Page 101 of Betrayed

“Don’t worry your pretty little head, Darlin, we won't hurt you,” the guy who frisked me said.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked in a shaky voice.Why did I ask?I already knew what they wanted.Did I really want to start a conversation?

“Well, Darlin’,”God, I hate it when men call me that,“Your daddy owes our boss, Mr. Roman, a lot of money, and you have a lot of money.” His voice made my skin crawl as he confirmed what SSI had told me.

Not yet, I don’t.

Remembering no one had seen my father since the day before, I asked, “What’d you do to my father?”

“To him? We didn’t do anything to him. You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

“You kidnapped him, too?”

“You’ve got it all wrong,” he made eye-contact in the mirror, “he came to us.”

What?

My world shattered as bile rose in my throat. I’d wanted to believe my father was innocent. That the evidence of his involvement was a set-up. That the warrant issued for his arrest was one big, ugly mistake. But how could I deny it now?

He’s voluntarily working with these guys.

“Don’t look so surprised. Your daddy’s been helping us for a long time.”

I didn’t bother wiping away the silent tears tracking down my face. My father was a criminal. Everything I’d known, everything I’d believed, had been a lie. He wasn’t a good guy, a lawful citizen, or an honest man.

And now, because of him, I’d been kidnapped. I didn’t care if they took all my money, but thinking about what they’d do terrified me.

Please, God, let Andrew find me.

“Get her a tissue,” the driver ordered the guy next to me. “We don’t want her all blotchy for her reunion with Daddy Dearest.”

I stared out the windshield as the world passed by in a blur. Why did he do it? Was Priscilla guilty too? How long has this been going on?

Did my mom know? Somehow, that’d be the worst betrayal of all.

A sob escaped my lips.

Someone shoved a tissue into my hands. Instead of using it to wipe my face or blow my nose, I tore off tiny strips and let them fall to the floor.

Breadcrumbs that couldn’t leave a trail.

Would never be seen.

I was wrong. I can’t do this.

“It’ll all be over soon, Darlin’. As soon as you turn twenty-five and pay off your daddy’s debts, you’ll be free to go.”

Why didn’t I believe him?

I lost track of time, but it didn’t seem like it was more than fifteen minutes before we parked at an abandoned two-story farmhouse and they dragged me from the van.

When I stumbled, the driver grabbed my elbow and said, “Let’s go.” Then pushed me towards the door.

Empty fields surrounded us. The dirt road gave off dark desert highway vibes, despite being in farm country.

The half-dozen cars and trucks on the lawn hinted at a full house.

The nearest house wouldn’t survive a strong gust of wind, so I couldn’t imagine anyone living there. There was no one to witness them forcing me inside.No one to hear me scream.

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