I cock my head to get a view out the window. Though the glass is tinted a very dark shade, I can still manage to make out the surroundings around us. We are about to merge onto the highway, and if my calculations are correct, we are heading into the heart of the city. It's unfortunate, then, that I want to be going the other way. I wish I were either going home or heading back into the industrial part of the city where Ford Security is located. It's become my second home after all these years working there. In fact, sometimes it feels more like my home than my own actual apartment.
I glance into the passenger side mirror and try to get a good view of the man sitting in the passenger seat. Over the years I've learned that it is important to get a good look at the face of your kidnapper. If I should escape then I'm going to need to recall these men's faces with as much accuracy as possible. Unfortunately, I can't get a good look at his face. Dark shades cover his eyes and his head is cocked at a weird angle so I can't get a good look. My eyes peel to the driver, the man who identified himself as only Mitch. He has an easier face to recognize, an easier face to remember. He's middle-aged, maybe forty or maybe fifty, with deep set eyes with bags underneath and crow’s feet around his tight lips. On the occasion, for seemingly no reason at all, his lips hitch into a wild grin as if he is extremely proud of himself.
I wonder what his mother would think.
He glances upwards and I think that he catches me so I avert my eyes as quickly as I can, opting to look back out the window as we merge onto the highway. By my estimation, it's probably close to seven o'clock. The sun will set in about two hours. It's my goal to escape before the sun goes down, because there’s something incredibly unsettling about the idea of being held after dark.
As we merge onto the highway, we find ourselves on the opposite side of the sun. Shadows hang over the SUV and in the reflection of the window, I can see Zane still looking at me. And that's all the comfort I need for now, so instead of worrying about things I can't change and worrying that my life could end tonight, I decide to just stare at the scenery of the skyscrapers in the distance as we close in on them.
###
I thought about many things over the course of the last thirty minutes. I thought about trying to break out the window and screaming for help, but I quickly realized that was probably a terrible idea since there is a man behind me with a gun pointed to the back of our heads.
And as we got off the highway, I had a bout of delusional thinking where I tried to convince myself that these men were taking us to pick up a multi-million dollar lottery prize. Yeah, I know that’s stupid but like I said, I'm not a pessimist by nature. If thinking about good things, even things that are not possible; if it helps me deal with the situation I have found myself in, then I am okay with that. Because at least then I won't be driving myself insane thinking about all the different ways these people could torture us and kill us.
Now downtown, we pull into a narrow alley that feeds into the back of a skyscraper. I almost feel as if the drive down the narrow passageway is like I am walking the Green Mile. It's like I am marching to my death and I am powerless to stop it. That's a more than sobering thought.
We come to a slow stop under the shadow of the tower that seems to spiral all the way into the evening sky. It's a daunting scene ahead as I recall that I have seen this particular building before. I have passed it many times while driving around the city. However, my most recent memory of this particular place is from the newspaper. It was a little over a year ago when the owners of this building where ousted from their positions at the top of the corporate ladder. Ever since that day, this property has sat on the market without a sale. The fact that this is supposed to be an unoccupied building shakes me to my core. Once we are inside this building, it is my suspicion that we will be on our own. There will be nobody to come and save the day. The best I can hope for is that Zane has something up his sleeve before it gets to that point.
I cock my head over to him and try to see if I can guess what he is thinking. Behind those beautiful emerald eyes, I can see the wheels turning like a hamster in a cage. He swallows, his throat dry and tense. His hands fumble behind his back as he tries to break free from the rope restraints, but they are too thick and tied too well around him for him to break free on his own.
Mitch kills the ignition and a period of silence follows before he cranes his head over one shoulder and passes me a knowing wink. It would give me great pleasure to knock him right in the face, knock those smiling teeth right down his throat. But like so many other things right now, I know that’s nothing more than a fantasy.
"It looks like we have reached your final destination," he grinds through his teeth. "What this man wants with you, I don't know. I don't care.”
My lips move to speak but I remain silent. It's probably better that way because I know there's nothing I could say to him to make him let us go. I could cower or I could beg; I could try to fight him every step of the way, but with our hands bound behind our backs, we are defenseless.
"Normally, you people usually have more to say. I know it must be daunting to not know why you're here, but the least you could do is offer the slightest bit of a fight." He chews into his bottom lip seductively, a gross display of the power he holds above us. For all intents and purposes right now, he might as well be God. He lets out a meaningless sigh and nods his head at the man in the passenger seat. "You know what to do.”
The passenger doesn't hesitate popping his door open and climbing out onto the asphalt. He closes the door behind him and then immediately pulls my door open. I try to push myself away from him and towards Zane, but it's no use. The man grabs me by the arm and forcefully drags me out of the back of the SUV.
Zane squirms in his seat, trying in vain to free himself of the bonds that hold his hands behind his back. He cocks his head to the man dragging me out of the vehicle and yells, almost like there is gravel in his throat, "If you hurt her, I will kill you!"
