What to do?
I looked around, but no one seemed to be paying attention. What was it with people? So self-absorbed they couldn’t be bothered to take a break from their goddamn cell phones long enough to help a guy out.
Before I thought about it, I ran to Paul’s SUV, which was parked a short distance away at the curb. Unlocking it through his key fob, I jumped in, threw his stuff on the passenger seat, revved the motor and took off, hoping to follow where they were going. Scanning ahead two and three blocks, I thought I saw a black luxury car driving erratically on Sunset and tried to dodge in and around cars to catch up. The moment of heartbreak was when I did finally catch up, only to find that it wasn’t the right Mercedes. A woman with fake blond hair, a fake tan, fake boobs and only one hand on the wheel as she chatted on the phone was simply driving negligently. Chances were, Paul’s kidnappers had turned down a side street before I could catch up.
Why hadn’t I thought of that? I should have been looking...harder. I don’t know.
Now I had no idea where Paul was being taken or what would happen to him. I decided to head for the condo. With Reggie gone from the office, potentially a missing person, no one was going to miss me. And if they did, I could always say that Reggie had asked me to handle some things for him. Besides, with all of these people turning up missing, it just seemed better to get back to Ryder. He’d know what to do.
I pulled my phone out of my purse to call Ryder and let him know the change of plans, but when I tried to connect, the phone suddenly lost all bars and the message No Service Available was displayed.
What. The. Hell. I shoved my phone into my bra and prayed that I wasn’t stepping into a trap.
Chapter Twenty
“Are you Taylor?”
I’d just pulled into the alley behind the condo when a beautiful brunette with long flowing hair and golden eyes stepped out of a low-slung sports car. She was wearing skinny jeans that clung to every curve, chunky sandals and a figure-hugging T-shirt with a smiling white cartoon kitty, which allowed me to feel somewhat superior for having on a chic pair of linen trousers paired with a well-tailored, fitted blouse. Her expression captured my attention. It was edgy and somewhat panicked, like she needed me to hurry.
“Who are you?” I asked cautiously, pulling the long strap of my purse over my head diagonally and closing the driver’s side door.
“My name’s Jory. I’m an old friend of Sy and Ryder’s.”
Recognizing the name, I quickly said, “Yes, I know.” Geesh. He hadn’t told me she was beautiful. “You were his girlfriend?”
“Years ago. He and Sy are just good friends of mine now. I hope you understand, though this might seem kind of weird. They’ve helped me out over the years, as you’ve probably heard.” She looked sincere, her eyes wide and her voice subdued. She seemed like a perfectly lovely girl. Damn.
“Were you looking for them?”
“No. I was looking for you.”
That got my attention. “Me?”
“Ryder can’t get through to you. He needs you. He just had an encounter with Ranik—”
Damn my phone! Nervously, I asked, “Is he okay?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure. I think he had to take Sy to the hospital.”
“Oh, my God! Sy was hurt?”
“I think so.”
“Which hospital?”
Jory’s eyes were distracted by movement over my shoulder. I heard a car pull up and the protesting creak of a heavy door sliding open. Glancing back, I felt my heart drop. No... It couldn’t be...
The same two guys who’d tried to grab me off the street jumped out with determined, angry looks on their bruised faces. My heart went from doing double time to doing quadruple time instantly.
No! Fucking A, could I catch a break here? On a rush of adrenaline, I spun and ran. I was ready to put the pedal to the metal and go hardcore out of the alley and back to the strand at the front of the building. I could get lost in the crowd. I could run into the little French bakery. I could damn well run straight out into the crashing surf!
I only made it a few steps. My arm was expertly hooked and twisted sharply up behind my back, and my body got shoved chest first over the hood of Paul’s car. Pain radiated from my shoulder. My ribs protested being slammed into the SUV. I took a gasping breath.
What happened?
I looked back at Jory and saw that the concern she’d displayed was now covered over with impatience as she restrained me effortlessly. What was happening here?
“Jory?” My voice felt small. I couldn’t get air.
“Took you long enough,” she snapped, directing her comment past me, and I realized she’d been stalling me this whole time. She’d been giving the two thugs time to arrive. Oh, my God. We were hidden back here in the alley. There was no one else around. It was restricted parking, not where tourists would be found, my phone wasn’t working and Ryder was likely at the sushi restaurant. I was so screwed.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” The bald guy stepped up and snagged my arm in his meaty grasp. “Nowhere to run?”
“No boyfriend to save her this time.” The crew-cut guy sneered. “I hope he shows. Bastard kicked teeth out of my mouth. I want payback.”
“Cut the chitchat.” Jory’s tone was suddenly hard-edged, and I swung back to her with surprise. Her sweet-faced, grateful-ex facade had been replaced with a cold expression. “Get her in the van. We have people waiting for us. Frank doesn’t want them to be kept waiting. We need her with the other one.”
“You!” I gasped. “You’re the traitor!”
“I’m sure I’m not the only one,” she said dispassionately.
“Did you break into my apartment?”
“Looking for the mylunate you took from Ranik,” she said, and gave me a quick scan as though looking for it. “Broke into your car, too, though I couldn’t find it. I recommend you give it up to Ranik. He can get mean.” She started to turn away but paused and looked back. “You might want to just give it up to me. Trust me, you don’t want them looking for it.” She gave a nod toward the men holding me from behind.
I knew the mylunate could maybe get me out of this. I needed to think. I couldn’t just give it up. “I don’t have it.” She’d also said something like I was joining the other one. Did she mean Paul?
Jory sighed and shook her head. “If that’s how you want to play it.” She nodded to the men.
That’s when the rag was shoved in my face. Horrified, I got a lungful of something pungent and chemical. I struggled against the darkness but had no chance of escape. My shattering scream of terror was trapped, echoing through my mind...
...I came to when my head smacked the side of the van during a sharp turn, aggravating the pain that was already pounding there. I hissed. It took several seconds for me to remember what had happened, but when I did, my eyes snapped open blearily.
The bitch had betrayed me!
My hands were tied behind me, stretching my shoulder muscles painfully. I saw that I was on the inside of a van and it was all metal, having been gutted. Jory had lured me out for easier abduction, and I had played right into her hands. She’d obviously been following me with all of this planned out. I could see part of the leg of one of the men from my vantage point, the camouflaged material looking old and worn. Wasn’t he the one who’d killed the Vietnamese girl? Taken her from her family back during the war?