nger marks blooming on my neck. I just wanted to get back to my

ver made

de door slid open, and two large men jumped out. Before I could scream, a hand clam

slammed shut, plunging me into darkness. A sharp

shock of icy wate

mess. I was in some kind of abandoned warehouse, the air smelling of

d in the vast space. "Well,

ion. Two men stood before me, the

you want?" I demande

id. He was holding a long, thin whip. He ran it through h

sharp, pierced

" I tried to sound strong, but my

t of what looked like saltwater. "We're just following orders. A l

topped. "Y

fore I could process his words. It s

white-hot line of agony. The saltwater they'd doused the whip in ma

p from screaming ag

s streaming down my face. "Was

gloom. "The boss is a smart man. He knew you'd try to play the

e he thought I'd hurt Kassidy. The man who had been m

st count. My back was a shredded mess of raw flesh.

one, the flash blinding me. "Scream louder

throat was raw, unti

ody gave up. I slumped forward in the chair, my c

n the cold concrete floor, untied. The men were gone. Th

, my body's desperate attempt to fight off the

it. A faint,

t my purse on the fl

drenaline shot through

in up my spine. The torn skin on my back scraped against th

yes fixed on the purse

nd the strap. I pulled it toward me, fumbling insid

ith Helene's face.

d to answer, my hand leaving

ay? Did you book your flight?" Her voi

o scream for help, but only a

... m

darkness swal