Page 29 of Nothing is Free

Dez: I’m calling.

My phone rings and I suddenly feel too exposed. I get to the bottom of the stairs and there at way too many shadows. I can feel eyes on me. I turn in a circle, searching the room but I am rooted in place, too afraid to examine the darkness any further.

“Dez,” I answer the phone after the fourth ring, and he blows out a breath of relief.

“Tell me what’s happening,” he says calmly, even though I know he is anything but.

“I woke up and no one is here. The power seems to be out. Something doesn’t feel right, though,” I say as my voice shakes with fear.

“Are you downstairs, Baby Girl?” he asks, voice still calm and steady. I cling to it, if I can hear him, then I am not alone.

“Yes,” I reply.

“I know I am asking a lot, but I need you to leave the penthouse, okay. Do you think you can do that for me, Baby Girl?” I can hear other voices in the background but I focus on Dez’s instructions.

“I’m afraid, Dez. But. . .I will try,” I reply, trying to push past my anxiety. I know staying in here isn’t safe. I don’t feel safe.

“Good Girl. Go ahead. Take me with you, okay. I’m not going anywhere and will stay on the line,” he says encouragingly.

I don’t hesitate. I walk, barefoot toward the front door. Iignore the rising panic, keeping my thoughts on putting one foot in front of the other.

“You’re doing great, Baby. Just keep moving,” Dez says, giving me the strength I need to walk down the entry hallway. The distance between me and the black door feels daunting.

I keep going, the door within reach. I grab the doorknob and cry out, “Holy Moly!” I am hit with another wave of pain. “Oh fuck!” I grunt out a curse as I lean my body against the hallway wall, panting from the tight squeezing spasms that threaten to bring me to my knees.

“Freeya!” Dez shouts as my phone slips from my hands and slides across the floor. I can hear him shouting for me, but I can’t reassure him down on my hands and knees. I begin to crawl toward the phone when I hear footsteps behind me. I look over my shoulder, and for a millisecond I am hopeful it’s one of my mates. My hope dies a horrible death when a tall, bulky frame looms over me and my worst fears come to life, crippling me.

“Hello, Butterfly,” Damyn singsongs playfully before he yanks me away from my phone by my hair and drags me away from the door kicking and screaming.

OMARI

I reach for her and realize I can’t move my arms at the same time. My limbs are heavy, my head is pounding, and my brain is foggy. I’m no longer in bed with Free, and I don’t remember how I ended up passed out the floor. I roll over with a groan, every bone in my body is stiff and I wonder how long I’ve been in this position. Attempting to stand, I notice the familiar carpet of Avion’s office and frown. I really don’t remember?—

I look around, finally upright only to freeze in place astwo other bodies are on the floor in front of me. I take a step and a wave of nausea hits me, the floor bobs up and down, making it difficult to walk. I feel disoriented, dizzy, but I force myself to move as Avion’s phone begins to ring. I cross the room at the pace of a turtle to keep from passing out, I use one of the armchairs to ease myself down beside him.

Avion’s clothes are ripped, as if he’s been in a fight. His eyes are closed but his chest rises and falls evenly. I scramble over to Vic and check him over. He lies on his stomach, with a bleeding cut on the side of his head. I stare at him horrified and confused, wondering how the hell we all got here. Where’s my Petal? The minute I think of her is the moment I can feel her pain. She’s afraid, anxious, and in actual physical pain. My thoughts turn to the baby, and I stand, this time a lot easier than before. Leaving Avion and Vic, I cross over to the door and try to open it, but the door is locked. I jiggle the handle, but it won’t give. The door has been locked from the outside. Has that lock always been there?I question before I turn around, rushing over to find Avion’s phone.

“Avion, Vic, I wake up!” I shout as I round the desk where Avion’s suit jacket is draped over the back of his office chair. Pulling his phone out of his inside pocket, I hurry over to him and use his thumb print to unlock it. I shake Avion, but he doesn’t stir at all. I do the same to Vic and it’s then that I realize that we’ve been drugged. Someone drugged us, tossed us into Avion’s office like sacks of giant potatoes and locked us in.

I dial Dez’s number, but he doesn’t answer, just his voice telling me to leave a message. I get to my feet and run back to the door, knocking loudly. “Freeya! Freeya!” I shout her name, pounding on the door repeatedly. “Freeya!” I scream her name and begin to use my body as a battering ram, slamming my shoulder into the door. I keep going, no longerworried about myself, knowing that I am doing some damage in the process. The door is made of real wood, and it won’t budge at all. “Fuck!” I give the door one more hard smack before sliding to floor in despair, leaning my head against it.

Then I hear her screams, shrill soul crushing screams that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I press my ear to the door, only to hear the faint sounds of crashing and heavy thuds of what I can only assume is a sign of struggle. The thought of her out there alone, fighting for her life sends a new wave of determination through me when the phone rings in my hand.

“Dez, We—” I shout his name but he cuts me off.

“We’re coming. The police are on the way. Where the hell are you guys? I had her on the phone, she was leaving the penthouse, then nothing. I heard her screams, and the phone went dead!” he shouts back in panic.

“We’re locked in Avion’s office. Avion and Vic are unconscious,” I say and Dez growls at my answer, his voice deep and guttural.

“Fuck! It was a setup! A fucking set up!” I can feel his anger, hear his rage, but I drop the phone as the sound of gunshots rend the air.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

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