Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Beth’s back hit the van wall just as it began moving again.
“Okay.” She breathed in heavy gulps of air. Her shredded palms felt on fire after dragging Melody across the floor. “Almost there. I know it hurts, Mel, but help me one more time. Then you can rest.”
Melody must have heard her through the sobs. She dug her heels in and pushed once more. Beth’s ass dropped to the floor, and she was able to pull Melody’s head onto her lap. Then just as the van took a turn, she braced her feet against the ridge in the floor once again. They jostled through the turn but stayed where they were instead of mimicking a pinball machine.
Melody groaned, but her crying lessened with the more stable position. “T-thank you,” she managed between sobs.
Beth nodded. Melody probably couldn’t see her through those swollen eyes. “We’ll be okay. The club will come for us.” She glanced down at the battered woman with a wince. Melody’s hair stuck to wet cheeks. Mascara mixed with the bruising under her eyes gave her a grotesque horror movie victim appearance. Gently as possible so as not to add to the pain, Beth brushed the hair back from Melody’s face.
“Why are you being nice to me?” Melody mumbled.
Beth sighed. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re kinda all we got right now.”
Melody made a noise Beth chose to take as an acknowledgment.
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll call you a bitch and a bunch of other names after we get out of here.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“I’ve thought a lot about slapping you, but someone obviously beat me to it.”
Melody surprised the hell out of her with a bark of laughter that turned into an agonized groan.
Gallows humor. Who didn’t love it?
They spent the next stretch in silence, save for Melody’s labored breathing and occasional whimpers. Beth closed her eyes and tried to figure out where they were by feel. All she could determine was they’d hit a section of switchbacks, but that could be any hundred roads in these mountains.
Where are they taking us? What do they want? How long until the club realizes I’m gone?
They turned left, and the road changed, becoming consistently bumpy and jarring the van so much her teeth rattled. Her ass bounced on the hard floor, sending jolts of discomfort shooting up her spine. It had to be torture for Melody.
And then, without warning, the van stopped.
The engine cut.
Beth’s heart slammed against her ribs.
This is it.
“We’re not moving,” Melody mumbled. “The van isn’t vibrating.”
“No.” She straightened and stared toward the back doors. “I think we’ve reached our destination.”
The doors opened, sending in a flood of sunlight. Beth squinted against the searing brightness. A large man she didn’t recognize filled the doorway, blocking out the sun. She couldn’t see his face, just his silhouette, massive shoulders, arms like tree trunks, and legs as wide as her hips. He radiated the kind of confidence that came from knowing no one could stop him from doing whatever he wanted.
He grabbed Melody’s ankle and yanked.
Melody screamed.
“Hey!” Beth scrambled after her. “Be careful. She’s injured.”
The guy grunted. When he got Melody to the edge of the van, he pulled her up and out, setting her on her feet. Beth winced as Melody cried and tried to find her footing.
“Let me help her.” She jumped out of the van and moved to put her arm around Melody, only to be hauled away by a rough hand gripping her bicep.
Demo.
He started walking, dragging her with him. His strides were so long, and his grip was practically lifting her off the ground. She had to run on her tiptoes to keep up.
“Slow the fuck down,” she demanded, looking over her shoulder. “Where are you taking Melody?”
Demo laughed. “I’d be a little more worried about where we’re taking you if I were in your shoes.”
Ice slid down her spine. She knew exactly what men like him did to women they had power over.
She’d survived one monster.
She could survive another.
She had to.
Unable to do anything for the other woman, Beth shifted her attention from Melody and onto her surroundings. If she could learn as much as possible about where she was, maybe she could find a way to escape.
She blinked as she glanced around. “The sawmill?” When she was a kid, this place ran a thriving business. She’d never forget trips here with Copper to pick up lumber. He and Rocket built her a playhouse in the backyard when she was six. Together they’d made trips here, and Copper would let her ride on the flatbed cart. She’d sit on a pile of lumber and direct him where to go. The place closed a handful of years ago as the area’s lumber industry declined.
Demo didn’t respond, just yanked open a heavy door and shoved her into the building.