At The Location
"Please be safe." Uncle Pete hugged me tight. I felt the fear radiating off of him.
I hugged back, keeping back my own fear from surfacing. "I will."
"God be with you." Miss Nancy enveloped me in a warm hug as well.
"I hope." Was my low response.
It was Celine's turn.
One would think I was embarking on a journey of no return with the many hugs and dreary faces. Well, with dangerous and desperately power-hungry men like Philip Pillax, it might as well be.
"I haven't known you for long but you're a good person. Please come back." Her hug was shorter but nonetheless warm.
"I will."
I checked the time once again. It was ten past four in the morning. Location had been sent a minute past four.
I couldn't sleep. No one could. We had all kept vigil.
Jared came out just then, he hadn't been with us ever since. I had gone to find him and talk to him, but he wasn't speaking to me so I left him alone. Uncle Pete too. I wasn't even expecting him to come out. I spotted him coming down the stairs.
"All set?" He asked.
I nodded, noting his bloodshot eyes and dark circles underneath them. He looked rough and tired. "Yes."
He reached where I was and wrapped me in a big hug, almost refusing to let me go.
"Time's running out, Jared. I need to leave now."
"But you shouldn't go without someone or we can have the cops follow from a distance." He suggested, fear trembling his voice.
"You think I haven't thought of that?" I sighed. "It's not possible. I have no idea where or how it will be. He might see the cops, I can't risk Nina's life. It's too dangerous, Jared. Please understand."
"I do understand." He pulled back a bit from the hug, lowered his head and captured my lips.
I kissed him back with as much passion and love as he gave.
I was the one who pulled back this time. "Time to go."
I took the remote car key from the table, my phone was already in my purse slung across my shoulder. I was dressed in a casual pair of dark blue denim and an orange T-shirt.
I had on a thick sweater to help with the early morning cold. I tossed the key in my purse, bade my goodbye and left.
Five minutes later, I was out of my estate and on the highway, using my GPS to follow the location I'd been given.
Been out on the road at such an early hour was a bit unsettling, vehicles were sparse and save for white lights from the tall lamps slicing through the dark and brightening roads some, it would still be as though it was night.
My GPS continued to guide me as I cut through roads and ventured into a remote area. My heart almost leapt to my throat when my headlights were the only lights shining through the dark, rocky road.
Where was I? I could tell there were bushes and trees surrounding but couldn't make out any buildings, old or new.
"Take a last turn by your right." The robotic voice of GPS's AI directed.
A minute or less later, I was at the spot. But I saw nothing or no one. I wanted to come down from my vehicle but I was too wary to.
I checked the time. Four minutes past five.
I waited for the call. I wished I could access the number but it was impossible.
Philip Pillax was one smart guy. I'd need extra help to get that man down.
My phone rang. I picked immediately.
"You're here." The distorted voice said.
Was he monitoring me? "Yes. But I am yet to see you or the girl."
"I can see you came alone but just to be certain, is there any surprise you planned?"
"Surprise? I didn't plan any surprise. I came alone as you wanted. Where's the girl?" Nerves knotted as impatience tinged my tone.
I just wanted to get Nina and drive the hell out of this eeriely quiet place.
"I'll get back to you."
"What? You'll get back to me? But that was not..."
The beep signalling the end of the call had me gritting my teeth helpless annoyance. The bastard! Playing games with me, wasn't he? I sure did hope he was having his fun.
Notification pinged ten minutes later and it read; 'Step out of the car.'
I frowned and typed; 'Why?'
My message didn't go through. It was a one-way text. Fuck! He could call and text me but I couldn't. Stupid, sick smartass!
He was really playing with my emotions. My head.
My phone pinged again; 'I won't repeat myself. Step out of the car.'
Drawing a slightly shaky breath, my instincts telling me things were about to go all shades of wrong, I started to dial uncle Pete's number but stopped myself.
So I decided to message him. I typed in words and hoped my spellings were correct as my hands had become shaky.
'You have three seconds before your car blows up with you in it if you don't step out!'
A fearful whimper rumbled from my throat as my stomach clenched tighter. Just as I was stepping out, I clumsily dropped my phone.
In the process of picking it up, I felt a hand caress my butt. In a blur of a fright, I made a short, sharp terrified noise, picked a stick instead, turned around and hit this person.
"What the fuck?!" They grabbed me around my throat from behind. "You bitch!"
"Philip, why are you doing this?! Where's Nina?"
"This is not Phillip, candy bear." Their attempt at calling me endearing names sickened me.
But another feeling dawned on me: confusion. "If you're not Phillip, then who are you?"
"I'm the guy he paid to do the job." Came the response, he licked my ear.
Fear clogged my throat when I felt his erection. I tried to maintain calmness. "Where's Nina? You said I should come get her. You s-said I should come alone."
"You'll get Nina, baby. But first, you and me are going to have lots of fun." Then a lusty moan erupted from his throat. "You have such a great body. I had always wanted it since I laid eyes on you that day."
I swallowed. "T-that d-day?" Oh God, who was this loon Philip had hired? Rashford? Or maybe someone else?
"Now move and don't make a noise." A hard object was pressed to the nape of my neck. "I can't wait to fuck the hell out of your honeypot."