Page 119 of A Captive Situation

I turned toward it. That sounded just around the corner.

“Honey, get in the car.” Graham was talking to Oliver, who stiffly hurried around the side of the minivan.

I started to go with them, but another screeching sound made me turn around.

That sound was now so close.

A vehicle careened around the corner, fishtailing so it could turn into the same parking lot that we were in. It didn’t make it, braking suddenly, and reversing.

My feet were already moving before my brain was catching up that Ineeded to move.

The SUV was barreling at me, bearing down at a fast pace.

Time slowed because I saw what was going to happen. They were here for us.

I was too far away.

It was too late for me. It was not too late for my family.

I began yelling at Graham. “Go! Now! They’re here.”

“Who is that?”

Oliver was yelling.

My aunts were shouting.

The dogs were barking.

Graham started the engine, giving me an agonizing expression, but I made a decision. I’d made my decision long ago. Me or my family? My family every goddamn time.

They needed more time to get away, so when the doors of the SUV opened, I ran toward them. I could still hear the minivan behind me, but I screamed, the sound curdling my blood, “Go! Please!”

One of the men reached out to me to catch me, but I evaded his touch. The man behind him caught me, but I grabbed for his holstered gun and ripped out of his arms, using a sudden burst of momentum that he wasn’t expecting.

I moved back, his gun in my hand.

All their attention was suddenly on me.

My heart was pounding.

Terror raced through me, but my family had to live.

They were still fucking here.

“Go! Fucking go!” I screamed with everything in me.

They peeled out of there, right as the men closed in on me.

I could hear my family screaming, but just before they were out of sight, I looked up.

Blake was in the back, with the door open, and our eyes met. She gave me a nod.

I didn’t know what that meant, but the gun was ripped out of my hands. They grabbed me.

This time, my kidnapping was real.

Chapter Forty-Two

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