Page 66 of Love At Close Range

“Shit,” I cursed as I watched the second SUV blocked me in.

“Ma?” Rhyse called from behind me, and I could hear the fear creeping into his voice now. “What’s going on?”

“I need you to stay down,” I told him as I looked for somewhere to go. There wasn’t enough room on either side of the SUV in front of me, and the one behind us was closing in fast. “Get down on the floor, Rhyse, and stay there,” I instructed him.

“What’s happening?” He asked.

I ignored him and grabbed my phone. “Siri, call Lennox.”

“Calling Lennox,” Siri responded through the speakers.

The line barely started ringing before something slammed against my driver-side window.

“Ahh!” I screamed as the glass shattered across me.

“Ma!” Rhyse yelled from the backseat.

Everything happened too fast after that. A hand came through the broken window and unlocked my door before somebody yanked it open. I kicked toward whoever was reaching for me and grabbed onto the steering wheel with both hands.

“Get the fuck off me!” I kicked and screamed as one of the men grabbed my arm.

“Ma!” Rhyse yelled again as another door opened behind me.

“No!” I shouted as I twisted around. “Don’t touch my fucking son!” I cried out.

Rhyse kicked and screamed while a man reached into the backseat for him. I tried to get back toward him, but the man at my door grabbed me around the waist and pulled me toward the SUV.

“Get off my mama!” Rhyse screamed as he fought against the man pulling him out of the truck. “Let me go!”

“Rhyse!” I screamed as I watched the unknown man manhandle my baby.

I fought as hard as I could, kicking, swinging, trying to get free long enough to get back to him, but there were too many of them. Somebody grabbed both of my arms and dragged me toward the SUV while another man carried Rhyse toward the other one.

“Don’t hurt him!” I yelled as I struggled against the arms around me. “He’s a fucking child! Don’t touch him!” I screamed.

The last thing I saw before they shoved me into the back of the SUV was my truck sitting in the middle of the road with the driver-side door open and glass scattered across the pavement.

I didn’t know how long we had been driving before we stopped, but it had felt like forever. Rhyse had been put in the same vehicle with me after they got us off the road, and I kept him tucked against my side the entire ride. His face was wet from crying even though he had gone quiet, and every few seconds I felt his hand tighten around mine.

“You okay?” I whispered as I looked him over.

Rhyse nodded, but I could tell he was scared. “Where are they taking us?”

“I’on know,” I told him as I rubbed my hand over the back of his head. “Just stay close to me.”

The SUV finally stopped, and one of the men opened the door. I immediately pulled Rhyse closer.

“Get out,” he ordered.

“Where the fuck are we?” I asked as I looked past him.

“Get out,” he repeated.

Rhyse stayed glued to my side as we climbed from the SUV. The building in front of us looked like some old warehouse nobody had used in years. One of the men motioned toward the building for us to keep walking. I kept one hand wrapped around Rhyse’s and walked because I didn’t have another choice.

Inside, the place smelled like dust and old metal. Most of the space was empty except for a few tables, some folding chairs, and more men standing around than I cared to count. Then I saw the man waiting near the back. He was dressed too well to belong in a place like this.

“Reiana Scott,” he said as he stepped closer. “I’m sorry we had to meet like this.”