Page 49 of Desert Heat

“Those fuckers are dead,” I grated through clenched teeth.

“I already know a place to dump their bodies.”

“Good,” I grunted, already stalking forward through the ripped tree branches where they made their getaway.

CHAPTER 13

Driedblood coated my bottom lip. I squirmed in the back of the trunk trying to free myself. Brandi was limp beside me. The rise and fall of her chest letting me know she’s alive. It was hard to breath between the gags in our mouth and the putrid, dank, humid air in the tiny enclosed trunk. My head was on fucking fire. I’m not sure how long I was out for.

Hopefully not too long.

Think.Think.

I fought the foggy haze of pain, trying to process just in what the fuck to do.

MC men aren’t stupid criminals. The BMW we were shoved into rode smoothly, but I knew there was zero chance of any GPS tracking. They disabled that shit. There would be no trace of us or of me popping the truck from the inside.

The tips of my fingers grazed along the inside of the trunk, looking for any sharp piece of metal to try to rip through the plastic zip tie at my wrists.

Don’t panic. Stay calm.

I repeated the words in my head over and over. I wiggled around so the heel of my boot was against the hatch, I kicked in the spot my old man taught me too.

I busted the friggin’ tail light from the inside. The rush of cold air helped me focus. “Hang on, Brandi. I’ve got this.”

Her weak moan gave me hope that her injuries wouldn’t be severe. They didn’t have time to rape us but damn did the men grab her lady bits in turn before the lights went out on me.

It’s dark as hell. Despite me ninja move no one was coming to save us. There were no cars to see the busted tail light and my hand waving from the trunk.

Despair settled deep in the pit of my stomach.

It took everything I had not to give into the sweet pain of oblivion and let my mind go to never never land. I fought with everything I had to stay conscious.

The engine revved as the car climbed up the steep, windy mountain road.

These bastards were taking us to a “safe house.” But there would be nothing safe in store for me and Brandi.

I moved my face as close as I could to the stream of fresh air. Letting the cold bite my face.

The stars were out tonight.

I tried letting the glittering crystals way up in the sky calm me. Remembering a thousand different nights.

Wishing this one could end differently.

“Hunter,” I wished upon one, as I gazed up. “I love you… what in the hell is that?”

Hope came alive as the tiny drone appeared through the break in the trees. We were being followed.

By how and by who, I had no clue.

“Brandi… someone knows. Someone will find us… we just need to stay alive.”

“Savvy,” she groaned.

“I’m here,” grabbing her hand, I threaded our fingers together. “Try to stay calm, breathing in deep and slow. There’s a drone following the car.”

“I hear something… feel something…,” she moans.

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