by Amelia Shea
She looked at the fence wide-eyed. “Why can’t we just leave through the opening?”
“Because if someone is watching, they expect us to come out that way. Not gonna be sabotaged. Now, c’mon.”
He reached for her hips. She grasped his hands looking over her shoulder at the fence. “Um…I don’t know,” she stuttered. She jerked her head back, fear casting over her face.
“It’s really simple. I lift you up, you grab onto the top rail, swing your leg over, and climb down the other side.”
“What if I fall?”
Bogs eyes darkened. “Well, then you fall. Most likely end up with a bruise on your ass. Considering your other option is a bullet to the brain, I’d say ya give the fence a shot.”
She drew in a breath, nodding vigorously, her eyebrows reaching her hairline. “Yeah, I’ll go over the fence.”
Bogs smirked while he lifted her. “Smart choice, pretty girl.” Her body trembled in his hold. He kept her steady without much effort. She wavered, grasping the top. He hoisted her higher as she swung one leg over and then the other. She eased onto her feet and looked down the dark street.
“How are you gonna get over?” she asked.
Bogs almost laughed. He stepped back a few feet and ran toward the fence jumping up to grasp the top, and pulled himself up and over effortlessly.
“Wow,” she gasped.
He smiled down at her. This was a good way to thank him. Impressing her was doing a number on his ego.
“I impress ya, pretty girl?” He was teasing her and didn’t expect a response, which made her head nod all the sweeter. “Let’s go.” This time she reached out and took his hand without any prompting.
Now it was time to sort this shit out.
Chapter Five
Silence.
From the second Bogs opened the door to the black SUV and ushered her into the backseat, there was nothing but quiet. Not one word. He had barely closed the door when the car took off.
It gave her the time to think, which may not have been the best thing. Her mind was going in a hundred different directions of worry, panic, and fear. How she hadn’t had a panic attack or at least puked was beyond her. She kept her head trained forward peering out the windshield. There was a backpack on the seat behind the driver, leaving the middle section her only option when she got into the truck.
Bogs sat next to her. Close. Their outer thighs pressed together. The minimal contact was the only thing that saved her from completely freaking out. She may not know him or even trust him, but the way he calmed her in the park said something about him. He wasn’t going to hurt her. At least that was what she was banking on.
They got on the highway, and she silently prayed they were heading back to drop her off. Hopefully, Taylor had made it out of there and didn’t go back to her apartment. It would be the first place Dante would look. Kenzie needed to talk to her, set up a place they could meet. They were done with these dumbass schemes. The next call she’d make after Taylor would be to Trent. She would work something out with him.
She angled her hips up and reached for her phone in her back pocket. Bogs turned his head, and she was aware he was watching her. She patted her empty pocket. She always kept it on her left side. She shifted her hand across her butt. Empty. Her shoulders sagged against the back of the seat, and she looked over at Bogs.
“I lost my phone.” It wasn’t a whisper, but she kept her voice low.
“That sucks.”
It did suck. He didn’t seem too concerned. She licked her lips and watched his eyes immediately draw down to her mouth.
“Can I use yours?”
He cocked an eyebrow, but she had the impression he knew why she wanted it.
“I wanna call Taylor, make sure she’s okay.”
He smiled and winked at her. Even in a fucked-up situation, where she was running for her life with God knew who chasing after her, his smile made her heart race a little. She wasn’t usually the type to chase a guy, but in another situation, she would definitely pursue Bogs.
“No.”
She blinked and swiveled in the seat.
“Why not?”
The loud thud from the front seat had her jerking her head to the driver. His hand slammed down on the dashboard. With the snapping sound it made, she wouldn’t be surprised if he cracked it. She met his stare in the rearview mirror. An angry, dark glare trained directly on her.
