Sitting in the back of Victor’s car, Maddie twisted her wrists against the black leather seat. She tried to loosen the restraints biting into her skin as her mind raced to find a way out of the mess. Earlier, Mole had pulled over to the side of the road and talked crazy shit into his phone. Told Zach to shoot Eric. It sounded like Zach might have done it.
Impossible to imagine. Especially with Scott on the scene. But right now, she had her own problems.
Visions of Kaitlyn’s and Lucky’s motionless bodies on the ground haunted her. They had to be okay.
Sweat slicked her shirt, and saliva choked her. She needed to get free if she stood any chance against Victor. No doubt he had bad plans for her. She glanced out the window. They were on the road that led to the field survey site. Not far from it. Guess he wasn’t taking her to the mansion. With all the woods around, he’d have plenty of places to dispose of a body. Her body.
If only she could get to her phone. Victor must not know she had it in her pants pocket or he would have taken it from her. Pressing the insides of her wrists together, she managed to wiggle a hand out. Her heart leaped.
She kept the gag in so he wouldn’t know her hands were free. One step at a time. If she ever planned to see Scott again, she had to keep calm. Scott, who loved her and wanted a future together. Damn if she’d let Victor rob her of that dream.
Shifting on the seat, she slid a hand into her pocket and tugged out her new cell phone. She muted it and glanced at Victor who was intent on driving. She kept the phone low in her lap and typed a text to Scott. Her hands shook so hard she struggled to hit the letters.
Kaitlyn down. Victor has me. Field survey site. Gun.
She dialed the police number and stuffed the phone back in her pocket. Maybe they could trace her through the open call. The small town didn’t have much technology.
Victor might notice her free arms, so she eased them behind again.
The car climbed the steep slope to the tip of the site. Her throat burned as she tried to swallow past the nasty gag. As if they were on a roller coaster, the closer they came to the top, the faster her pulse raced.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Probably Scott texting her back. Victor shot a glance at her. She couldn’t risk pulling the cell out again. If the cops didn’t find her soon, she’d be in big trouble. She was no match for the monster.
“Almost there. This is over, bitch. No one crosses me. You’ll be the third today to pay.” His cruel eyes stared back in the mirror.
Had he killed two other people, or was he including Kaitlyn and Lucky in the body count? Maddie’s gut clenched as the image of them popped into her head again.
Victor stopped the car and got out. He rounded the front, and her lungs threatened to explode. She’d have to fight him. It was her only chance. She ripped the tape off of her mouth and spit out the gag.
He opened the door, grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her out. With the element of surprise as her only chance, she whipped her arms out, clawing at his eyes. She brought a knee up hard to his groin.
His massive thighs blocked most of the target, but she hit enough to make him grunt and bend over. He let go of her hair, but before she could run, he launched himself forward and knocked her onto her back, pinning her to the ground.
The weight of his body crushed her as she writhed to get out from under him.
No…oh no. He had her now. Terror exploded in her chest.
Rocks dug into her back and scraped her skin raw through her shirt as she thrashed beneath him. Unable to budge, she sunk her teeth into the massive cords of his neck. The coppery taste of blood mixed with salt filled her mouth. Her stomach roiled.
“Fucking whore.” He shoved his meaty paws into the soft spot beneath her collarbone to push himself up. His open legs spread across her waist, trapping her.
She gasped for air and tried again to scratch at his eyes but couldn’t reach his face. He’d kill her. Right there with his bare hands. She had no idea if the cops got her call or if Scott was anywhere close.
Victor’s face, cheeks scraped and bleeding, contorted in rage as it darkened from red to near-purple.
“Once, I’d planned to fuck you. Now, I just want to watch your bones break.” He hauled a hand back and slapped her across the face. Her head whipped sideways and smashed against the ground, causing her to bite her tongue. Searing pain burst into white lights.
She gagged and spit blood. Jesus, every bone in her body screamed in agony.
His weight lifted off her pelvis, and he jerked her up by the arm, twisting it in the socket.
“Time for you to fucking die.” He pulled the gun from his pocket and held it to her head.
Spittle landed on her cheeks as he sneered in her face. Her sweat and blood-drenched clothes stuck to her skin. Unable to overpower him, maybe she could stall for time. “Wait. It’s not too late.” Her swollen tongue made it hard to talk. “I can change the survey. File a new one.”
He grabbed her throat with his free hand and squeezed hard. “You lying, fucking bitch. Do you think I’m stupid enough to believe that?”
His fingers dug deep into the sides of her neck, taking her breath away.
“You can’t unscrew what you did.”
She pulled at his arm with her hands and he laughed. A sick, guttural sound.
“Enough games. Walk.” He let go of her neck, and she dragged in a deep breath.
Lungs on fire, throat bruised, she weighed her options.
Nothing. She had nothing left.
He pushed her forward, shifting the gun to her back as they approached the cliff. “You love those fucking artifacts so much it’s only right you die with them.”
The cliff. He must plan to throw her body over. Sweat dripped into her eyes. God, no one could survive a fall from so high. Not with all the jagged rocks at the bottom.
He poked the gun into her back. “I can’t wait to watch you splatter when you crash.”
She pretended to stumble and fell to the ground. Anything to stall, but they were only feet from the edge now. Her heart threatened to explode.
“Get up, bitch.” He yanked the back of her shirt, cutting into her neck. This was it. She could fight him, but he’d probably shoot her. The only card she had left to play was her phone.
“Look down.” He shoved her closer to the drop.
When she refused, he gave her a push. Her feet skidded on the loose gravel, knocking pebbles off the cliff. They bounced on the rocks and fell to the bottom. Her mouth went dry.
She took a step away from the edge. “The…the cops are on their way.”
Victor shook his head. “I’m done with your games.”
“I mean it. I called from the car. I have my phone right here.” She reached into her pocket, but Victor snagged her hand.
“I’ll check it myself.” He slid his hand inside and slipped the phone out, a sneer on his face.
He glanced at the phone and laughed.
The screen was shattered. Once again. The phone was dead.
Just like she was about to be.