voice was calmer. More in control, but still holding a sharp edge of menace.
Shivers tiptoed up and down Na’arah’s spine. Why didn’t they leave? Footsteps echoed closer and the breath stilled in her lungs. Metallic pounding reverberated above her head. Her stomach lurched in protest. If they didn’t leave soon, she was going to be sick and then they would kill her too.
The familiar chime of the cash registered penetrated her petrified brain.
Robbery? That’s why they killed Auggie? A few stupid dollars?
Hysterical laughter bubbled and she bit down harder on her hand. Pain shot through her system, quieting the hysterics, reminding her she was in terrible, terrible danger.
“Where’s that girl he’s been talking to?” The calmer voice said.
Blood congealed in her veins and she stopped breathing altogether. Her stomach knotted as her fear became a living breathing entity. These men would find her and do the same thing they’d done to Auggie.
“Leave her out of this!”
Her pulse jumped. She knew that voice. Even heard it recently? But where?
“Oh yeah. So you do know her?”
Silence filled the void.
“Find out what she knows.”
Her stomach twisted while panic seized her by the throat and shook hard. They could easily find her. The town wasn’t that big.
“No! This isn’t what I agreed to.”
A sharp slap followed by a howl of pain permeated her hiding spot and sent tears rolling down her cheeks. She wouldn’t last if he decided to kill someone else.
“The rules have changed. I own you. Find her. The entire village is preparing for the Labor Day celebration. If we can’t find her before then, she’ll be around for the festivities.”
The short barking laugh chilled her to the bone, leaving her numb and lightheaded. A few moments later an eerie silence descended over the shop. A muscle in Na’arah’s leg twitched.
Were they still there?
She strained to hear. The faint rumble of traffic and the thudding of her heart filled the heavy quiet. Maybe they left. With a trembling hand, her fingers stumbled over the coarse wood, seeking the release for her prison. Soft chimes startled a gasp from her lips and every instinct screamed at her to be still. She huddled in the corner, wrapping her arms around her legs, and buried her face in her knees.
Glass crunched beneath a heavy uneven tread and the floorboards creaked a protest. She bit her lip. They were back. Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack.
Closer and closer. Each thud resonated in her bones, until it became the only sound in existence.
Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack.
She lifted her head, inhaling sharply. For a moment her senses were bathed in the subtle scent of citrus and cloves. Visions of hard muscles and an easy smile brought momentary calm. What she wouldn’t give to be in his arms right now. She swiped at the moisture dampening her cheeks. But he wouldn’t be the one to rescue her. Heck, he didn’t he believe he was the father of her child or care.
She was alone, huddled beneath an ancient counter wishing Rue, modern heartbreaker and wounded warrior, would forget their differences and rescue her. If she got out of this alive, she’d make amends. And if he still ignored her...
A soft sigh brought her back to reality. Floorboards creaked and whined at the additional weight, yet whoever was in the store gave the counter a wide berth. Maybe it was the police. Hope sprang anew and she opened her mouth to call out. A muttered curse had her clamping a hand over her mouth. Not the police.
Oh god! Think! If she was going to get out of this alive—and she wanted to live—she had to think. The idea calmed her enough to clear her muddled thoughts. Stay alive. That’s all she had to do. Stay alive to see her baby.
She lifted a hand and ran her fingertips against the rough wooden walls of her hiding spot. The tiny space left her little room to maneuver, but she wouldn’t let them find her cowering in the dark, no
Shivers tiptoed up and down Na’arah’s spine. Why didn’t they leave? Footsteps echoed closer and the breath stilled in her lungs. Metallic pounding reverberated above her head. Her stomach lurched in protest. If they didn’t leave soon, she was going to be sick and then they would kill her too.
The familiar chime of the cash registered penetrated her petrified brain.
Robbery? That’s why they killed Auggie? A few stupid dollars?
Hysterical laughter bubbled and she bit down harder on her hand. Pain shot through her system, quieting the hysterics, reminding her she was in terrible, terrible danger.
“Where’s that girl he’s been talking to?” The calmer voice said.
Blood congealed in her veins and she stopped breathing altogether. Her stomach knotted as her fear became a living breathing entity. These men would find her and do the same thing they’d done to Auggie.
“Leave her out of this!”
Her pulse jumped. She knew that voice. Even heard it recently? But where?
“Oh yeah. So you do know her?”
Silence filled the void.
“Find out what she knows.”
Her stomach twisted while panic seized her by the throat and shook hard. They could easily find her. The town wasn’t that big.
“No! This isn’t what I agreed to.”
A sharp slap followed by a howl of pain permeated her hiding spot and sent tears rolling down her cheeks. She wouldn’t last if he decided to kill someone else.
“The rules have changed. I own you. Find her. The entire village is preparing for the Labor Day celebration. If we can’t find her before then, she’ll be around for the festivities.”
The short barking laugh chilled her to the bone, leaving her numb and lightheaded. A few moments later an eerie silence descended over the shop. A muscle in Na’arah’s leg twitched.
Were they still there?
She strained to hear. The faint rumble of traffic and the thudding of her heart filled the heavy quiet. Maybe they left. With a trembling hand, her fingers stumbled over the coarse wood, seeking the release for her prison. Soft chimes startled a gasp from her lips and every instinct screamed at her to be still. She huddled in the corner, wrapping her arms around her legs, and buried her face in her knees.
Glass crunched beneath a heavy uneven tread and the floorboards creaked a protest. She bit her lip. They were back. Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack.
Closer and closer. Each thud resonated in her bones, until it became the only sound in existence.
Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack. Thump-thwack.
She lifted her head, inhaling sharply. For a moment her senses were bathed in the subtle scent of citrus and cloves. Visions of hard muscles and an easy smile brought momentary calm. What she wouldn’t give to be in his arms right now. She swiped at the moisture dampening her cheeks. But he wouldn’t be the one to rescue her. Heck, he didn’t he believe he was the father of her child or care.
She was alone, huddled beneath an ancient counter wishing Rue, modern heartbreaker and wounded warrior, would forget their differences and rescue her. If she got out of this alive, she’d make amends. And if he still ignored her...
A soft sigh brought her back to reality. Floorboards creaked and whined at the additional weight, yet whoever was in the store gave the counter a wide berth. Maybe it was the police. Hope sprang anew and she opened her mouth to call out. A muttered curse had her clamping a hand over her mouth. Not the police.
Oh god! Think! If she was going to get out of this alive—and she wanted to live—she had to think. The idea calmed her enough to clear her muddled thoughts. Stay alive. That’s all she had to do. Stay alive to see her baby.
She lifted a hand and ran her fingertips against the rough wooden walls of her hiding spot. The tiny space left her little room to maneuver, but she wouldn’t let them find her cowering in the dark, no
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