by J. S. Cooper
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered softly. “We’re in the same position here. We need to support each other.” His tone had changed, and I felt my body relax slightly. His tone was soothing, as opposed to sinister. I didn’t feel like this man was going to harm me. At least not now.
“What’s your name?” I whispered against the man’s shoulder. “I feel like we should at least know each other’s names, now that we’re being intimate.” I attempted a joke and groaned inwardly as I heard how stupid I sounded.
“Intimate?” He sounded surprised.
“Intimate doesn’t mean sex, you know.” I was irritated again. “We are crowded together in a small space. Your arms are around me. My body is pressed against yours. We’re being intimate.” I bit my lower lip after I spoke. Shut up, Bianca.
“Trust me. I know.” He groaned and shifted, and I could feel something hard pressing against my stomach. Oh boy.
I stilled as I realized what it was. I swallowed quickly as my body reacted swiftly, my skin heating up and my stomach churning. Part of me was delighted that he was excited by me. The other part was disgusted and made me want to slap myself and him. Rationally, I knew that his member was reacting to our being in such close quarters in the only way it knew how.
“Jakob,” he said gruffly, and I turned my face up to his.
“What?” I whispered, then pulled back quickly as my lips lightly grazed his. “I didn’t realize we were so close.” My heart was beating fast now, and my tongue darted out and gently licked my lips.
“My name is Jakob,” he whispered again, and I could hear a hint of humor in his tone.
“I’m Bianca.”
“Nice to meet you, Bianca. It’s a pity it had to be in such circumstances.” He tried to shift again, and in doing so, my head slipped from his arm, bumping into the floor.
“Ow!” I cried out loudly and instinctively.
“Shh.” His hand flew to my mouth, but it was too late. The vehicle stopped abruptly, and I heard doors slamming. He kept his fingers pressed against my lips, and his skin felt slightly rough against my lips. My body stilled as I lay there, and I resisted the urge to reach out and bite his fingers.
The waiting was the hardest part. It felt like hours went by as we lay there in the silence, only the sounds of our breathing letting us know we were both still alive. Then I heard the sound of footsteps and wished that I were still in that unknown void. My body tensed up and then started shaking in fear.
“It’s okay, Bianca. It’s okay.” Jakob’s voice sounded worried, and in that moment I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. I found myself wanting to trust him, even though my brain was screaming at me to trust no one.
There was a loud banging above us, and I looked upward, wanting to see what was going to happen next, even if that meant coming face-to-face with death. I swallowed hard with fear but kept my eyes peeled upward.
“So you’re awake?” a deep, menacing voice yelled at us as the trunk opened. A stocky man stood there, his deep blue eyes cold as they stared directly into mine. He had on a ski mask, and all I could think was that his lips looked odd.
I’d always thought that lips were the most sensuous and sexy part of the face, but now I realized that they were sexy only when seen with other parts. Lips by themselves were not sexy at all. I started giggling hysterically as I stared at his mouth.
“What the fuck?” The man glared at me as if I were crazy. “You think that’s funny?”
“No . . .” I swallowed again, wanting to throw up. My hand moved to my face to stifle my laughter as fear overtook me. It was then that I felt Jakob move behind me.
“Let us out.” His voice was demanding as he tried to get out of the trunk.
“Stay still.” The man pushed Jakob back into the trunk with such force that I heard him hit the back of the trunk hard. His hand fell down on my hip as he fell back, and I jumped slightly.
“Sorry,” he whispered as he fell back.
I nodded my understanding. I was too scared to talk or even turn to see if he was okay.
“Let us out,” Jakob demanded again, this time less forcefully.
“We sure will.” The man grimaced. “Hey, Billy. Hurry up.”
“I’m coming!” another voice called back to him. “I’m just getting the shots ready.”
“What shots?” I screeched, and attempted to straighten my legs.
“Don’t move, lady.” The man pulled out a gun and pointed it at me. “Make one more move, and you’re dead.”
Jakob spoke up. “Is that really necessary?”
“Is that necessary?” the man echoed mockingly, then laughed evilly. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re enjoying this too much,” Jakob continued, his voice harsh. “Have some humanity. You’ve got a scared woman in front of you.”
“Be quiet.” The man stood there and stared at us for a second before continuing. “When my boss gave me this job, I was delighted. I don’t get enough fun in my life.”
“You’re sick.” Jakob’s arms circled my waist to calm me as we lay there. “You’re very sick.”
“I listen to my boss’s orders. If anyone’s sick, it’s him.” The man shrugged.
I stared at his fingers on the gun. They were short and grubby, and his nails were full of dark grease. I wondered if I should attempt to knock the gun out of his grasp, but I knew it was unlikely that I’d succeed.
“Okay, where are they?” The other man approached the man with the gun. He looked young—younger than I imagined. And he didn’t have on a mask.
I tried to take a mental photograph of his young, handsome face. He had light brown hair and brown eyes. He was dressed nicely in khaki pants and a white shirt. He looked to be the complete antithesis to the scruffy man in front of us.
“Billy, go put your mask on!” the first guy shouted.
