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With the ticket counter in sight, I almost run across the width of the train station, wondering why it is so incredibly big. I’ve never needed to take the bus like this, but I was under impression that bus stations were smaller than train stations.
I groan in frustration when I notice there’s a small line to buy a ticket, but I am prepared to cut in, even at the risk of making them mad. Just as I attempt to do that, I am yanked back with such force, I almost face plant when I bounce against a hard body.
“We need to talk with you, miss,” the same man from before growls into my ear. “We are not here to hurt you.”
I open my mouth to scream, but it’s as if he can read my mind. His paw like hand covers my entire face in an attempt to stop me. I start struggling to get out of his hold, amazed that none of the people standing in line for tickets tries to help me. If anything, they are literally looking the other day, pretending like I am not being kidnapped right from under their noses.
The man starts walking backward, dragging me with him. I try to loosen my body and become dead weight in his arms, but that doesn’t seem to affect him at all.
Before long we are outside the building, and I want to cry again. My eyes desperately look for Hawk, praying that he hasn’t left yet, that he is here to save me yet again. But all I see is a dark luxury SUV that’s parked right in front of the entrance.
The back passenger door is conveniently open, and the man dragging me outside throws me inside of it with no ceremony. I land against the soft seat, ready to jump back out, but it is too late. The door slams shut behind me, and I hear the child lock being engaged.
“Let me out,” I yell at him when I see him getting into the driver’s seat.
“Miss Santiago.”
A different voice addresses me, and I jump out of my skin, with my back pressed against the locked door. I am just now realizing that I’m not alone in the back. A man is sitting next to me, a look of compassion mixed with amusement defining his handsome features. He seems to be a little older, older than Hawk at least, and he exudes this air of power. There is a warning in his eyes, sending me signals that he doesn’t tolerate hysterics.
“Who are you?” I manage to ask. My voice sounds raspy from crying and also from pure fear.
He leans over and grabs something from a small refrigerator that’s tucked at his feet.
“You should have some water.” He offers me the small bottle of the clear liquid. I have a hard time believing that it’s only water in it. Getting drugged is not on my list of things to do today.
I take the bottle from him, but I don’t open it.
“You got guts,” he smiles at me. “I like it. You remind me of someone I used to know…”
And now he looks sad, but it passes so quickly, it’s almost as if I imagined it.
“If that’s all you wanted to tell me, the kidnapping part was a little over the top,” I tell him in a haughty tone. It makes me sound a lot more confident and braver than I normally am.
The man who grabbed me from inside, who also happens to dub as the driver of the vehicle he threw me in, lets out a loud laugh.
“I like her, boss,” he speaks from his seat, looking at us through the rearview mirror. “You’re right. She is a little like Arlene.”
I swallow hard, unsure of what’s happening. This has got to be the weirdest kidnapping attempt in history. Actually, it is not an attempt since he succeeded into taking me from inside the bus station.
“Maybe you two can discuss this after you take me back to where you took me from.”
“That’s not possible, Miss Santiago,” the guy next to me chuckles. The sound of his laughter is not as loud as his driver’s.
“Why not?”
“Because we’re trying to save you. And if you go back, you will be taken within minutes.”
I lick my lips nervously. “But you took me, too.”
“We did,” he agrees. “But we’re the good guys.”
I stare at him, at a loss for words.
“Who are you?”
The man gives me a polite smile. “My name is Devereaux, and you’ve already met Malone.” He points toward the driver. “We’re here as a favor to someone.”
“A favor?” I ask with incredulity.
