“Heard it all like that, did ya?”
She nodded. “The ass thing I made up just because I wanted to see what you said.”
“Uh-huh.”
“So when you uh-did them all-what did you think?”
“Vicky, I can’t talk about it right here.”
“You’re in love.” She sounded surprised.
“Looks that way.”
“With all of them?” Further shock.
“I am.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yep.”
“Peyton, this isn’t good,” Vicky dropped her hands then and looked at the end of the hallway. She tilted her head sideways and stared at the double doors. “Who is that guy down there? I’ve seen him someplace before.”
Peyton only glanced at him. “I don’t know. He kind of looks familiar but I don’t know him.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Vicky chirped. “Anyway, honey you have to think about college here. You’ve worked pretty hard to let your dreams wait you know.”
“Vicky, just because I love them doesn’t mean I have to put college on hold.”
“So they want you to go away to school?”
“Braden’s always wanted me to go to college. Evan and Kane too. Just because I’m in love with them doesn’t mean…, Who is that guy?” Peyton turned her attention back to the tall fellow at the end of the hall now and slammed her locker shut. He stood there out in the open rubbing his hand over the front of his jeans.
“I don’t know, but he’s creepy. I’m ready to get out of here.”
“Yeah me too. Watch him. He’s playing with himself down there,” Peyton said.
“Peyton, I hate to tell you this but after the rumors flying around the school today, every guy in this place walked around with a stiff one. It’s true…every last one of them.” She giggled as she locked arms with Peyton, and they walked passed the strange fellow without a second glance.
Once outside, Freda screamed her bloody head off. “Hey Vicky! You promised to help me with Algebra. Where have you been?”
“Great, I forgot. I wanted more details, and I’m stuck with Miss Studious instead.”
“I’ll fill you in later,” Peyton shrugged. “Besides, there’s a lot to tell.”
Freda stopped behind Peyton’s car and waved before she slowly pulled to the curb. Peyton tossed her books on top of the car and that’s when she felt the numbing heart-stopping object in her side.
“Miss Storm.” The hot breath against her ear was dangerous with desire and anger. “I have a gun in your side. Nine millimeter. I’ll drop you where you stand and call it a day if you don’t do what I say. Do you understand?”
Peyton nodded.
He pressed it harder against her ribs. “From what I understand, you know all about playing the part of perfect little submissive. I want you to say yes or no when I address you. Do you understand?”
Without thinking, she nodded again, and the gun clicked. “What did I tell you? I said answer with a yes or a no. Would you like for me to pull the trigger?”
“No! No! I’m sorry. I’ll do what you say.” Peyton scanned the near vacant parking lot. She saw Freda’s car creeping to a halt at the stop sign. She closed her eyes and prayed. Please! Please! See me! See me! Go get help! Her worse fear realized, Peyton saw the brake lights. Vicky must’ve noticed Peyton still standing there in the parking lot and asked Freda to go back. Oh God, don’t let him shoot them. Don’t let him shoot them.
“Okay, now, I’m going to take you to the other side and put you in the car. When your friends come back-I’m assuming that’s them approaching us now-you’ll react in a way that doesn’t set off any alarms or all of you die here today. Do you understand?”
Peyton nodded and said yes at the same time.
“Good. Very good, kitten. Now, get your books from the top of the car and move to the other side. Give me your keys.” Fear stilled her movements, and the tears she wanted to cry were locked inside her lids.
“Hey, Peyton. Everything all right, here?” Vicky’s expression held knowledge. She quickly scanned Peyton’s face before she focused on the large man next to her.
“Everything’s fine. I thought you two were going to go study.”
Freda gritted her teeth and shrugged. “She said you might have locked yourself out of the car.”
Peyton never locked herself out.
“Actually, I thought you lost your keys again. I thought we’d give you a ride home if you needed one. I know Evan hates to come all the way out here when you lose them.”
Peyton never lost her keys. “Yeah, well, not today. I didn’t lose them today. You’re exactly right. Evan hates it when…” The man at her side narrowed his eyes and held the gun into her lower back. His jacket concealed it. “Anyway, thanks for checking Vicky. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Her eyes watered then, and she stepped inside the car.
Oh God! Oh God! Don’t let him shoot them. Leave, Vicky! Please leave! She turned to look at her friend and quickly pursed her lips and closed her eyes tightly before she turned back to look at her abductor. He walked slowly in front of the car, and the way he moved reminded her of someone, of something. He stopped before he got in the car and Peyton assumed he was watching as Freda and Vicky left the parking lot.
Peyton reached in her purse and hit one for home. “Oh God, someone please answer. Someone please be there.” She didn’t put the phone to her ear. She just rambled. “If anyone can hear me. If anyone can hear me, don’t say anything. Just listen. Just listen because today I’m going to die if you don’t.”
Evan got the call. He almost didn’t hear the phone ring and typically wouldn’t have gone back inside to get it. Since the other two were in the barn, he thought it might be someone coming out to the ranch to look at Braden’s horse.
Braden had advertised the damn thing on the internet and everyone interested somehow had trouble with the directions. He didn’t mind taking the place of a computerized map if it meant that damn horse would soon disappear.
He answered the phone right as Braden and Kane rushed in. “Vicky called and-”
Evan put his fingers to his lips, replaced the receiver on the cradle and hit the speaker option. They glared at it as their nightmare unfolded.
“If anyone can hear me. If anyone can hear me, don’t say anything. Just listen. Just listen because today, I’m going to die if you don’t. I’m at the school. Someone has me, and he’s got the keys and he’s going to kill me. Call Vicky. Call Vicky if you hear me. He’s going to get in the car and drive us somewhere. Right now he’s pacing from one side of the car to the next and-”
The car door slammed and the engine revved. “Peyton Storm…”
“You know me?”
The Cartwells exchanged wary glances. Evan tried to think. The voice sounded somewhat familiar, faintly recognizable with a distinct accent he’d heard somewhere before.
“I know enough about you to recognize a bought whore when I see one.”
Evan clenched his fist and Braden flinched. Kane quietly stood at the window clutching the phone Vicky must’ve called earlier. He quickly keyed in a message and sent a text to someone, maybe Vicky.
“Keep him talking, Peyton. Keep him talking.” Evan stared at the only link they had to her now.
“I’m not a whore,” she told him.
A grotesque chuckle filled the phone. “You’re not? I think the whole town around here might disagree.”
Nothing came through the phone for the next several minutes but Evan realized they still had a connection. The hum of Peyton’s car was hard to deny. Evan found the mute button on the phone and hit it.
“What the fuck is going on?” He glared at his brothers.
“Vicky said she was with Peyton earlier when they spotted this creep in the school. She’s with Freda, and they’re on their way out here.”
“I sent Vicky a text. Freda’s dropping her off here,” Kane said.
Evan leaned on the kitchen counter and stared at the speaker. He traced it with his fingertips. “Come on, baby. Get him talking. Tell us what you see. Anything, Peyton. Get him talking.”