“No?”he looks back at a man standing behind him.“Call the doc and have this one stitched up.We may need him.Katelyn is easily persuaded when someone else is suffering for her.”
“No.Please don’t.”Panic thrums in my veins, and I release pressure long enough to put myself between Sawyer and the man coming for him.“Let him go.Please.”
“You’ve misbehaved for quite some time now, Katelyn.I think it’s well past time you learn your lesson.Grab him.”
The man Earnest had called Leo rushes forward and yanks me out of the truck.I scream and thrash in his hold, my only goal getting back to Sawyer, who is already trying to get to his feet.
“Go ahead and scream, Katelyn.There’s no one here to hear you.There never was,” Earnest calls out with a laugh.
Still, I fight.Even though I know it’s a useless endeavor.These guys are professional football players.Bruisers with a reputation for being ruthless on and off the field.
“It’s going to be okay!”Sawyer yells.He tries to get up again, but stumbles back, tank top saturated in blood.
“I’m so sorry!”I scream as I’m dragged away.“I’m so sorry!”
A door closes in my face, cutting off my view of Sawyer as I’m carried down a long hallway.I fall still, conserving whatever energy I have left for my first opportunity at an escape.I’ll get help, then find Sawyer.
We’ll get out.
We have to.
A door creaks open, and I’m shoved forward, nearly falling on my face before a massive hand steadies me.He spins me around to face him, then shoves me down onto a chair.My head cracks back against something hard, and a burst of white-hot pain explodes behind my eyes.I suck in a shaky breath, fighting for my calm.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that panicking won’t do anything but make men like this rougher.They love to see their prey afraid.I won’t show him that—not again.
“Get comfortable, Pretty,” Leo snarls.“You’re going to be here awhile.Now, be a good girl, and give me your wrists.”
I glare up at him.
A hand cracks across my cheek.“Boss never said you had to keep looking pretty.If I were you, I’d listen.”
Body trembling, jaw set, I put my wrists onto the armrests.
But when he moves forward, I drive my leg up into his groin.He grunts and falls to his knees.I don’t waste any time as I sprint toward the door and rip it open.The hall is long, but I race down toward where I last saw Sawyer.If I can see where they take him—the door at the end opens, and Bradley strolls in, Earnest at his side.
Earnest clicks his tongue.“Well, well, Katelyn.Seems you have a bit more fight in you than before.That’s okay, we’ll break you of it.After all, we’ve got all the time in the world.”
Something slams into the back of my head, and I fall forward, hitting the ground.It’s cool beneath my cheek, but before I can even try to push up, the world goes dark, and I slip away—my last thought a prayer.
Lord, please protect my son.Please save Sawyer.