Page 76 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“Okay.” As Carly and Parker stood to go to the kitchen, the door to the restaurant was rammed open so hard it splintered.
In an instant, two masked figures burst into the restaurant, their movements swift and determined. Parker immediately positioned himself in a protective stance in front of Carly. But one of the assailants struck him on the side of the head with a butt of a gun, and Parker crumbled to the ground, unconscious.
“Parker,” Carly screamed, stepping back in horror, ready to make a break for the kitchen.
But it was too late. The other assailant grabbed her, his grip iron-tight. Panic surged through Carly as she struggled against hercaptor, but her efforts were futile. The man was bigger and stronger than she was.
“What do you want?” Carly tried to get out of the man’s painful grip, but they ignored her.
She was pushed forward out of the restaurant, where an SUV with blacked-out windows was waiting. As the one assailant pulled open the back door, a third man called.
“Looks like we don’t have to go far for our next target,” the man said in triumph as he dragged his prey forward, and Carly’s heart sank in fear.
“Shay!” Carly called.
“Carly?” Shay’s eyes were wide and filled with confusion and fear. “What’s going on?”
“Keep calm,” Carly told her as the man dragged her near. “Where’s Oz?”
“If you mean the big lug that was dragging behind her…” the assailant that had captured Shay said. “He’s taking a nap like your friend in the restaurant.”
The men forced Carly and Shay into the SUV as she heard the one that climbed into the driver’s seat on his phone. “Do you have the third target?”
“Affirmative,” a voice said over the speakerphone.
Carly’s panic escalated when she wondered who the third target was. Parker’s words echoed through her mind about her being in danger and what lengths Daphne’s brother would go to to get what he wanted. Carly feared they were about to find out just how far the man was willing to go.
“She has nothing to do with whatever’s going on.” Carly struggled as her wrists were secured with a zip tie. “Please let the girl go.”
“No, I’m not leaving you, Carly,” Shay protested as her wrists were tied.
Before Carly could say anything else, a man appeared beside her with a syringe.
“What’s that?” Carly’s heart slammed into her chest.
Her eyes widened in terror as she realized what was about to happen. She tried to scream again, but before she could, the needle pierced her skin, and darkness enveloped her. The last thing Carly saw before succumbing to the sedative was a dark bag being put over Shay’s head.
CHAPTER 18
Ethan rounded the corner, nearing his driveway, the morning sun casting long shadows on the pavement. His jog had been a desperate attempt to clear his mind, to somehow make sense of the chaos that had enveloped his life recently. But peace was elusive, chased away by the sight of a car speeding into Carly’s driveway, its tires screeching as it came to a halt.
Ethan’s frown turned to alarm when he witnessed Parker Drew stumbling out of the vehicle, his movements frantic, a dark stain of blood seeping down the side of his head.
“Carly!” Parker yelled, stumbling up to her door and disappearing inside.
Ethan could hear Parker’s frantic cries for Carly. Without hesitation, Ethan rushed toward Carly’s house. His heart lurched as he propelled his tired limbs forward, his stomach coiling into a knot ofdread as he stopped at Carly’s front door. Shock tingled through his system when he noted the door had been kicked in, and judging by Parker’s state, Ethan knew it couldn’t have been him.
Ethan walked inside and found Parker leaning against the living room wall, barely able to hold himself up. Despair radiated from that man’s eyes, making his hands tremble and his voice cracked with emotion. “Carly… they took her,” Parker gasped out, barely coherent, before he wobbled and collapsed. Ethan managed to catch him before he hit the floor.
He dragged Parker over to the sofa. Leaning down, he tried to wake him up.
“Parker!” Ethan lightly tapped his face. “Who took Carly?” he demanded, his voice sharpening with urgency. “Parker, wake up, man!”
At that moment, Harley burst into the room, his expression one of panic and confusion. “Carly!” he called out, desperation evident in his voice.
“Harley, in here,” Ethan called, and within a few seconds, a frantic Harley was beside him.
“What happened?” Harley’s voice was sharp and curt.
