by M. A. Lee
Reaching into my pocket, I decided to call Brianna. We hadn’t talked in a few days and I just needed someone to vent to. When I ended the call, I walked over to the bed and landed on the ultra-soft mattress. The beige comforter was soft and the colors of the room were warm and inviting with reds, oranges, and browns. All earth colors.
I must have dozed off because I was suddenly awoken by the sound of another door opening. My eyes shooting open, I noticed I was in complete darkness. I must have slept the entire day away. Outside my hotel room, I heard deep voices and instantly recognized Todd’s.
Jumping up, I rushed to the door and flung it open.
Todd was standing in the hallway talking with Jamie and the two officers from earlier.
Without thinking, I rushed to his arms.
Todd held me close and allowed me to cry on his shoulder. I was scared and perplexed, but being in his arms gave me the comfort I desperately needed.
Pulling back, I noticed his face was tense and his eyes looked tired.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. How are you feeling?” he asked me.
“Just a little nervous,” I admitted.
“What are you doing?” I asked, nodding toward the door where he was currently standing.
Todd’s eyes grew large and I saw Jamie look away. I didn’t like the way tension was building now between us.
Stepping closer to me, Todd lowered his voice. “Ally, I think it is best if you stay in your own room tonight. I need to discuss with the team our next strategy,” he said.
Shock and dread consumed me. I felt like he wasn’t telling me something, but I didn’t want to push him. Maybe I was just so emotionally drained, that I was not thinking clearly.
Nodding, I fought my tears as I let go of him. “Okay, well, I will see you in the morning,” I said before quickly walking back into my own room.
Once alone, I fell to my knees and let the tears flow.
****
Over the last few days, I noticed Todd pulling away from me. The comfort I once felt around him was gone. He had grown tense and rigid whenever I walked into his hotel room. Whenever I asked him questions about the case and the whereabouts of Marcus, he would just dismiss me, telling me it was official police business.
Realizing I had enough, I wanted to get back on the path where we once were.
“Have I done something wrong?” I asked as Todd was sitting on the couch, watching a football game. We were still in separate rooms, though, he would let me come visit with him sometimes. It felt so surreal to go from practically living with someone to being shunned from their life altogether.
He barely looked up to acknowledge me. “No.”
His words were quick and with no emotion. I didn’t know how I could feel like I meant something to him one day and then nothing the next.
Anger rose and I was fed up. Walking in front of the television, I blocked his view. “Enough of this bullshit. I need to know why you are acting so weird around me,” I demanded, stomping my foot.
This time, Todd looked up at me and I saw hurt flash across his eyes.
“I always say something to hurt you and I know it’s wrong. My life is dangerous. We can be friends and you can come over and hang out with me anytime, but we will never be more than friends,” he said.
Seeing the hurt on my face, Todd quickly looked away.
“How can you say that after everything we have been through?” I cried out. “You and I had something special.”
Sighing, Todd ran a hand through his hair. “Look, Ally, that was a mistake. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to get involved. I’m sorry,” he finished.
“I’m falling for you!” I yelled. “You made me believe that I could care for you. That you cared for me,” I lashed out.
Rage filling my eyes, I stood up so close, our lips were almost touching.
“No, you don’t get to do that to me. You can’t tell me you want me then toss me aside. And expect me to come back each time you change your mind,” I cried out.
“Get out of here,” I raged, pushing Todd away from me.
As I did, his phone rang. It was Carter.
Todd just stared at me with an unfair hurt flashing in his eyes.
“Go ahead and answer it,” I said with a hearty laugh. “I could never compete with your work or your lifestyle.”
He didn’t bother to even argue with me, because he knew that I was right.
Before I could open my mouth to speak again, he stood and left. I heard the hotel door slam behind me and I flinched from the finalization of the noise.
Done.
I was done. If Todd didn’t want to be with me, then so be it. I wasn’t going to waste any more time on him.
Chapter 24
Ally
I ignored all of the warning signs.
I felt so stupid. I should have known that Todd wasn’t going to want anything more than a fling with me. Here he was this billionaire playboy playing cop by night and I was just a poor waitress and college student. We came from two totally different worlds. It never would have worked out.
At least, that was what I kept telling myself anyway.
Enraged and refusing to feel any more disposable than I already did, I waited until I heard his hotel room door close the next morning. Gathering all of my belongings, I prepared to debark this hotel. I would have one of the guards drop me off at campus, and then I would rush back to my apartment.
I was tired of playing the victim. I had moved here to begin a new journey in my life. I refused to play the part that life had dealt me.
As I made my way across campus, I walked into my first class. The officer who was tasked with being my babysitter today went to go sit on a bench in the main hallway. When he was focused on his phone, I quickly slipped out of the class and ran out the side door.
I was looking back over my shoulder to ensure no one had followed me when I felt myself crash into a body.
‘I’m so sorry,” I began to say, but then realized it was Ryan I had run into.
Relaxing a bit, I regained my balance as I looked up at him.