“Oh, yeah.” The other guy looked at me for a second, and I could see fear and concern in his eyes. I had a feeling he knew now that I’d be able to identify him if I ever got the chance.
“What an idiot,” Jakob whispered in my ear, and I nodded in agreement. “Should we try to make a run for it?” His fingers gripped my waist tightly.
His body tensed behind mine, and I knew that he was just as anxious as I was. For some reason, it made me feel more connected to him. He was no longer just the strange man I’d been sharing the back of a car trunk with. He was no longer someone I believed to be involved in the kidnapping. I could tell from the fear in his voice and the slight trembling of his muscular body that this man, this Jakob, was a fellow kidnapping victim. He was someone like me, who was worried for his life. I could hear it in his voice. He was anxious but also angry.
I shook my head slightly, still unable to look at him. My face just wouldn’t turn, even though I was really curious to see what he looked like. “I don’t think we should risk it,” I mumbled under my breath. I was pretty sure he couldn’t hear me, but the talk was for me as much as it was for him.
“What did you say?” The guy in front of me took a step toward me, and pushed the gun closer to my face. My heart stopped. This was it, then. I was going to die.
I shook my head quickly and furiously. “Nothing.” I squeaked out. “I didn’t say anything.”
“That’s what I thought,” he growled, and reached in and grabbed my arm. “Get out.” He pulled me out of the car, and I stumbled to the ground, feeling disoriented.
I thought about making a run for it, but then I remembered Jakob. I didn’t want to leave him by himself. I had to make sure that he was all right as well. I stood there and peered into the trunk. My breath caught as I finally got a glimpse of Jakob in proper light. I swallowed hard and tried not to stare. “You.” I gasped as I stared at him. It was the man who had been sitting at my table at the coffee shop.
He was incredibly handsome. He had a very low crop of dark brown hair, big, serious blue eyes, and a sexy scrawl of stubble around his chin and jawbone. H
e looked back at me, and I saw his eyes narrow as he took in my appearance. I wanted to smoothe my hair and wipe the grime from my cheeks. I wished I had some lipstick. I felt like an idiot for worrying about what I looked like when I was in such a scary situation. A small, hysterical laugh wanted to burst out of me again, but this time I was able to control it. I wanted to ask him if he recognized me, but I knew this was not the right time.
“Get out.” The man grabbed Jakob and pulled him out. “And don’t try no funny business, or I’ll shoot you.” He pushed Jakob next to me and pointed the gun at both of us. “Hurry up, Billy!” he shouted to his cohort, sounding stressed.
I looked around me then. I had no idea where we were, but I knew we were no longer in New York. At least, not in the city. We appeared to be in an old empty warehouse of some sort.
I looked to my right and tried not to gaze at Jakob. He was taller than he’d seemed in the car. And more muscular. His body looked very fit and very strong. Part of me thought he’d be able to take out the guy in front of us easily, but then I remembered the gun. The gun changed the whole equation.
“What you looking for, lady?” the man hissed.
“Nothing,” I whispered as I stared into his menacing eyes.
“Good.” He seemed to sigh in relief when Billy walked back to us with his mask on. He had rope in his hands—and two needles. I grabbed Jakob’s arm as they approached. I was starting to feel light-headed.
“What do you want?” Jakob’s voice was commanding, and he looked down at me briefly as I held on to him. “If it’s money you’re after, I can—”
“Shut up.” The man pointed the gun at him, and I screamed. The man froze for a second and gave me another look. “Be quiet.”
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Billy, tie them up.” Billy paused for a second, and the other man pushed him toward us. “Tie them up.”
“How?” Billy asked, and I wondered if he was new to the kidnapping business.
“With the rope.” The other guy sounded really annoyed.
“But facing each other or away from each other?” Billy muttered.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
“Imbeciles,” Jakob muttered, and I looked up at him. I could see anger in his eyes.
“Don’t make a run for it,” I whispered. “I don’t want them to shoot you.”
He looked down at me and there was a glint of surprise in his expression.
“Are you talking again, bitch?” The guy pointed the gun at me, and I shuddered.
“Hey, watch your mouth!” Jakob shouted, and I saw the man flinch.
“Please don’t shoot him,” I pleaded. “I’ll be quiet.”
“Put your backs to each other,” the guy commanded, and then nodded at Billy. “Tie them up like this. Wrap the rope around their stomachs and then tie up their wrists.”
“I won’t run.” I looked at him. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Shut up!” he shouted. “Inject them, Billy.”
“Inject us with what?” My eyes widened, and before I knew what was happening, I felt a needle in my arm. My eyes immediately felt drowsy, and I felt myself falling into oblivion. I could hear Jakob shouting at them as everything went black, but I passed out before I could comprehend what he’d said.
three
“Wake up.”
A voice in my dreams was getting louder and louder. I groaned as I tried to block it out. My head was aching, and I didn’t want to open my eyes. My whole body felt stiff, and all I wanted to do was sleep off all the pains in my body.
“Wake up, Bianca.” The voice was more insistent this time, and I froze as I realized that I wasn’t dreaming.
My eyes flew open, and my body stilled as I stared at a large expanse of turquoise water in front of me. Then I remembered what had happened before I’d blacked out.
