Page 65 of Take Me Back
What the hell are they talking about?
Who are they?
Toy?
What they’re saying doesn’t make any sense. I want nothing more than to let myself slip back into the darkness, but something keeps me from losing consciousness again.Fear.
Where am I now?
Think. Think.
It’s almost impossible to force my brain beyond the suffocating terror.
I’ve been kidnapped.This isn’t a nightmare. This is real.
Tears threaten to escape my lids, but I can’t let them fall.
Hold on, Kitty Kat, just hold on.It’s Benjie’s voice in my head this time, and it soothes me.You got yourself into a clusterfuck of epic proportions. Whatcha gonna do about it?
I’m losing my shit if I’m hearing a dead man talk to me, but his voice helps me pull it together.
They were taking me to another island. They had to wait for someone.
“Maybe no one will want her with that shiner, and we can keep her.”
“Not a chance.” Vander stomps into the room, his tone harsh. “Get the hell away from her before I fucking kill you myself.”
The hand in my hair disappears, and I keep my eyes closed.
“Sorry, man. Never touched a real blonde. I hear she’s got blue eyes too.”
“Get the hell out of this room. Now.”
“Hey, I’m the one saving your ass while you wait for your boat. This is my island. I’m the king here, and no one talks to me like that.”
A metallic click comes next, and I flick my eyes open because I can’t identify the sound.
Shit.
A gun.
Vander’s hand is steady as he trains his pistol on the man standing a few feet from the bed I’m on. “For as long as I’m here, you answer to me or you die. Understand?”
The man nods, and Vander’s gaze shifts to me.
“Ah, Katerina, you’re finally awake.” False cheerfulness enters his voice, but it can’t cover the malice.“Hopefully you’ve learned your lesson on stupidity so I don’t have to injure you again. Damaged goods aren’t nearly as valuable, and trust me, your life depends upon you retaining your value.”
I swallow back the lump rising in my throat. I don’t know how to answer him.
It seems Vander doesn’t want or need an answer from me, because his attention cuts to the man at the other end of his gun.
“I told you to get the hell out. Don’t come back in here until we’re gone.”
Another man shifts behind Vander, and a flare of recognition shoots through me. Anton, the manager of Sweet Water Caye who met us at the dock the day we arrived.
My first thought ismaybe he’s here to save me,but that’s naive. The set of his jaw tells me everything I need to know.
He’s in on it. How is that even possible?
