Hard Times by C. Hallman

3

I’m positive I’m dead. I don’t feel any pain and everything around me is black. I heard two shots. The gun fired close enough for me to feel the small shock wave.

Two shots, one for Jeff and one for me. I have to be dead, that’s the only explanation.

But if I’m dead, how do I feel my heart slamming against my chest?

“Not her,” Ryker’s voice meets my ear, confusing me even more.

“Take her,” Hunter growls close to my ear, right before releasing me. His voice differs from before, harsher and void of emotion. “Tie her up while you’re at it.”

His protective arms disappear and a set of cruel hands replace them, pulling me from the car. My eyes fly open, and I come face to face with an unknown man with dark hair and dark eyes. A two-inch scar slashes across his right cheek. I take in every detail, just like I’ve learned in the academy. Great, now my training kicks in.

It’s fucking useless now!

The man drags me to a close by SUV. He is smaller and skinnier than Hunter, which gives me a better chance of fighting him off and making a run for it. I glance back over my shoulder at Jeff’s car where Ryker, Hunter, and a third guy search the interior, probably taking my gun and whatever else they find useful.

In a flash, I turn back, twisting my body into a self-defense mode and use the momentum to punch the guy in the kidney. He loses his grip and doubles over. Before I can escape, he grabs me by the neck and slams me onto the hood of the car, knocking the air from my lungs.

He follows up with a punch against the back of my head, and my vision blurs.

“You fucking bitch,” he sneers. Grabbing a fistful of hair, he pulls my head back. I’m positive he is about to smash my face back into the hood.

Bracing for impact, I wait for the pain, but it never comes.

The hand threatening to rip my hair from my scalp releases me, and I slump against the car. Still reeling from the hit to my head, everything around me spins.

“I said tie her up, not knock her out.” Hunter comes up beside us.

“That cunt tried to get away.”

“Get in the car,” Hunter orders, as his friend walks away with a huff. “Come on, Annie. Don’t be difficult.” He grabs my upper arm and pulls me up.

The sudden movement brings on a dizzy spell that about knocks me on my ass, but Hunter keeps me upright, cursing under his breath.

On wobbly legs, I do my best to keep pace with him as he leads me to the SUV where he sits me on the backseat like I’m a small misbehaving child.

Still disoriented, I don’t even know where he pulls the cable ties from, only that in the next instant they are around my wrists.

“Lie back.” He gently shoves at my shoulders and I do as he asks, partly because I’ll lose fighting him, and partly because I really want to lie down.

He removes my shoes and binds my ankles together, before adjusting my body, so I’m spread out across the back-seat row.

The door on the opposite side opens, and I squint my eyes against the sunlight filtering in until Hunter’s large body blocks it. He lifts my head and climbs into the seat, cradling my head on his lap.

“Hey, sugar,” Ryker greets as he slides into the other side, lifting my calves onto his lap.

Another guy gets into the driver’s seat and starts the car. As we pull away from the crash site, I notice the front passenger seat is empty. I can’t help but wonder why Ryker or Hunter didn’t take that seat? Is there a reason they’d rather ride cramped in the back with me?

The thought is still coursing through my mind when Ryker grabs hold of my sock clad feet and massages the heels. Hunter swipes some loose hairs from my forehead.

I shudder at their touch, scared of what’s coming. I’m not stupid. They’ve been incarcerated for years and men have urges, after all.

Hunter removes the clip holding my bun in place, and my hair falls down freely against his legs. He runs his fingers through the long brown strands while Ryker continues stroking my feet.

If I wasn’t being kidnapped by a group of criminals, I would thoroughly enjoy this.

Hunters fingers against my scalp feel amazing, and the way Ryker is running his hand up my calf now has my muscles relaxing.

“Fuck her already so we can dump her body halfway home.”

I can feel the blood drain from my face as panic sets in. I look up at Hunter’s face, only seeing the outline of his sharp jaw at this angle. Turning to Ryker, I find him staring directly at me. His hands haven’t stopped moving, his touch is so gentle, but his glare is anything but. He looks unhinged, like he is on the edge of losing it, and that scares me more than I can explain.

“She is coming home with us,” Hunter tells the guy up front, without sparing me a glance.

“You sure? She is big trouble, man. Not worth it. I can get you a girl to fuck. Let’s dump her into the river we’re about to pass.”

My entire body shakes. They’re going to kill me. They killed Jeff, and now it’s my turn. I’m as good as dead.

Ryker leans forward, pulling a gun from his waistband. He shoves the barrel against the head of the guy driving.

“He said, we’re taking her home. Are you deaf, Link?”

I’m about to pee my pants from fear, and I’m not even the one with the gun against the side of my head. The guy who’s name is Link, only chuckles.

“As crazy as ever. Fuck. Ryk, I missed your stupid ass. Now get that thing out of my face before I stomp your guts out.” He swats away the gun, like it’s an annoying bug. “Keep your pet, but if she becomes an issue, I’ll put her down myself.”

Hunter runs his hand over my forehead. “She’ll behave. Won’t you, Annie?”

I nod my head, not able to form words at the moment.

“Why don’t you close your eyes, sugar,” Ryker coos, “Relax. Take a little nap. It’s been a long day.”

I’m fairly certain he only wants me to close my eyes so I won’t be able to see where we are going. Regardless of his intentions, I let my eyes fall shut. My head is pounding, and the light is making it worse.

“My head hurts,” I whine, not sure why I even said it or if anyone heard me. If they did, no one cares. Why would they if they’re going to kill me anyway?

With my eyes closed and their fingers massaging me lightly, it’s hard to stay awake. I try as long as I can, but I lose the battle.

The only hope I have is that I get a chance to wake up.