The man doesn't seem to be fazed by him though. He wrestles me against the south side of the front door and slams the back door closed behind me. With the dark tinted windows, I can no longer see inside the vehicle. I can no longer see Zane. It's like the only thing that has made me feel even marginally safe has now been taken away from me. It's like I'm on my own now. My eyes twist to the back of the vehicle as the hatch rises and the man sitting in the trunk climbs out to join us on the asphalt. He circles around the SUV and opens Zane's door.
I wait with bated breath, half expecting Zane to finally make his move. In my head, I can see him kicking the man backwards. Perhaps it's only just another fantasy, but in my head I see that he has managed to undo the binds that hold him together. With his hands available to use, he’ll be able to subdue the men and take control of the situation.
The reality is so much different. As the car door opens, Zane willfully exits the vehicle with his hands behind his back. If he is being compliant, then I know that must be the right move, for now at least. Mitch circles around the front of the vehicle and gestures with his hand for the two men to follow.
I feel the cold metal of the barrel of a gun poking against my back. "Move," the man behind me says, "Follow the leader and you are going to be just fine. For now…" He snickers under his breath and I wish like hell that someone would just knock his teeth down his throat, preferably Zane. That would be the most satisfactory vision I could see right now.
Zane and I march forward, both following Mitch’s lead. It's not like we have a choice. We are at the mercy of the two men behind us, at the mercy of the deadly end of a gun.
Mitch pulls open a glass door and holds it open as the four of us step inside. He follows closely behind, his shadow like a dark harbinger hanging over our heads. Inside it is dark and dusty, and there are no lights on. The last remnants of the evening sun filters through the glass windows of the huge and open lobby.
Our shoes crunch against broken glass and debris, each and every step is like we are walking towards ou
r imminent death. Just up ahead is a row of elevators, five of them all in a line. Mitch reaches forward and presses the up button, causing the elevator buttons to light up in a pale yellow hue, signifying that there is electricity in the building even if all of the lights are off.
There is a loud dinging sound before the sound of grinding gears. On a small digital screen beside the elevator, in red lettering, there is a countdown of sorts starting from forty-nine and every few seconds, it drops one digit.
From Mitch’s pocket, a phone rings. It's so quiet in this abandoned tower that I can even hear his phone vibrating against his leg. He reaches into his pocket to retrieve his phone and answers it swiftly. He presses it against his ear and turns to take a few steps away from us. As my eyes follow him, I catch a glance at Zane’s hands.
He's managed to undo his restraints, the rope hanging loosely from his wrist. He passes me a knowing glance, signifying that he is about to make his move. My heart begins to race faster and my stomach drops into my guts. This is the moment I've been waiting for, but I know that there's a chance it could all go wrong and I'm not ready to face the consequences of this situation going all wrong.
I shake my head gently, trying to stave him off or something, but I know that this might be our only chance. With bated breath, I wait anxiously for what comes next. The sound of hydraulics draws my attention back to the elevator shaft as the doors swing open with a ding.
Mitch twists on his feet to face the four of us and holds up one finger, gesturing that he will only be a minute and though their leader is currently occupied, the two men still push us into the elevator. They make us turn around so that once more our backs are to them.
That's when I get really nervous.
I glance back over to Zane to see that he has somehow managed to make it look as if the binds tying his hands together are still in place. There's a brief moment of relief where I can let out a relieved sigh. Mitch cocks his head over his shoulder, smiling from ear to ear. Whatever he is so happy about cannot be good for either of us.
The doors begin to close and I jerk as a hand passes over my shoulder and waves in front of the doors to stop them from closing.
“What are you so worried about, princess?" The man behind me says darkly, almost in a heckling chuckle. "You really shouldn't be so jumpy. You're in good hands."
I swallow the words I want to say.
Mitch is busy talking on the phone, but I can't hear what he is saying. More importantly, I wish I knew who he was talking to. It would make this situation we have found ourselves in just a little bit easier if I at least had a reason as to why we were first followed and now kidnapped.
The doors try to slide closed again, and once more the man passes over my shoulder with his arm to hold the door at bay. Now, a loud and annoying ringing begins to pierce through my eardrums as the door hangs open. Mitch turns to look at us with an annoyed look on his face.
This can't be good.
Zane nudges me gently with his elbow, stealing my attention. He mouths something to me but I'm not a lip reader like some of the boys I spend most of my time with. He shakes his head very slightly, so that he doesn't draw the attention of the men standing behind us. He wets his lips and cocks his head, gesturing towards the seventy or so buttons outfitted beside the elevator doors. Each button leads to a different floor but beneath the floors are three other buttons.
"Press the close door button,” he whispers to me so low that I can barely hear him.
One of the men standing behind us grumbles under his breath and then says, "What the hell are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing," I grind out between gritted teeth and then look at the close door button. My heart just about stops.
CHAPTER TEN
ZANE
Come on, girl. I need you to be brave.
