Would he come for her if he knew?
Lorraine’s consciousness slipped away completely as she fell into darkness.
The car headed toward the city outskirts, finally stopping at an abandoned warehouse. The two men dragged her limp body inside
Ice–cold water crashed over her head, shocking Lorraine’s system back to awareness
Her consciousness slowly returned. The other left her head pounding like a jackhammer. She blinked her eyes open to find two masked men looming over her with cold, predatory stares
Lorraine’s brow furrowed. Kidnapped. Great
She forced herself to think clearly.
Every muscle in her body ached as she tried to move. Coarse rope bu into her wrists, hinding her hands tight behind her back. Her ankles were tied tho–she couldn’t budge an inch. The stale air reeked of mold and dampness, mixed with that sharp chemical smell that made her stomach turn
“Who the hell are you people? Why’d you grab me? I’m broke,” Lorraine croaked, her voice raw
Stay calm. Just stay calm
The bald kidnapper let out a nasty laugh. “Out the bullshit, sweetheart, We know damn well you’re sitting pretty on a fat stack of cash. You think we’re idiots?
Lorraine’s pulse spiked. Only Jasper and Valeria knew about the money from her share sale, right?||
The payment had hit her account yesterday. Today she gets snatched.
Talk about timing
Lorraine pressed her lips together, putting on her most pitiful expression. “Look, you guys got bad intel. Check out what I’m wearing–this whole outfit’s worth maybe nifty backs. I just got cammed from my job. Do I look loaded to you?
The two men shot each other a look
The second kidnapper–scarred face, missing teeth–whipped out a switchblade. The metal caught what little light filtered through the grimy windows as he moved it closer to her cheek
“Don’t try to play us, bitch,” he snarled. “We did our fucking homework.“||
“Whatever. Don’t believe me then. I got nothing anyway–just this worthless life.”
Lorraine’s heart hammered against her ribs, but she kept her eyes locked on his, refusing to back down
The men weren’t buying it. “What about family money?”
Lorraine let out a bitter laugh. “Family? My mom’s dead. My dad couldn’t give two shits about me.”
Baldy was losing patience. “Fuck this. We’re wasting time. If the bitch is broke, we’ll get our payment another way. Been too long since we had some fun.
Scarface nodded, licking his lips as his eyes crawled over her. “Hell yeah. We ain’t had a piece of ass in months
His gaze lingered on her neckline, drinking in the sight of her pale skin.
They’d been hired to snap same dirty pictures originally. But these two wanted to cash in extra
If this chick had no money, she’d pay with something else
Cupler (3
The blood drained from Lorraine’s face. Her whole body went cold
She hadn’t expected these animals to sink this low.
Keep it together, she told herself. Think. What’s your move here?]
As they closed in, Lorraine suddenly softened her voice. “Wait. You keep me tied up like this, where’s the fun in that? Come on, untie me first.”
She was buying time now, praying Cassian would notice she’d vanished.]
“What’s your game, you little slut?” Baldy snapped, instantly suspicious.]
Lorraine widened her eyes innocently. “Guys, It’s two against one here. I’m a hundred–pound woman. You really think I’m gonna outrun you?”
Scarface grunted his agreement. “Boss, she’s got a point. Otherwise she’ll just lay there like a dead fish
Baldy considered this, then moved to cut her restraints.
Lorraine swallowed hard, her mind racing for ways to stall.
Please, Cassian, she thought desperately.
Please figure out something’s wrong.