“Shut the fuck up!” It wasn’t a shout or a scream. It was a threat. She clamped her lips together, slowly sitting back against the seat, and looked down at her knees. She gripped her caps and hissed in pain. With all her spike of adrenaline gone, the throbbing pain from her fall in the club came back with vengeance. She pressed her lips together. The last thing she wanted was to piss off T more.
“You all right?” Bogs asked, but she didn’t bother looking at him. She nodded and focused on wishing away the aching pain. She wouldn’t be surprised if they were bruised for weeks. His hand came in sight, and he rubbed her knee softly. It was meant to be soft, but the friction of her jeans against her sensitive skin made it feel like a vice grip.
She yelped, pulling his hand away but not releasing it. Tears welled in her eyes. How had she not felt the pain before when she was running? From what she could see in the dark cab of the truck, there wasn’t any blood seeping through her pants, but it felt raw.
“What happened?” Bogs asked.
“She fell.” The voice from the passenger seat in the front was angry. Stone. She hadn’t thought too much about who was sitting up front in the SUV. She felt somewhat safe with Bogs. It hadn’t occurred to her she’d come face to face with Stone.
“When?”
Stone turned around and glared at her. His brows strained together, the lines between them deeply embedded. He was furious and looked like he wanted to strangle her. She couldn’t blame him. She probably wasn’t the only one in pain in the truck.
Stone gritted his teeth. “Right before she kicked me in the nuts.”
The truck was silent, and he turned back around. Bogs’ body jolted and shook. She looked over. His elbow rested on the door with his hand covering his mouth. Even through the darkness, she could see his face. His lips were pressed together but not in anger. He was trying not to laugh. He thought this was funny?
His gaze shifted to her, and something set him off. He burst out laughing. Not a snicker or a chuckle. It was a complete hearty, loud laugh that echoed through the truck. The last thing she should have done was smile, but she couldn’t help it, his laugh was contagious.
Movement from the front caught her attention, and her smile immediately faltered. Stone was staring back at her. A wave of fear trickled up her spine. She tightened her grip on Bogs. It was ridiculous to think he would do anything to save her from the man who looked like he wanted to pay her back by slamming her face into a brick wall.
“Relax, bro, I’m sure it all works fine. No permanent damage, just put you outta commission for a day or two.” He chuckled. “When did you get them back anyway? Thought Sadie kept your balls on a tight leash.”
Bogs’ teasing was playful. There was no doubt these men were close.
“Fuck you, asshole.” His anger didn’t simmer. Bogs was playing, but this guy was not. She took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. I was scared and just reacted.”
Her apology did nothing to calm the situation. If anything, he appeared more incensed.
“I was trying to fucking help you. Get you the fuck out of there.”
Kenzie shrugged innocently. “I didn’t know, I’m sorry.” It was the truth.
“Fucking idiot.” His words were nasty. They were demeaning, and her first instinct was to tell him to fuck off, but she didn’t. She clamped her mouth shut and internally chewed him out. Screw you, jerk, I didn’t know you were trying to help. You just came at me. What do you expect, asshole? I hope your balls are bruised for a week.
“Back off, Stone. She said she was sorry,
don’t be a dick.” All the playfulness was gone from Bogs’ tone.. She gave Bogs’ profile a side glance. His brows furrowed, and his jaw was clenched.
Stone’s face hardened and darkened a shade. “Don’t be a dick? You take a foot to the fucking balls and then you can talk shit, asshole. She fucking dropped me to the ground.”
“Are you shitting me?” Bogs turned to Kenzie. “You dropped Stone?” He laughed again, this time she refrained from joining him. “Need to put that shit on your resume, babe.” He winked. “It doesn’t happen often.”
“Bogs, I’m seconds from beating the piss out of you.”
“Is that even possible? Man, you need to be icing your balls, not trying to fight me.”
“Kicking your ass isn’t fighting.”
“Can you even fight with a faulty set?”
The car lunged forward and swerved to the right, sending her flying across his lap. The car came to an abrupt stop, and she fell against Bogs’ chest. His arms covered her protectively.
