Page 103 of You Saw the Best In Me

I turn to check, but I feel something cold on the back of my neck before I can.

I freeze, not speaking, moving, or breathing.

“Drive, now,” A voice says, and I’m flooded with fear.

How is this possible? This isn’t happening right now. My heart is racing, and my mouth has gone completely dry. I want to scream, cry, or make noise, but I’m frozen.

“Did you hear me, Karrie? Fucking drive!” he screams, and I do as I’m told.

I pull out of the salon parking lot and listen to the directions I’m given. Soon enough, I realize we’re driving toward Maverick’s abandoned lot, and I’m praying to anything that Tony is nearby.

No such luck.

It’s empty, and I had a feeling this was where he’d want to go. It’s obvious he’s been out of jail for a few days, following me and probably Maverick, too.

“Get out, slowly. Any sudden movements and I will hurt you, Karrie,” he says, and I don’t test my luck.

Not yet.

In the headlights, he tells me to stop walking. I watch as he dumps the contents of my purse and takes my phone.

I thought he’d smash it, but he goes through a few things and stuffs it in his pocket. The ringtone I picked for Maverick goes off, and Asher declines the call, laughing out loud as he does.

I want to run while he’s distracted, but I don’t know which way to go. Tony lives up the road, but I couldn’t run fast enough, confidently. I stash the escape idea for a different time.

I need to survive, and right now, Asher is in charge.

“Get in the passenger seat,” he spits, and I do.

“Ash, what are you doing?” I ask, using the nickname from when we were together all those years ago.

“We’re finally going to be together, Karrie. I got your message, and I know that you’re scared. I’m sorry about that, but we’re going someplace special,” he says, and I’m relieved that it doesn’t sound like he wants to hurt me.

Over the years, I pictured this a million times. He found me and forced me to be with him.

Over and over, I practiced how I’d approach him, and I want him to feel comfortable.

He’s taking a considerable risk, and I don’t want him frazzled or jumpy.

I’ll comply and be the best hostage I can, but when I get the chance … I will run.

We drive for a while, not saying anything, when he finally speaks up.

“Karrie, you know you don’t love him, right? You’re using him to make me jealous?” he asks, and I’m hanging on my door for dear life.

“I never wanted to make you jealous,” I say, keeping my cool.

“You’re a used car lot. Everyone has had a test drive. You couldn’t find the thrill I gave you and are mending your heart. So don’t play fucking stupid. This truck guy, he loves you? You’ve fucked him?” he rambles his delusions, keeping his eyes on the road.

I don’t say anything, but he nudges me with whatever weapon he had on my neck earlier, and I open up.

“Yes. Yes, yes. He loves me,” I cry, begging the stars, planets, and everything in between that Maverick could save me.

“He’s nothing compared to me. I’ll remind you of that,” he says, and we don’t talk for a while.

I’m crying, my head resting against the window, watching all the cars go by that don’t realize I’ve been kidnapped.

I’m being held in this car against my will, and nobody will make eye contact with me as we pass them.