Page 109 of Rayna's Daddy

His patience was wearing thin. I had that effect on people. He grabbed my arm, but I went limp like dead weight.

“You’re only hurting yourself.” He bent down and shoved his shoulder into my stomach. The blow knocked the wind out of me. He hoisted me up and grabbed my bare legs. I gasped for air as he stroud out of the elevator and through the parking garage.

“Please, put me down.” How was this happening again? Tears dripped from my eyes onto the pavement below. Maybe I could throw up on his shoes. “Please let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I have money.”

“No, you don’t, but you have the right idea.” He slapped my ass and snickered. “I know someone who will pay a pretty penny for you. Between Grant and Santorini, I am thinking bidding war, hell, you’re a hot piece. I might keep you for myself.”

Calm down, Rayna.

I went limp to take some of the pressure off my stomach. With my hands behind my back, I teetered on the edge of his boney shoulder. If I squirmed enough, he would drop me and it would hurt, but better than letting him walk out of here with me in tow.

He rounded another line of cars and grabbed keys out of his pocket. The car beeped, and the trunk opened. I had to do something. I had to fight. What would a ninja do?

A ninja wouldn’t have gotten in the elevator in the first place.

I took a deep breath in and on the exhale; I screamed and elbowed my abductor in the back of his head.

“Fuck, he grabbed the back of his head. I managed a full body roll off the slimy guys' shoulders. I floated in the air for a few seconds until the thud. I collided with the concrete ground.

“Ugh.” I groaned. No time to waste, Rayna.

I scrambled to get my feet underneath me. A hand latched onto my ankle, but I kicked and screamed with all I had in me. He scrambled to crawl on top of me and pinned me to the ground. Pain exploded through my shoulder. He lifted me again but then dropped me.

My head bounced off the concrete. My world went fuzzy. I heard other voices yelling. Someone screamed out in pain, and it wasn’t me. I blinked and rolled on to my back. I heard my name but couldn’t focus.

Don’t pass out.

I squeezed my eyes shut and warm hands cradled my cheeks. I know that touch.

“Rayna.” Someone whispered. I know that voice. I was lifted into the air and cradled against someone’s chest. I knew that smell and the familiar comfort it offered. A beard scratched against my cheek. I knew I wasn’t in danger.

Other voices upset the man carrying me and I didn’t like it. It broke my heart.

“I’m okay.” I whispered, but the conversation continued. “Stop.” I thought I yelled, but they continued to ignore me. The fuzzy edges cleared a little, and I looked up and blinked again. I must be dead. No other explanation to be in Kyler’s arms.

He wasn’t looking at me.

I reached up and pulled his beard.

He looked taken a back and looked down at me.

“Did you just pull my beard, little one?” His voice soothed my soul.

“I thought I was dead.” I pulled it again. “Just want to make sure it was real. You’re real?”

“Yeah, Rayn Drop.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m real. You okay?”

Paramedics showed up out of nowhere. Kyler sat me on the gurney but held me tight. He growled when a paramedic tried to attend to me.

“Let them look her over.”Was that Patrick?

I tried to move my head, but it ached too much.

What the hell happened?

“What are you doing here?” I leaned back.

Kyler ran his hand down my cheek and on my shoulders. “It seems you can’t stay out of trouble.”

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