Page 46 of Almost There
Her fingers brushed against the suede fabric of the couch, not clenching it like she wanted, and her pulse raced through her veins as she sighed like she was already bored. “I thought this was your game. I just wanted to join in on the fun.”
“This turns you on, doesn’t it?” Gerald chuckled as he staggered back, keeping the gun still pointed at her. He leaned down to sniff a short line and held the strings of his hooded sweatshirt so they didn’t disturb the powder on the tray. His eyes widened as his pupils dilated and he flexed his shoulders, letting the current run through him. “So, tell me, little red-head, what’s your story?”
And it all came rushing back, every memory she’d tried so hard to suppress. She wasn’t that person anymore. But she knew people like Gerald and the games they liked to play. She leaned against the couch and gave him a bright smile. “My husband is in the military. He’s been deployed for seven months. It gets a little lonely if you know what I mean.”
Robin gasped, shuddering beside her, but Tessa leaned forward to distract him from paying attention. “What’s your story? Do you have someone at home?”
Gerald’s entranced smile faltered and Tessa bit the inside of her cheek, cursing herself for not being more careful. She’d said too much, let on that she knew the truth that this wasn’t his house, and he wanted to be in control of that information. He wasn’t ready to explain.
“What now, boss?” Scott burst through the doors, shoving a bound and gagged woman onto the couch beside Robin. She turned to them, screaming through the fabric in her mouth, and Scott kicked his Timberland boot into her thigh.
Tessa didn’t have to stare at her to know who she was. Even with the sweat soaked hair and swelling features, she still was as beautiful as in the pictures of her wedding day. The woman dissolved into tears and Tessa straightened her chin, pressing her leg slightly against Robin’s leg to give her comfort. Her heart swelled when she felt Robin move to give the same simple gesture to the distraught woman. Her sobs quieted as she buried her face against the ropes on her wrists.
Gerald turned to Scott with a wicked grin. “The red-head says she wants to play.”
“Tessa.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “If I’m going to enjoy this, you should at least know my name.”
Gerald tapped his finger against the glass tray and she tried not to think about where it might be from. A China cabinet. Some family heirloom. His pause made her want to fill the silence, but men—no, rats—like this had to be in control. So she waited, bouncing her foot slowly to show her annoyance and pressing her bottom lip into a pout. Scott’s eyes were still focused on her and she angled her body his way to tempt him into reacting.
“Want me to break her in for you?” Scott asked when the tense silence was too much. The woman cried out again as hot tears ran down her face and Robin dug her nails into the skin of her own arms.
Tessa tactfully waited, calculating the odds and watching to see when a move would present itself in her favor. The kids were upstairs, their feet shuffling on the floor above, and now she just needed a chance. A moment to act without two guns pointed at her face. She’d take the odds with one. But what if there are more than two?
“I’m still thinking.” Gerald snorted a second line. “There’s got to be some joke about a blond, a brunette, and a red-head. Give me a minute to figure it out.”
Tessa rolled her head back against the couch and ran her fingers down her throat, looking at Scott from the corner of her eye. “I hope you have a babysitter up there. My kids don’t like to sit still for too long.”
Scott’s eyes jerked in their sockets, bouncing from Gerald’s face to the tray of drugs and back to Tessa when she moved her thumb to the crease of her lips to wipe off the moisture gathered there. “The doors and windows are locked. They’re not getting out. We can take our time.”
“Stop talking,” Gerald barked as he looked between Tessa and Scott. Robin’s heart was beating so hard Tessa felt the pulse against her leg and the gagged woman screeched out a painfilled cry.
Two guns then. She smiled, emboldened by the revelation. The only problem now was which one of the two would be harder to take down.
Scott looked to the tray of drugs again and then poked his head back out of the room to check the hallway, his nervous energy growing by the second.
Tessa leaned forward, testing a theory, and praying she wouldn’t push it too far. “What are you looking for?” She mustered a flirty lift to her voice.
“I said, stop talking to him,” Gerald growled, his dilated gaze fixed on her.
“I was just curious about what was so exciting out there.” She bit her bottom lip and looked up through her eyelashes. “You promised there’d be fun.”
“Get up.” Gerald grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet. Robin screamed as she reached out to pull Tessa back, and he shoved the barrel of the handgun against her mouth to push her down. “Not a sound from either of you.” Robin’s eyes were wild and bloodshot, but Tessa rested a calming hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry. It will be fun.” Tessa hoped she’d understand.
“Watch them,” Gerald hissed as he marched Tessa out the door.
“I changed my mind.” She froze and tried to will her heart to slow down.
The barrel of the handgun pressed hard against her lower spine. “Now you’re going to play hard to get?”
“No.” Tessa laughed, the sound hollow in her own ears, as she glanced over to the table and the glass tray. “I think I would like some of that. Can we bring it with us?”
“That’s a good idea.” Gerald winked.
“Oh come on,” Scott muttered under his breath as Gerald went back to retrieve the tray.
“Don’t worry.” Tessa pressed a finger against her lips. “I promise I’ll save some for you.”