Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Brandi screamed at the top of her lungs. “Help me! Someone please help!”
No response.
“Someone help!” she yelled again.
No one came.
Her heart raced and questions flew through her mind. Where was she? How long had she been out? Was anyone looking for her? What about her children? Were they okay?
Brandi wanted to give into tears but knew they were a luxury she couldn’t afford right now. She had to focus on getting out of here before her captor returned. She didn’t know if he planned on maiming, killing, or raping her, or all three, but she didn’t want to stick around and find out.
First, she had to try and get her hands in front of her. Brandi wiggled her arms behind her back trying to pull them past her bottom. She strained and stretched until sweat beaded her forehead and her shoulders ached even more, but she finally managed to get her hands under her butt.
She took a deep breath and worked to get her legs through her arms, bending, twisting, and contorting in ways she hadn’t thought she was capable of. She almost felt as though someone was giving her the extra push she needed. When her feet slipped through the cuffs and her arms were in front of her at last, Brandi fell back against the mattress, breathing huge sighs of relief.
Being short and petite finally paid off.
Once she caught her breath, she sat up and attacked the knots in the rope around her ankles. They were tight and she broke nearly all of her nails before she was able to free herself.
Brandi rubbed her swollen ankles as the blood rushed back into them. She wished she had the keys to her cuffs, but at least she was mobile. She rushed to the door.
Standing on the other side was Rodney, a large butcher knife in his hand.
She let out a loud blood-curdling scream.
Ignoring his pain, Mason slid past the doctors and out the hospital door. He needed to sneak into the doctors’ locker room and steal a set of scrub tops because his shirt had been cut from his body when he had been brought into the hospital. He was glad that his jeans and shoes were still intact.
Mason dug into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. After assuring himself that he had enough money for a cab, he replaced it. His heart beat a rapid tattoo against his chest as tension gripped him. He knew something had happened to Brandi.
“She’s not at her house. He’s taken her.” Paul appeared next to him.
Mason whirled around angrily. The sudden movement caused him excruciating pain, but he stopped himself from grunting aloud.
“Paul, where were you when the car got trashed with Ben in it?”
“I can only do so much, you know. Although I couldn’t stop Rodney from tampering with your brakes, I was holding Ben when the car flipped. After that, I’ve been with Brandi all this time. I was helping her out of her restraints before Rodney could show up, but, unfortunately, he came back before she could escape. You have to get over there and fast.”
“No, shit! Where are they?”
“He has her in an abandoned house in Center City. A half hour away from here.”
“How did he get her?”
“She was on the way to the store to pick up candles for her niece’s birthday cake when he took her. That was hours ago. Her sister has called the police, but she hasn’t been missing long enough for them to use the manpower for an extensive search.”
“Why didn’t you know he would take her?”
“I was watching her, not him. You need to calm down.”
“Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down when Brandi is in the hands of a psychopath?”
“The last thing she needs is for you to lose your head.”
Mason sighed. His friend was right. Now wasn’t the time for him to lose his cool. “Damn. Will the police even know where to look?”
“Probably not; that’s why it’s up to you to get there in a hurry.”
“What is he going to do with her?” Mason’s body was tight with fear.
“I wish I knew, which is why we have to get there quickly.”
“Damn. Where’s a stinking taxi when you need it?” Mason asked in frustration.
“One is coming.”
“Paul, when I get there, I don’t want any interference from you. That motherfucker is mine.”
“Hmm.” Paul was noncommittal.
“Paul….” Mason growled.
“We’ll just have to see when we get there. Remember the rules,” Paul reminded him.
“How can I not retaliate when he almost got Ben killed and he kidnapped Brandi? Do you expect me to do nothing?”
“I expect you to tread lightly.”
“How lightly do you think I can tread? This man is responsible for my death as well as attempted murder against the Thorntons. Had you not intervened, he would have killed Tina as well. Heaven only knows how many others he’s harmed. The man has to be stopped, and if there are consequences, then so be it.”