Page 63 of Veiled Vengeance

He scoffs. “What? Are you going to throw some clay at them?” His ridicule is just a way to mask his fear.

We all hide our fear because it can make us weak and vulnerable. People are easily manipulated when they’re in that state. Most of us know what it’s like to trust someone when we’re scared, only to be taken advantage of. One hurt soul can easily recognize another.

I don’t play into Gabriel’s game by reacting to his barbed words. “If you try to negotiate with Anthony without me there, he’ll kill you on the spot.”

Gabriel leans toward me, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t give a fuck what happens to me.”

“He’ll kill Carmen too. He has no qualms about killing whoever he needs to get me back. We have to work together on this. Anthony has money, and lots of it. He can buy whatever and whoever. You go there without us, and you might as well shoot Carmen yourself.”

Gabriel rests his fist against his mouth as he stares at me, thinking over what I’ve said. I keep my hands still, not wanting him to see me flinch.

“Fine. What do you have in mind?”

CHAPTER 26

CARMEN

Light music floats into the back seat. On either side of me sits an intimidating asshole. They’re dressed like they were Secret Service in a former life, but they don’t act like it.

I’m unable to control the quiver of my shoulders.

I was studying for the LSATs on campus late at night when a cloth was placed over my mouth and nose. In my panic, I inhaled a sickly-sweet odor, then my vision went dark, and when I woke up, I was in a musky warehouse. The men on either side of me now were there, leering at my body. They held me at gunpoint and made me strip off all my clothes. I was treated like an object as Anthony told them to check to see if my virginity was still intact. It’s not, but they wouldn’t take my word for it. Then, every inch of my body was examined.

Afterward, I was allowed to dress, and I tried to run—I didn’t get far and paid for my attempt. My clothes were torn in the struggle, and my nose smacked against the concrete floor, causing it to bleed. I was thrown into a chair, and they tied me to it with duct tape. All while their bosses watched in amusement.

The man driving the car now said his name was Pierce, and he told me to thank Spencer for my current situation. I still don’tknow what to make of that, but I know she didn’t set me up for this. There’s no way Spencer would do something like that. If she did, my brother wouldn’t be dating her.

The other man, Anthony, treats me like I’m a means to an end.

They’ve told me their names and haven’t made an effort to hide their faces. It doesn’t take a genius to know what that means . . .

They don’t plan on letting me survive this.

Hopefully, by now, Rio, Asher, and Zane have noticed I’m missing and are coming for me. I made Gabriel, Mateo, and Diego give me space, so I doubt they know about my kidnapping.

“Where are you taking me?”

Anthony turns in his seat like he’s planning on giving me an answer when they’ve ignored my questions thus far. He rears his hand back and brings it across my face. My head whips to the side, and the coppery taste of blood fills my mouth. Involuntary tears sting the corners of my eyes.

“Keep your mouth shut, you low-life whore,” Anthony spits at me.

My hand instinctively raises to my cheek, and the skin there heats up.

Anthony looks to the assholes with me in the backseat. “After she’s served her purpose, you can do what you want with her . . . and make sure it hurts.”

I look back and forth between the two men. The one on my right licks his lips as his eyes rake over my skin. The other stares at my breasts while he adjusts the erection in his pants.

I make myself as small as possible and do as Anthony says.

I remain silent for the rest of the drive.

This isn’t the first time someone has used their muscle to beat me down—it may not even be the last—but it’s the last time I’ll take it lying down.

I’m forcedfrom the car when one of the creeps drags me out by my hair. I bite my lip hard to prevent myself from crying out. The muscled creeps grab my arms, and we walk behind Anthony and Pierce as we near a brown brick building in Yonkers. I note the lack of windows.

There’s another man who looks identical to my two prison guards at the black metal door. He opens it for us, and the scent of booze, smoke, and sex fills my nose. Music pounds against my eardrums, and I’m hauled inside.

The hallway we enter is dark, and the air is stale. We go through another door with another man standing guard, and light finally meets my eyes. I blink, adjusting to the stage lights as I’m forced to cross to the far side of the main area, but no one pays attention to us.

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