“Jakob?” I whispered hurriedly, feeling panicked.
“That’s me,” he answered me quickly, and I made a face at the water at his slightly snide tone. All my worries and concerns for him quickly fled.
“What’s your problem?” I asked him softly, feeling out of it and sweaty.
“Besides from being kidnapped and tied up?” he responded back to me snappily, and I wondered what had happened to the caring man in the back of the car.
“Hey, don’t take it out on me.” I knew he could hear the confusion in my voice. “I didn’t kidnap you.”
“I know.” His voice was less stressed sounding. “Sorry, I’m just being irritable.”
“I understand.” I nodded slightly. And I did. This situation would infuriate anyone. “It’s so hot,” I moaned as I felt the hot sun beating down on me. Sweat was trickling down my face and making me even more uncomfortable. “I’m sure that’s not helping to make you feel better.”
“We’re not in New York anymore.”
“You don’t say.” I shifted and fell back against him slightly. The ropes were chafing my wrists, and I was starting to feel claustrophobic, tied to him. I blinked a couple of times, trying to adjust my eyes to the bright sunlight and trying to forget that we were constrained so close together. “Where do you think we are?”
“No idea.”
“Do you remember me?” I asked inquisitively.
“Remember you?” He sounded confused.
“From the coffee shop?” I continued. “We were sitting at the same table and I dropped my bag.” I wanted to tell him that I’d been a bitch only because I’d been in the middle of a deadline, but kept my mouth shut.
“Oh, yeah. You’re the girl that thought someone was watching you.” He spoke slowly. “I guess you were right.”
“I guess so.” I sighed. “Though, that wouldn’t explain why you are here as well.”
“A man came up to me when you left the coffee shop.” His voice was stiff. “He asked me what we’d been talking about and how I knew you.”
“He did?” I gasped.
“I told him to mind his own business.” He sounded irritated. “Perhaps that wasn’t the smartest thing to do. I should have told him I had no idea who you were. Maybe I’d be at work now instead of tied up with you.”
“I’d much rather be in my small apartment with the window fan that barely works than tied up here with you,” I retorted, feeling irrationally hurt by his words.
“Aren’t you a pleasant one to be around.” Jakob’s tone was smooth behind me, and I was irritated that I had allowed him to make me lose my cool already.
“I’m just saying how I feel,” I retorted again, and we were both silent. I wasn’t sure what it was about him, but he rattled me. Especially now that I had seen him properly. I swallowed hard as I thought about the salty taste of his skin against my tongue. He’d tasted good, but he looked even better. His eyes had been so vividly blue and discerning. We’d made eye contact for only a few seconds, but I’d felt like he was looking into my soul. Something about him had me off-kilter. I knew it was because I was attracted to him, but I wanted to ignore the fact that my body already had designs on him.
“I know.” His back stiffened against mine. “Let’s try not to take this out on each other. We’re going to have to work together to get out of this mess.”
“How long do you think we’ve been here?” I felt a drop of sweat running down my face, tickling my cheek, and I tried to ignore it.
“I’m not sure.” He sighed. “I just woke up a few minutes ago myself.”
“I can’t believe they injected us.” My voice rose in panic. “I didn’t expect this.” I looked around at the desolate beach and shuddered. I hadn’t expected this at all.
“I didn’t have any expectations when I realized I’d been kidnapped.” His voice was dry.
“What do you think they’re going to do to us?” I whispered. “Do you think those two men are still here?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed again. “I don’t remember much after they injected us.”
“What are we going to do?”
I deliberately kept my tone calm. “And where do you think we are?”
“I have no idea where we are,” he replied. “I smell the ocean though. We have sand beneath us and I’m hearing the sound of trees in the wind.”
“Yeah, I can see the ocean.” I shook my head in an attempt to shake off the drops from my face. “I don’t know what ocean though.” I sighed as I stared at the large expanse of water in front of me. “Or what beach we’re on. For some reason I don’t think we’re in South Beach.” I attempted a joke and heard Jakob chuckle.
“I guess all the spring-breakers decided to leave when they saw us,” he responded, and I smiled. At least he had a sense of humor. That was something. I shifted on the ground and tried to move forward, but I didn’t get far. I’d almost forgotten that we were still tied together.
“The sand feels harder than I remember it feeling when I’ve gone sunbathing.” I spoke again as I wiggled my ass, trying to get more comfortable.
“Yeah, this isn’t the most comfortable position I’ve ever been in.” He sighed. “Maybe we should try to stand up and figure out a way to get out of these ropes.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” I agreed and then froze. “Hold on.” I gasped as I saw something white out of the corner of my eye. “I think someone left us a note.” I moved my head as far right as I could, but I still couldn’t read it. There was a small white shell holding the piece of paper down, and it was obstructing my view of the words.
“What does it say?”
“We need to shift slightly so I can read it.” I tried to shuffle in the sand, but my body and his together were too heavy for me move. “Please try to move with me.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. One, two, three—move right!” I shouted out, and we scooted our butts to the right about an inch, bumping back against each other as we moved. I twisted my head as far right as I could and still couldn’t read it. “One more time!” I called out again, and we moved together in sync.