Chapter 119
Elsa
My eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand fucking pounds. Opening them required every ounce of willpower I possessed, my heart hammering against my ribcage like a trapped animal. My hands were bound behind my back with what felt like rough rope digging into my wrists, each tiny movement sending sharp pains up my arms.
Where the hell am I? Shit, shit, shit.
Darkness surrounded me, broken only by a thin line of light coming from under what I assumed was a door. The bass from the club music vibrated through the floor beneath me, each thump matching the pounding in my skull. I was still in Moonlight Bar, then—just locked away in some storage room or private area like a piece of fucking trash.
"We can't move her yet," a deep voice said from outside. "Too many people. We wait until the crowd thins out."
"How long's that gonna take?" another voice replied, higher-pitched and impatient. "That drug won't keep her out all night."
"Just a couple more hours. After 2 AM, we'll take her out the back."
They're going to kill me , I realized with sudden, terrifying clarity, cold sweat breaking out across my forehead. These motherfuckers drugged me and now they're going to kill me to keep me quiet about whatever I overheard.
I twisted my wrists violently, testing the rope's strength, feeling my skin tear as I fought against the bindings. It was tight, but not professionally done. I could feel a slight give when I pulled hard enough, my nails digging into my own palms as I strained. The adrenaline surging through my system helped me fight the drowsiness from the drug, though my head still felt like it was stuffed with cotton and soaked in gasoline.
With an agonizing tug that nearly dislocated my shoulder, I managed to roll onto my side and then into a sitting position, my body trembling with effort. I shook my head violently, trying to dislodge the tape over my mouth, my nostrils flaring as I struggled to breathe. After several attempts, I felt it loosen at one corner. I worked my jaw until I could get my teeth around the edge, then yanked my head to the side, tearing it off with a muffled grunt.
"Fuck!" I hissed as the adhesive ripped at my skin like it was taking a layer off. "Goddamn it."
The small room came into better focus as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, pupils dilating frantically to capture any hint of light. No windows, just bare walls and some shelving units stacked with liquor boxes. I was in a storage closet or private lounge tucked away in a corner of the bar. No place to hide if those bastards came back in.
I bent forward, bringing my bound hands under my ass and legs until they were in front of me, my muscles screaming in protest. Then I raised my wrists to my mouth and began gnawing at the rope like a desperate animal. The fibers were rough against my tongue, tasting of dirt and sweat, but after several minutes of determined chewing, my teeth aching from the effort, I felt them start to give way.
"Just a little more," I whispered to myself, spitting out strands of rope, a string of saliva hanging from my chin. "Come on, you piece of shit rope."
Finally, with one last desperate tug that sent pain shooting through my wrists, the bindings snapped. I rubbed my raw wrists, wincing at the burn, seeing the angry red welts already forming on my skin.
I need to get out of here. Now. Fucking now.
I crawled toward the door on hands and knees, my body still too unsteady to stand, pressing my ear against it so hard it hurt. The two men were still talking, their voices sending waves of disgust through me.
"I'm going upstairs to check in with the boss," the deeper voice said. "Watch her and don't do anything stupid."
"Come on, man," the higher voice whined, making my skin crawl. "I've never seen a woman that beautiful. While she's out, we could just—"
"She's leverage against him, that's all. Don't fuck this up."
My stomach churned with disgust and fear, bile rising in my throat as I realized what the creep was suggesting. I bit back the urge to scream.
"Fine," the higher voice conceded, sounding disappointed in a way that made me want to claw his eyes out. "But hurry back."
Footsteps retreated, and I scrambled backward on all fours, looking frantically around the room for a weapon, my heart threatening to burst through my chest. My fingers brushed against something in the pocket of my skirt—a small canister. Pepper spray. I'd completely forgotten I had it.
Thank god I didn't listen to Allen when he said I was being paranoid carrying this. Useless fucking Allen, where were you when I needed you?
I patted my other pocket and found nothing else useful. The drug was making it harder to think clearly, my limbs feeling increasingly heavy, like they were filled with wet sand. I bit down hard on my tongue, using the sharp pain to keep myself alert, tasting fresh blood.
I can't pass out. Not now. Stay awake, you idiot. STAY. AWAKE.
I crawled back to the door, listening, my ear pressed so hard against the wood it throbbed. Only one set of breathing remained outside. This was my chance. I positioned myself behind the door, pepper spray clutched so tightly in my hand.
The lock clicked, and light spilled into the room as the door swung open, momentarily blinding me.
"Time for some fun, beautiful," the shorter man said as he stepped inside, his voice dripping with disgusting intent.
I didn't hesitate. As soon as he was through the doorway, I sprayed directly at his face, aiming for his eyes with all the hatred I could muster. He screamed, hands flying to his eyes, stumbling backward and cursing violently. I shoved past him with every ounce of strength I had left, my shoulder ramming into his chest, slamming the door shut behind me.
The hallway spun around me like a carnival ride from hell as the drug's effects intensified. I staggered toward what I hoped was the main floor, my feet barely lifting from the ground, determined to find Allen's group upstairs. They would help me. They had to. Those fucking cowards owed me that much.
But my legs gave out halfway up the stairs, betraying me when I needed them most. My body felt like it was on fire, waves of heat washing over me as I collapsed onto the steps, my cheek smacking against the hard surface.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I gasped, crawling on all fours like a wounded animal, my nails scraping against the floor. "Not now, goddamnit. Move, you stupid body!"
I managed to drag myself to a storage closet on the second floor, pulling the door closed behind me with a trembling hand. I couldn't lock it, but it would buy me a few minutes. The small space smelled of cleaning supplies and dust, making my nose burn. I huddled in the corner, knees pulled to my chest, trying to control my breathing as the drug overwhelmed me, my lungs feeling like they were filling with concrete.
I'm going to die here , I thought, tears streaming down my face, mixing with mascara and sweat. They're going to find me, and I'm going to die like a trapped rat.
The door swung open suddenly, light flooding the small space like a spotlight. I tried to scream, but my throat closed up in terror, producing only a pathetic whimper.
Drake stood in the doorway, his massive frame blocking the exit completely. His eyes were ice cold as they swept over me, taking in my disheveled appearance with clinical detachment.
"Hiding in a surveillance blind spot," he said, his voice unnervingly calm. "Not your smartest move, Elsa."
I tried to speak, but my mouth wasn't working properly, my tongue feeling three sizes too big.
"Second time you've been drugged," Drake said, stepping into the closet and closing the door behind him, his scent filling the small space like a physical presence. "You really don't learn, do you?"
"I don't... want you," I managed to say through gritted teeth, though my body trembled with the effort of resisting him, my fingers digging into my thighs hard enough to bruise. "Get the... fuck away from me."