Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I don’t know if—” My phone vibrates. I swap my drink to the other hand and pull it out of my jacket.
Unlisted number. I reject the call.
Erika has fallen back to my side. “Friends tell friends about their biker boyfriends.”
“I wish I had more to say. One of the other guys, not Sinner, was my brother’s best friend when I was little. We hadn’t seen each other for like ten years before he tracked me down at the club.” I hook my arm through hers and we turn away from the path along the water, veering into a park that loops back towards where we started.
“I’m really glad they were there, but it was really scary when I saw you with them and it looked like you were getting wobbly. If you’d been just a little more out of it, I was ready to cause a scene.”
My phone vibrates again. “Sorry.” It’s a text, with a picture of me and Erika from a couple minutes ago. I show her the screen. “I hope the rest of the pictures are better quality. This looks like it’s just from someone’s phone.”
“Hmmm, yeah. I wonder why they’re just messaging you and not me.”
“Dunno.” In the distance, Sinner is stretched out on the grass with his arm under his head. Several groups of women are standing suspiciously close, glancing his way. It makes me want to go over and kiss him again.
Erika notices. “So you and Sinner?”
I start to shake my head, then stop a little uncertainly. I mean, no, but… I don’t even know. “It’s a fun idea, but there’s so much going on right now. It’s not a good time to start something, and he’s…”
“Hot as fuck.” Her tone is dry, but doesn’t feel judgmental. I think I’m going to like having her as a friend.
“I mean yeah, but he’s a biker biker. Right now I could just say it’s promo for the show, but if anyone pays even a little attention they’ll notice he’s the real thing.” I throw him another glance. “But enough about me. How’s Toby?”
“He’s good. It’s fine. We’re just friends.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” My stupid phone starts buzzing again. “Oh come on!”
Cooperate and nobody gets hurt.
Wait. What? “Erika, I think something’s wrong. Like really wrong.” I look around, but everything seems normal.
“What do you mean?”
Before I have time to call for help, a black van veers right up onto the lawn, sending people scattering. There are a few screams before it comes to a stop and the doors fly open. We both jump back instinctively. Two men in dark clothes with their faces covered jump out, coming right for us.
“Get her!” one of them yells.
I push Erika out of the way. “Run!”
Without thinking, I throw myself into their way so she has more time to get away. She’s the famous one, so they’re coming for her, right? One of them grabs me by the arm and slaps a piece of tape over my mouth. My nostrils flare as I try to draw breath. I don’t even get a chance to try to free myself before he tosses a sack over my head and pulls it tight around my neck with a cord.
He’s strong. I struggle for all I’m worth, but once he yanks me off balance it’s easy for him to drag me towards the van while I’m just doing my best to drag my feet and buy time.
I scream from behind the tape until I run out of air, kicking, squirming and trying to get loose. My heel connects with his shin. He doesn’t drop me, but he swears and his grip slips. It gives me just a little bit of time to push away. I almost fall, but stumble myself into a run. I frantically dig at the cord around my neck, hoping I’m headed towards help and not straight to the van or into the river.
Erika screams, and I hear an angry male grunt. I hope she’s giving them hell, but I’d rather she get away.
“Fucking bitch!” There’s a scream and a splash off to my left.
I dash the other way, but an arm slams into my chest, nearly knocking the air out of my lungs. My knees slam into the paving bricks, sending sparks of pain radiating up my thighs. I only just catch myself on my hands, determined to not let them get me into the van.
“Hey, let her go!” a guy shouts. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Mind your own fucking business! Get her in the back.”
I’m yanked off the ground, carried bodily and thrown. The metallic clunk of my landing echoes around me. The van. I’m inside it. Why is this even happening? I’m just a temporarily interesting nobody.
The door creaks as it slides shut and the van rocks like it was just put into gear. Then we start rolling. “Help!” I scream but it just comes out as a muffled moan.