“What do you think he wants?”
“No idea. The guy used to idolize the club. I think somewhere along the way that shifted to jealousy. Clearly, he’s off his fucking rocker. Anything in here we can use to escape?”
“I’ll look.” I rose on stiff legs. My head was swimming and my lungs burned but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. As my eyes adjusted, I scanned the small space.
At first glance it was relatively empty save for the kiddie pool in the corner and garden hose. Finally, I spied what looked like extra plywood in the opposite corner.
I went toward it, picking up one of the planks in my hand. It was small, no longer than two feet long, but long enough to be a good weapon if used right.
I looked over at Emmie. “I have a plan.”
****
The passage of time was difficult to register, but what felt like hours later, footsteps sounded outside the shed.
I stood up, heart hammering, and positioned myself where Emmie and I had talked about, behind the door, as she lay in plain sight on the ground.
When the door opened and Marty’s accomplice stepped fully into the shed, I waited a beat and then swung with all my might, cracking him across the back of his head. He grunted, collapsing on the ground.
“We have to run,” I commanded urgently as Emmie scrambled to stand up.
We emerged into the dwindling daylight, a quick sweep of the area revealing us to be in some sort of remote wooded area.
We didn’t spare longer than a second before we were off running.
“Stop!” Marty’s irate bellow sounded as gunfire cracked through the air, a bullet whizzing past my head.
Emmie was a few paces ahead of me. “Go!” I cried, knowing the next bullet might hit me if I tried to run.
We’d talked about this. If there was a chance for only one of us to escape, we’d take it in hopes of saving the other later.
She raced off, disappearing into the woods as I turned, hands up. He stalked toward me, his dark eyes bright with fury as he captured a handful of my hair and tugged me back to the shed.
The man I’d struck was still lying face down on the ground. The fact that I may have killed him didn’t sit well despite the circumstances.
“Oh, don’t worry.” Marty grinned as though reading my mind. “I finished him off for you. Glenn had served his purpose.”
He dropped to his haunches in front of me, toying with the gun, a maniacal grin on his face as I stared at him in horror.
“What do you want?”
“Respect. Power. I’ve been dealing with these biker assholes for years. Think they’re tough shit. Taking their money was too easy.” He snorted. “Too bad I had to share so much of it with Palmer. Time for one final payout before I leave town.”
“Marty!” A female voice sounded from off in the distance.
My head whipped in that direction. “Help!” I screamed.
Marty’s boom of laughter chilled me to the bone. “Teresa Palmer is the last person who’s gonna help you,” he sneered, just as a brunette not much older than I was stepped into the shed.
Dressed in a black pencil skirt and white blouse, she looked more like someone running for office rather than a kidnapper. “Have you made the call yet? I want to get the hell out of here. I’ve always hated this property.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“Yes, I called Walker already,” Marty answered impatiently. “The funds will be transferred in the next hour.”
At the mention of Cash’s name my heart soared with hope. I knew he’d find me.
Somehow.
Chapter 27