I can see her contemplating what I am asking her to do. The calculation is written all over her face. She is weighing the odds of success, even though she doesn't even know the plan. She doesn't even know the beginning of the plan or how it's supposed to end. I am asking her to blindly trust me.
She swallows a nervous lump in her throat, wets her lips, prepares herself to move even though she wants to remain frozen in place. It's safer for her that way, but we are running out of time. I nod at her and now all that’s left is me waiting for her to make her move. Mitch's attention is focused on whatever conversation he is having on his phone. It's her job to press the button and I will handle whatever happens next. I know the risks associated with the maneuvers I'm about to make, but I wouldn't do something to put her in any more jeopardy than she already is in.
She lunges forward, throwing her fist against the button. As soon as she moves, Mitch twists on his feet and stares us dead in the eyes. I can hear the two men behind us moving into action. I throw an elbow backwards, colliding with one man's chest.
He cries out in pain and hunches over. I spin around on my feet, lock one arm around his throat and pull him backwards until he stumbles to the ground.
The other man raises his gun, points it square at my head. He's prepared to take my life at all costs and I'm prepared to take his if I must. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mitch racing for the elevator but he's too late.
The doors close.
Now it's just the four of us inside this tiny claustrophobic box. Anna jumps into action on her own. She punches a finger against the top button, the button with the number seventy-four on it.
She is a smart woman.
A smart, beautiful, sexy, amazing woman. Even if she doesn't know that yet. My guess is today is going to be the day she finds out what she's really made of. There are times in all of our lives where we are tested. These are the times when we find out who we really are, and what we are capable of.
I'm looking that man dead in his eyes. He very well could be the person who does what nobody else so far has been able to do. He could be the person to put me in my casket.
The hand he's holding his gun in shakes and I get the curious feeling that he isn't as bad as he would like me to think. I'm no longer afraid of him, if I even ever was. Just when I'm about to make my move, just when I am about to take that gun out of his hands and disarm him, Anna once again surprises me.
She jumps into action again, diving sideways towards the man. She knocks the gun out of his hand and then throws the rest of her body against him so that he is thrown against the back of the elevator. He drops his fist and punches her in the gut.
She fumbles backwards, grunting in pain.
This man must have a death wish. I cut across the short distance between us and level one hand around his throat. I throw him backwards, holding him in the air with nothing more than the strength of my wrist. His fingers claw at my hands, almost digging underneath the flash of my skin, but I have no intention of letting go.
"Who the hell sent you?” I grit out under my breath, but I do not free him of my grip enough so that he can answer. He tries to choke words out of his throat but he can’t, so I finally loosen my grip, let go of his throat and drop an elbow against his chest to hold him in place. "I'm not going to ask you again!”
"I… I don't know."
"That's not good enough for me." I jab him in the stomach with a closed fist. He grunts out in pain and I'm not going to lie, I revel in being able to make him squeal. "Do you want to try that again, maybe?"
He shifts forward like he's about to do something, but I'm one step ahead of him. With the same arm holding him in place all ready, I push back harder against him so that he he’s pinned between the weight of my arm and the elevator wall.
From behind me, I can hear the dinging of the elevator as we rise floor by floor. I call out to Anna, “What floor are we on?”
She hesitates answering my inquiry for a brief second before she grinds outs, “Nineteen.”
I chuckle under my breath as I crack a wide grin at the man before me. It's not that I find anything particularly funny, but I think it's in my best interest to
make him believe that I am as crazy as Mitch, his boss. "You have about fifty floors left before I decide that you are no longer useful to me and I snap your neck like a pretzel."
He swallows a visible gulp in his throat. His eyes drop to the floor where his buddy is still lying down recovering from the rather gentle ass whipping I just gave him. I call out to Anna once more, "Why don't you do me a favor, Anna?”
“Already on it, Zane."
I glance back at Anna as she maneuvers free from her restraints and rolls the man onto his stomach. She makes quick work of tying his hands behind his back in the same way they had tied our hands earlier. I smile at her, more than proud at her quick learning. Hell, if someone had taken her out into the field before today, she would probably be able to more than defend herself. Maybe once this is all over, if she isn't too scarred, she'll begin to regularly work out in the field. Although I'm sure when this is all over, she won't ever want to do this again. Hell, she probably won't even want to work for Ford Security anymore.
And it’s not like I could blame her.
We continue rising floor-by-floor. Second by second we are climbing to the highest point of the building. I reaffirm my grip on the man in front of me and raise my arm until it is just beneath his chin. I thrust forward, cutting off his oxygen supply. He's either going to talk or he is going to be lights out.
Just then, the lights go out.
I'm not naïve enough to think it's a power failure. The power going out is purposeful, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Mitch or whomever he is working for is the person behind the outage.
The man before me cackles wildly as if I don't have the power to kill him right now. What is it about bad guys being so loyal to their wars that they are willing to die while the man at the top of the chain reaps all of the rewards?
A radio beeps from the man lying on the floor. There's a brief pause where nothing more than white noise can be heard until I hear a shuffle from behind me. Anna screams for help.
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