He had a kind smile and seemed delighted to see me. His attitude took me by surprise, since the last time we spoke, it wasn’t pleasant.
“Hey, where are you going in such a rush?” Ryan asked, holding me by the shoulders.
Thankfully, he had caught me before I had stumbled back and fallen.
“I was actually trying to get away from my bodyguard,” I said, laughing as I pointed toward the building. “I really need to run by my apartment,” I added.
Nodding, Ryan seemed to understand. “Hey, I have a car. Want me to take you to your apartment?” he offered.
Relief washed over me. I had planned on walking or trying to catch a bus. Now, I didn’t need to worry about either of those things.
“Really? That would be awesome,” I exclaimed.
“Come on, I’m parked in the student lot. I think you are familiar with it,” he says, winking.
I was so grateful that he was making light of our last conversation. I was worried he would resent me or be angry, but it was actually the opposite.
Ryan was a great guy and now, I wished I hadn’t been so quick to turn him down.
I had allowed my heart to win that battle, but maybe I should have used my brain instead.
We began walking to the parking lot and mixed emotions hit me all at once. This lot reminded me of Todd. The excitement I used to feel seeing him. The giddy anticipation that would grow with each step that took me closer to seeing him. Now, I was making that journey with Ryan to get away from Todd. Irony at its best, I guessed.
When we reached the parking lot, Ryan unlocked a red sports car. Man, this was an expensive looking vehicle.
As I opened the door, I marveled at the lavish interior. Black leather seats filled the space as chrome and deep wood added to the dashboard.
“Wow, your car is great. You know, I never asked you abo
ut your life,” I said, feeling a bit guilty.
Starting the car, I noticed it was a new Mustang GT. The engine roared to life and I felt the vibrations through the seats.
Backing out of his spot, Ryan smirked. “That’s okay. I was busy getting to know you. Anyway, I work for a guy that owns his own business. I guess this is just one of the perks of the job,” he finished.
“Some perk,” I gushed.
As we began to drive, I realized I hadn’t given him the address to my apartment. “Hey, let me give you directions to my apartment,” I began.
“I don’t need directions,” Ryan said, his voice on edge.
A deep, sinking feeling began to grow and as I glanced out the car window, I realized we were heading in the opposite direction of my apartment.
“Umm, where are we going?” I asked, worry beginning to set in.
A chime rang out from Ryan’s phone and instead of answering me, he took the call.
“Hey. Yes, I have her. I will be there shortly,” he chipped out, and then hung up the call.
Now, I was panicking. My heart was pounding against my chest and my palms were sweating. What in the world was Ryan doing?
“Hey, what did you mean, you have her? Why don’t you need directions?” I rushed out.
“Shut up!” Ryan raged.
My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open. This wasn’t the Ryan that I knew. This guy was different--ominous and dark.
“Why are you doing this?” I cried out, realizing now something was terribly amiss.
Laughing, Ryan briefly looked over at me and the kindness I once found in his eyes was replaced by something more sinister. “Ally, don’t be so naive. You have to know by now who I am?” he said, speaking to me as though I were a child.
“Who are you?” I asked, bouncing from his own words.
“What, your little cop playboy didn’t fill you in? I was sure he knew that I worked for Marcus, the man who he has been trying to locate for weeks now,” Ryan rang out through the small car.
His foot pressed down harder on the accelerator and the car raced forward. Oh, no.
Marcus. Ryan worked for Marcus? Was Todd aware of this? Everything began to piece together as I sat, trapped by a monster.
“You work for Marcus. So, what? You kidnap unsuspecting college girls for Marcus to use? You befriend them and make them trust you?” I asked, knowing the answers already.
“You got it, princess,” Ryan stated. “You made it too easy. So vulnerable and desperate for a friend. But, your little boyfriend got in our way. He’s been snooping around our business and adding trouble. That’s why we had to get rid of Manny. That guy was a nark. And, you know what we do to narks, right? We kill them,” Ryan said, a strange range of happiness and anger mixing in his tone.
As he spoke, I carefully reached down into my pocket. I knew it was a dangerous move, but I had to do something. If Ryan managed to get me to where Marcus was located, I would never be seen again. Finding my phone, I pressed on the call button, praying that I was calling Todd or Brianna-- someone who could hear me and help save me.
Ryan continued to drive until we reached a small road in a more industrial area. Large warehouses lined the streets and many of them looked as though they hadn’t been operational in years.
“Where are we?” I asked, praying someone on my phone heard us.
“Don’t worry about it. We are somewhere that your cop friends won’t find you,” Ryan said, pulling the car into the gravel parking lot of a warehouse.
Around back, I could see a few semi-trucks peeking out.
“Is this where Marcus packages and ships out his drugs? These old abandoned warehouses!” I shouted.
“It’s time for you to shut up,” Ryan said, reaching over and grabbing my face.
He was being rough and his hands pinched my jaw. I let out a strangled cry as he held my face in his hands. “It’s such a shame I couldn’t have kept you for myself. But, that pretty face will surely bring in new clients,” he said.
