Page 40 of Protecting Clove
Keith had her and planned on selling her to someone. What did that mean? She frantically felt around for a trunk release but didn’t find anything. She was trapped with no escape. What the hell was she going to do?
30
Bud woke to Kevlar tapping him on the shoulder. “What the hell?”
“We have a problem.”
He wiped his hand over his face. “What problem?”
“Remi was sleeping over because of the storm. Keith found them and broke in. He has Clove.”
Bud sat up, trying to clear the sleep from his brain. “Has her? Where?”
“She wasn’t wearing the earrings, but she has her phone for now.”
“Okay. I need to get home.”
“There is a flight leaving in twenty minutes. We have places.”
“Okay.” Bud grabbed his bag and stood. They were heading out now. He would be in California in a few hours, and then he would do everything he could to get Clove back.
The flight took off on time, which he was thankful for. They would be in California in a few hours, and then he would hit the ground running.
Clove didn’t knowhow long they drove, maybe hours, but when the car stopped, she felt relief. She knew she had to escape, or she would risk everything. She couldn’t go with whoever Keith wanted her to go with, or Keith could come back and hurt Neo, and she wouldn’t let that happen.
The trunk popped open, and she played limp, waiting for him to pull her up. When he pulled her to sitting, she punched his chest, throwing him off balance. He stumbled, and she climbed out of the trunk and then ran as fast as she could.
She was about fifty yards away before she heard him getting up. The rain still came down hard, soaking her. With the heavy wind, she was cold, and she had no shoes on, so every little pebble hurt. She wanted to stop, but she couldn’t. She had to keep going or risk having Neo abused by this bastard.
It was dark, and the rain obscured much. She had no clue where she was or if they were even still close to San Diego. The rain still fell, so they hadn’t gone so far as to escape the storm. Maybe they were close to their house. She had to keep going. If she stopped, Keith wouldn’t let her get away next time.
The plane landed,and Bud was the first one off with Kevlar right behind him. Kevlar was headed to Bud’s house to be with Remi and Neo. At least he would know Neo was safe. He was headed to Clove, or at least the last known location of her phone.
It would take him about twenty minutes if the freeways were clear. Only the last dregs of the storm were hanging around so the wind and rain had died in most areas. He just had to have a clear shot of the area where Clove was last located.
Thario had sent a note stating that her phone hadn’t moved in about twenty minutes. He just hoped she was still there when he arrived.
He didn’t drive too much over the speed limit and arrived in about eighteen minutes. He had up the map locating her and spied a car with the trunk open. Traveling with the military meant he had his Glock on him. He slowly approached, not hearing or seeing anyone. The trunk was empty except for her phone, which was in the corner of the trunk. Maybe it had fallen out of her pocket when she’d been tossed in the back of the trunk.
“Fuck,” he said under his breath. He looked around, searching for her. She wasn’t in a heap on the ground or running toward him.
He didn’t know which way to go. He was about to call out for her when a man came around the corner. The dude’s steps stalled when he saw Bud. That guy was the only person out. He belonged to this car.
Bud moved to meet the man when he took off running. At least the rain had stopped. Bud raced after him, gaining on him. He was maybe ten feet away when the guy tripped and went down.
Bud jumped on him, holding him down. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
Bud punched her. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know. She ran when I opened the trunk.”
Bud threw another punch, this one hard enough to knock the bastard out. “Fuck. Where is she?”
He stood, glancing around. She had to be close. There was no way she had run far. She had to be afraid.
“Clove!” He took off down the street, then turned and moved back the other way. Where was she? He got about a hundred yards down the street when he heard something in an alleyway. He called out again. “Clove!”
