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Lucy nodded, the reality of her situation sinking in. She had to find a way out, but Emmet’s grip was ironclad. He dragged her toward the car, every muscle in her body screaming to fight back. But she remembered Carver’s words, the warning about Emmet’s desperation.
She needed to stay calm, look for an opening. As they neared the car, Lucy felt Emmet’s grip loosen just a fraction. It was now or never. Summoning all her strength, she stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the stomach. Emmet grunted in pain, his grip faltering just enough for her to break free.
She ran, her heart pounding in her chest. The alley seemed to stretch forever, the end just out of reach. Emmet’s footsteps thundered behind her, closing in fast. She had to reach the street, find help. Her lungs burned, her legs felt like lead, but she pushed on.
Just as she neared the mouth of the alley, Emmet lunged, grabbing her by the arm. She screamed, hoping someone would hear, anyone. But the alley was deserted, the city sounds distant.
“You’re not getting away that easy,” Emmet growled, pulling her back toward the car.
Lucy struggled, clawing at his hands, her mind racing for any escape. As they wrestled, she spotted a piece of broken glass on the ground. Desperation fueled her actions. She reached for it, her fingers just grazing the sharp edge.
Emmet yanked her harder, and in one swift motion, Lucy grabbed the glass and slashed at his arm. He howled in pain, but managed to recover quickly. He yanked at her shirt, placing his hands around her neck. Her eyes watered, and the lack of air made her gasp. She clawed at his hands, her vision starting to blur.
“You’re not getting away that easy,” he snarled again, his grip tightening.
With a surge of desperation, she tried to kick him, but his hold was too strong. He dragged her toward his car, her feet scraping against the pavement. Panic surged through her, her heart pounding wildly.
As he shoved her into the back seat, Lucy caught sight of Cindy emerging through the back door of the diner. Cindy’s eyes went wide with fright as she took in the scene.
“Get Carver,” Lucy mouthed, hoping her friend understood.
Emmet slammed the car door shut, cutting off Lucy’s view of Cindy. Her heart raced even faster, fear coursing through her veins.
She tried to fight back, kicking at the door and struggling against her captor. Emmet cursed, reaching back to strike her. The blow sent stars dancing across her vision, and darkness began to close in.
The last thing she saw before blacking out was Emmet’s furious face, the alleyway spinning around her, and a faint glimpse of Cindy running back into the diner.
When Lucy came to, she was groggy and disoriented. The car was moving, the world outside a blur of passing lights and shadows. Her head throbbed where Emmet had struck her, and her neck ached from his grip.
“Welcome back,” Emmet said coldly, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “Don’t get any ideas. We’re far from done.”
Fear gripped her again, but Lucy forced herself to think. She had to stay calm, find a way out of this. She scanned the car, looking for anything she could use as a weapon, any way to escape.
“Why are you doing this?” she managed to ask, her voice hoarse.
“Shut up,” Emmet snapped. “This is between me and Carver. You’re just leverage.”
Leverage. The word sent a chill down her spine. She had to get out of this before Emmet could use her against Carver. Her thoughts raced, formulating a plan, any plan that might give her a chance.
As they sped through the city, she tried to focus, tried to keep her wits about her. The car eventually slowed, turning into a secluded industrial area. Emmet parked and got out, dragging Lucy with him.
“Move,” he ordered, shoving her toward an abandoned warehouse.
Her heart pounded in her chest, but she walked forward, her mind racing with possibilities. She needed a way to signal for help, to let Carver know where she was. If Cindy had gotten to him, maybe he was already looking for her.
Emmet pushed her inside the dark, musty building, his grip like iron.
“Stay quiet, and maybe you’ll get out of this alive,” Emmet said.
Lucy nodded, her mind still working furiously. She needed to buy time, find a way to get free. As Emmet pulled out his phone, probably to contact Carver, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever came next.
Chapter Nine
Carver had just hung up the phone with Emmet when a frantic knocking echoed through his apartment. His fury was a palpable thing, coiling tight in his chest.
He yanked the door open, expecting his brother or one of his men, but instead, it was Lucy’s friend from the diner—Cindy. Carver vaguely remembered Lucy mentioning her a few times.
“Lucy needs your help,” Cindy blurted. “A man took her.”