“Fuck you,” I spat out.
It was beyond stupid, but I refused to go down without a fight. I hadn’t survived as much as I had to be taken out by the likes of this idiot.
“Big mistake,” Ryan said, right before his fist landed square in my face.
Chapter 25
Todd
My ringing phone in my pocket reminded me I was still alive.
After I had left Ally alone, I swear I felt like my entire life had ended.
My chest ached, I couldn’t stomach food, and my head pounded with an agonizing pain.
As I sat in my hotel room, listening to Jamie and Carter argue about which industrial area of town we should check out next, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket.
Knowing it could be important to the case, I pulled out my phone. Ally’s name flashed across the screen.
I went to ignore the call, but something deep inside of me told me to answer it. Honestly, I just wanted to hear her voice.
“Hello,” I answered.
There was a strange noise on the other end, almost like the sound of a car driving. But, that wouldn’t be right. Ally didn’t have a car.
“Hello,” I spoke again.
This time, Jamie and Carter looked up from their files and watched me with curiosity.
“Ally, are you there?” I asked, raising my voice.
Then, I heard it.
“Is this where Marcus packages and ships out his drugs? These old abandoned warehouses!” she shouted.
Her voice was muffled, but it was definitely Ally. But, who was she talking to? I put the phone on speaker so the guys could also hear. Something wasn’t right here and I felt like Ally was trying to tell me something.
“It’s time for you to shut up!” a voice screamed back.
It was Ryan, that little prick who had been chasing after Ally. I had had a bad feeling about him from the beginning and now my worst fears were coming true. Ryan had Ally.
“Ryan has Ally. They are going to an abandoned warehouse,” I said loudly.
Both Jamie and Carter jumped out of the chairs where they had been sitting. Jamie quickly grabbed his phone.
“Hey, I need you to locate the whereabouts of a cell phone!” Jamie yelled into the phone. “Todd, what’s Ally’s number?” he asked me.
I gave him her number and knew he was calling our CSI team to get a tracker placed on her phone.
We could locate her if the phone was still active.
Carter began yelling orders into his phone, as I kept mine glued to my ear.
“Get the team together and meet us at the hotel. We have a possible location of Marcus and we believe he has Ally,” Carter said, and he locked eyes with me.
Never in my life had I felt such terror before. Knowing that Ally was at the mercy of a disgusting criminal like Marcus sent shots of fire down my spine. I was supposed to protect her. It was my job to keep her from becoming another victim and I had failed.
“Todd, come on. We need to meet the team downstairs in five minutes,” Carter instructed.
I grabbed my bulletproof jacket and my gun and then followed behind the guys.
Turning, Jamie stopped me. “We will save her,” Jamie said, offering me the strength I needed right now.
As I watched my team member, friend, and now family member try and calm my growing nerves, I knew that he would stop at nothing until Marcus was brought down.
I had signed up to become a drug task force officer to save our city and stop criminals from harming people we cared about.
Now, I was being put to the test. It was my time to shine and I wasn’t going down without a fight.
Chapter 26
Ally
“Looks like Sleeping Beauty is finally waking up.”
Groaning, I struggled to open my eyes, but a jackhammer was beating into my head, making it nearly impossible to see.
The voice didn’t resonate with me and my body began to fill with dread.
“
Where am I?” I managed to croak out.
My eyes finally adjusted to the dimly lit space around me. The stench of mildew and sawdust made my stomach churn as I leveled my captor with a glare.
Standing before me was a man who looked to be only a few years older than me. A menacing smile trapped me as I felt something binding me to a wooden chair I found myself sitting in.
Memories flashed before me and it all began to piece together in my mind.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I will take good care of you.” The man chuckled.
“Who are you?” I asked, my bold attempt to get answers before he surely killed me.
“How rude of me. I apologize, my name is Marcus. I think you have heard about me before,” he snorted. It was clear he was getting some twisted kick out of me being taken by him.
At the mention of his name, my eyes finally shot open and I finally saw what was right in front of me. Before now, everything had been so blurry, I couldn’t make out anyone’s faces. Now, I could see clearly.
Marcus. The man who had taunted me as I worked at the bar. Who tried to shoot Todd and who had been after us ever since. Now, I was in his presence.
Taken.
That one word ignited despair inside my broken heart. Now that Marcus finally had me, I would never get the chance to tell Todd how I truly felt. That I loved him with a passion so strong, I would have done anything for him.
I wouldn’t ever get to see that twinkle in his eye when he smiled, or the sweet dimple that shined when he smiled.
The only solace I had was knowing I might be able to see my parents again soon.
I sat before him, trepidation causing my heart to beat wildly in my chest. He was waiting for me to cry, scream, kick-- something. I saw that hunger in his dark eyes. He got off on watching young girls like me squirm, but I refused to give him the show he desired.
“What? No more questions?” he yelled, taking a step closer to me.
I flinched, but barely.