The driver, T, turned around and pointed at them. “Shut the fuck up, all of you! It’s like fucking dealing with asshole kids. Shut the fuck up! One more word from any of you fuckers and I’m going to beat the piss out of each one of you.” He glared at Kenzie and she sank deeper in Bogs’ chest. “And I’m gonna start with you.”
She could feel her face pale. His eyes stayed locked on her. She nodded, acknowledging his threat. She swallowed, and her body began to shake. It was uncontrollable, like being in a snowstorm with just a bikini. The best thing to do would be to look away but she couldn’t. Bogs’ arm wrapped around her tightly pulling her deeper into his chest as his hands caressed her back and arm. She could feel his breath in her hair. She was still shaking but not as harshly.
T’s eyes darted over her head then flicked back to her. Something had changed, a barely noticeable softening to his features. T retreated back into his seat and turned around.
He got what he wanted. No one spoken another word for the next twenty minutes. She remained snuggled against Bogs. The one time she shifted, thinking it was absurd to be hanging over this man, he tugged her closer, not letting go.
There was a deep sense of dread as they passed her exit on the highway. She knew it was a long shot they’d take her home and be done. Two exits later, they pulled off. She knew the area, but not well. Running was an option, but she probably wouldn’t get too far. Where would she go anyway? They knew where she lived. She sighed, falling deeper into Bogs’ chest. His hand circled over her arm sending a shiver rippling through her body.
This guy. Why couldn’t she have met him on the street, in the grocery store? Hell, she would have paid for an online dating service, if it meant being matched with Bogs. Her luck with men sucked. They should be on a date, not in the back of some truck where she’d basically been taken hostage.
They made a right at the side street and pulled up in the back lot of a small building. The silence remained as they got out. She followed Bogs closely, the other two behind her. Once he unlocked the door, he gestured her in and flicked on the lights. They were in the hallway of what looked like an office.
“It’s our office,” he said, and she immediately looked up. She returned his smile and followed him in through the second door on the right.
“Have a seat. You want something to drink? Water?”
She shook her head and sat in the chair at an old conference table. The room consisted of furniture and a large filing cabinet. The bleak walls felt sterile and cold. She hugged her arms around her stomach.
“Hang tight for a minute.” He walked out through the door. Voices murmured in the hall, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying.
She rested her arms on the table in front of her and dropped her face into the curve of her arm. This night was so fucked up. She knew the plan wouldn’t work. Her frustration with Taylor mounted, only to be countered by her concern. Where the hell was she? What if she hadn’t made it out? She racked her brain trying to remember the last second she saw her best friend. She ran to the door, looked back, and saw the wave of her black hair only a few feet behind her once they were separated. Luckily it was opening as she darted out knocking into a man and running past the bouncer.
Had Taylor made it past him, too? The gnawing ache in her chest was not a good sign.
“Where is she?” A smooth, calm voice jolted her upward and back into her chair. She hadn’t even heard them come back into the room.
Her fingers dug into the arms of the chair. Don’t panic! She swallowed the knot in her throat as she eyed the men in front of her. Five? Now there are five? Bogs, T, and Stone stood next to one another close to the wall. Her eyes darted to the massive figure currently scowling at her near the door. And I thought T was scary? Holy shit!
“Kenzie?”
She jerked her head to the man closest to the table. He stood with his arms folded. He was tall, definitely over six foot. His dark blond hair hung to his shoulders. His light eyes were calm and soothing. His voice may have been slightly demanding, but his face had an ease that didn’t fit the situation. She scanned the faces of all the men, lingering longer on Bogs.
He had changed. Gone was the easy protector and in its place was a similar glare directed at her. It was a reminder that she was on her own. None of these men were on her side. She knew it was irrational, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit betrayed by Bogs. The way he spoke to her, held her in the truck, calmed her in the park. Where was that guy?
