressed in an expensive-looking suit. Instead, he’d chosen loosely fitting dress slacks and a silky Hawaiian shirt.
Sunglasses covered his eyes, but Avery could still tell he was looking directly at her. Sizing her up, maybe?
Walking next to him was a third man. He was shorter than the other two, his attire much more casual. Wearing jeans, a short-sleeved button up, and sandals, he looked more like the pool boy than someone of great importance.
But Avery recognized him instantly.
Oh, God.
“You.” Her heart slammed against her chest.
It was the driver of the truck. The one who’d tried to take her and Jessica away from the others. “See, Sal?” He slapped the man next to him on the shoulder. “She does remember you.”
Avery’s eyes slid back to the man in the flower-print shirt. She studied his face closely, too. A flash of memory hit, and just like that, she knew.
“You’re the man from the warehouse,” Avery told him. “You were there that day, too.”
“You have a good memory, Miss Webb. This is something I tried explaining to Sal, here. But he didn’t think you would remember me.”
Both men walked past her as the one who’d just spoken led the other man—Sal—to the edge of the pool. Stopping, they turned around to face her.
“I was there that day. You are correct.”