Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Where are you going?” Apple didn’t question me. She was already snagging her shorts and phone as she looked in the direction I’d indicated.
“To try to help that girl.”
Without waiting for Apple to fire off more questions, I ran through the sand across the beach as hard as I could go. I had the guy firmly in my sights, focused on him as he carried the screaming girl. He clamped a hand over her mouth as he continued to hurry off the beach and down an alleyway. I was glad I’d thought to slip on my flip-flops as I padded across the pavement. They weren’t much, but were better than my bare feet.
He made it halfway down the alley when the girl managed to wiggle out of his grasp. That gave me the precious moments I needed to get within striking distance before he got hold of her again. I saw him snake a zip tie around the girl’s wrists at the small of her back. He tossed her into the back of the van at the same time I leapt for him.
With a battle cry, I jumped onto his back, wrapping my arms and legs around him as tightly as I could. I had a choke hold on him, but couldn’t get the leverage I needed to make him hurt. I knew I didn’t need to hold on long before the member of Salvation’s Bane found us. I just had to hold out a couple of minutes at most.
The girl screamed shrilly, and I could hear her sobbing occasionally. When I heard the sound of someone smacking the child just before she stopped screaming, I realized we weren’t alone.
“Get this fuckin’ bitch off’a me!”
Yeah. I was in trouble. Just as I felt hands grab my waist, I snapped my head forward, slamming my forehead into the guy’s nose. Then I did the same to the other guy by jerking my head backward. I think I caught his chin instead of his nose and it made the back of my head sting.
“Mother fuck!” The second guy didn’t let me go, but staggered backward, his beefy arms solidly around me even though I’d obviously hurt him. “Secure the girl in the van, then help me with this bitch.” He squeezed his arms tighter around my slight form. It was like a python wrapping around me. Every time I breathed out, he seemed to know and adjust his hold even tighter, making it hard to breathe.
I gave a furious yell and started struggling in earnest now, knowing I had seriously bitten off more than I could chew. The guy used one hand to cover my mouth, which helped me breathe. Didn’t help me get away from the big bastard.
Just as the first guy turned away from the van, I got in a good, solid kick to this guy’s knee. It gave way and he fell to the ground. Amazingly, he retained his hold, but I took the opportunity to bite down on his hand with everything I had.
“Fuck!” He roared and jerked his hand away. I hoped the fuckers from Salvation’s Bane did what Apple told them and one of them was headed in my direction. If not, there was no way I was going to be able to help this girl before the men got her away.
“Bitch!” The first guy aimed a kick to my middle, but managed to catch the arm of the man holding me.
“Son of a bitch!” How this guy was still holding me, I had no idea, but he held on for dear life. “Stop tryin’ to kick her and get her fuckin’ legs so we can toss her in the van!”
When the first guy went for my feet, I kicked out, catching him in the balls. Even with only my flip-flops on, I still got in a good blow. He grabbed himself, stumbling backward. “Fuck! Goddamn fuckin’ bitch!”
The man holding me slipped a meaty arm around my neck and tightened his hold, cutting off my air but good this time. “Gave you a chance to go easy, girl. Now you’re gonna go the hard way.” Spots danced before my eyes and I continued to fight. I tried to yell out, but I could barely drag in a breath to keep myself conscious let alone scream. I knew someone from Bane had to be close by. I just had to hold out a few more minutes. Surely!
“She does that again, I’m gonna kill the bitch.” The first guy grabbed my feet, slipping a zip tie around my ankles. He sounded pained and his breath wheezed in and out of his lungs, but he got the job done.
“Just shut up and get her hands and get another tie for her feet. Someone’s coming.”
That made me fight all the harder. At least, I tried to. Not being able to breathe properly took more out of me than I thought. The next thing I knew they tossed me into the back of the van. The bigger guy managed to get a zip tie looped around my ankles and pulled securely. Then he slammed the door shut. When it took off, the tires peeled out on the asphalt. I was still taking in great gulps of air and the momentum slammed me back against the shut door. I groaned, doing my best to stay conscious. Beside me, the girl whimpered, occasional sobs coming from her.