If she was going to get out of this and help Taylor, she was going to give them the truth. Lying really wasn’t a plausible option since she sucked at it. She drew in a breath and sighed.
“I don’t know.”
His securitizing stare had her fidgeting in her seat. “Where would she go?”
“My apartment, maybe?”
He shook his head slowly. “No, checked, she’s not there.”
Kenzie shrugged. Taylor wasn’t from Houston. As far as Kenzie knew, she didn’t know anyone else in town besides the guy from the fight. “I don’t know.”
“Would she go back home?”
To her parents’ house, the answer would be a definite no, but her old place she might. She wasn’t sure if that’s what he meant. She lifted one shoulder. “I really don’t know.”
“Well, what the fuck do you know?” She winced at the verbal attack. She didn’t bother looking over. She knew the voice.
“T.” The blond man she deemed in charge held out his hand in a blocking motion. It was a warning. She had no doubt, if given the chance, T would have no problem using force to get answers. Answers she didn’t have. Her hands trembled in her lap.
“Fuck her, Trent. She knows, she’s just not telling us.”
She jerked her head so fast, her neck cracked and a shot of pain darted to her shoulder. This was Trent?
“You’re Trent?”
“Yes.”
“The bond guy?”
The corner of his mouth curled. It wasn’t a complete smile, but it was close. This was the asshole Taylor refused to talk to. Taylor was right. These guys did work with Trent, and they were all looking for her.
“This is my partner, Declan.” He hitched his thumb over his shoulder to the dark-haired man who continued to glare at her. “And you know, T, Stone, and of course, Bogs.” There was a change in his voice, almost amusement when he said Bogs’ name.
“Now that all the introductions are done, can we fucking get on with this? Sooner we get this bitch out of my office the happier I’ll be.” T’s venomous tone had her sinking into her seat and gritting her teeth. It was times like this she wished she had Taylor’s backbone. If he dared to talk to her like that, he’d regret it. But she wasn’t Taylor.
Trent stepped forward pulling out his seat and sitting across from her. He gave her a half smile. “Do you have any idea where she might have gone? Any place she would go to lay low, or maybe another friend she’d stay with?”
She opened her mouth pre
pared to say she didn’t know but clamped her lips closed. That answer would only continue to piss everyone off and not get her any closer to finding Taylor.
“Can I call her?”
Trent waited before answering. His eyes searched her face.
“Yeah, try giving her a call.”
“I lost my phone.” She barely finished the sentence when Bogs stepped forward reaching behind him. When his hand came into sight, he was holding her phone. She looked up at him.
“You took my phone?”
He ignored her question, placing the phone on the table and turning his back to her. The wave of betrayal grew stronger.
Trent pushed the phone in front of her, and she grabbed it quickly. She pulled up her contacts and was scrolling through when Trent spoke again. “Need you to put it on speaker.” He sat back in his seat weaving his fingers together. “And no mention that we’re listening.”
What? They wanted her to call Taylor and give up her location so they could trap her? Her face heated and her pulse quickened. Did they really think she was so scared she’d betray her best friend? She scanned their faces showing no emotion. That’s exactly what they thought. Her fear may be on overdrive, but nothing would falter her loyalty. She could refuse to call but then she herself wouldn’t know if Taylor was okay. She needed to make the call, hear Taylor’s voice, and know she was fine. She bit her bottom lip as the plan played out in her head.
She hit the call button then speaker and waited. The phone rang twice when relief washed over her.
“Thank fuck!”
“You’re alive. Good to know.”
Taylor giggled. “Yeah, but just barely.” She paused. “Kenz, I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I got you messed up with this.”
She looked up to Trent who nodded. He was encouraging her to keep the conversation going.
“Hey, forget about it. The important thing is that we’re both still breathing.”
She snorted. “And not in jail. So, listen, I’m…” Kenzie coughed loudly and interrupted Taylor.
“Listen, Tay. We are in a lot of trouble. I think it’s time we reach out to Trent and see if he can help us out.”