Page 57 of Caged

Who the hell is that?And opening my eyes was easier said than done. They felt like I’d rubbed them with sandpaper.

The first thing I saw when I forced my eyes open was a blurry Jaden sitting across from me, his chin on his chest.Unconscious. I blinked rapidly, clearing my vision as I slowly turned my head.

And looked right into the creepy-as-fuck smiling face of Richard Roman.

“Hello Catelyn, can I call you Cate?”

I grumbled low in my throat.

“I’ll take that as a no. Maxwell then?”

“What’d you give us?” I croaked out. I needed to know what was in my system and how long it’d take to wear off.

He shrugged. “It’ll wear off soon enough.”

Jaden stirred. He didn’t wake up quietly and observe the situation. No, he woke up thrashing. Until he made eye contact with me.

“No use fighting, Mr. Sheppard. Can I call you Jaden?”

Roman laughed when Jaden growled. “Aren’t you two a testy pair? Sheppard, it is then.”

“What do you want?” Jaden demanded.

“I want you to look out the window.” The window to my left, Jaden’s right, rolled down right on cue.

Jaden and I turned our heads just in time to see his truck go up in flames. Jaden pulled against his ties and tried to stand up, swearing the entire time. “What the fuck!”

The big guy sitting next to him shoved him back down.

“Mr. Sheppard, if you don’t sit still we’ll drug you again.” Roman’s calm voice was far scarier than if he’d been angry.

Calm, collected, calculated. A lethal combination in an enemy.

Jaden calmed down, but didn’t stop glaring at Roman.

“Thank you. Your wallets, burner phone, and all your jewelry are in your truck. I’d say I hope you have goodinsurance…” He looked down at his phone and smiled. “But, it doesn’t really matter.”

Jaden and I made eye contact. Roman’s death threat was thinly veiled. For a brief moment, we saw each other’s fear. The tinted window dimmed the sunlight as it rolled back up. On Roman’s order, the limo pulled away.

“Where are we?” Jaden asked.

“Does it matter?” Roman answered.

I didn’t recognize the surrounding area. It looked like a deserted field, lined with trees. Which meant one, the truck wouldn’t be found right away, and two, when it was, it wouldn’t lead SSI to our location.

My headache faded as we drove on. Because of the tinted windows, I couldn’t see outside to get my bearings.

“How long were we out?”

“Long enough for us to be far from where we were,” Roman said with a snicker.

He was good at not answering our questions.He’s enjoying this.Never a good sign.

Jaden and I held eye contact while we tested our bindings, which I now realized were handcuffs. My vision was clear enough to watch Roman and his goon in my peripheral vision. The goon kept his face neutral, but Roman smiled as he watched us.

“Where are my manners?” Roman asked. “Would either of you like a drink?”

“No, thanks,” I said. Jaden’s reply was less polite.

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