3
Jessa
I’m frozen,paralyzed with fear. I don’t understand anything he just told me, nothing makes sense. I try and digest every single thing I hear him saying but I can’t. My mind refuses to understand the words. He must be mistaken, my father would never do those things.
I scoot back on the thin hospital mattress as far as I can. I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them in an attempt to make myself smaller. They might not kill me outright, but I know by the time they’re done with me that I’ll be wishing for death. I quickly scan the room, looking for an exit, a weapon, anything that I can use to fight them off. I know it’s stupid, but what’s stupider is just sitting here, not making any type of attempt at an escape.
My brows furrow in confusion. We are in a hospital room that looks like it hasn’t been used in many, many, years. The air is thick with dust and mold, the once white sheets on the mattress have taken on more of a yellowish shade now.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, not really sure what I’m apologizing for. My voice feels so small in this room, and the danger coats my throat with each breath I take. Even if my father possibly had something to do with the death of his parents and his sister, which I still can’t believe, I know it would have been for a reason.
My father would never hurt someone like that. I consider the possibility that they’re lying but looking at his expression, the pain in his eyes, I can see that he is not. He really believes what he is saying, so there is only one explanation in my mind left. They must have the wrong guy, it must be a mix-up, they just got wrong information somehow.
At my words, he raises his head and his eyes meet mine again. I can see the conflict within his gaze. He hates me for some reason I can’t comprehend, he wants to hurt me, but every once in a while, I see something else flicker across his face. Something I didn’t find in Trey’s eyes… compassion, kindness.
“You have to have the wrong person. My father would never hurt someone. I’m sorry for what happened to them, your parents and sister, but there is no way it was my father.” Fire flickers in his eyes and his fists clench at his sides. His biceps bulge and I know he wants to hurt me. His mouth opens and it looks as if he is about to say something, but then the door opens and the other two walk in.
Trey is holding some camera equipment in his hands while the one so adamant on killing me is simply holding a black duffle bag. He throws the bag on the ground next to the door and I can hear some metal rattle around inside of it. I watch him kneel down beside the bag unzipping it, a rope appearing in his hands a moment later.
“Please, you don’t have to do this,” I start to beg. I refuse to just give in, refuse to not struggle, or cry, or plea. I will do everything I can, use every emotion I can to manipulate them.
When he straightens up and turns, he crosses the room with three large strides until he is right beside the bed. I look into his dark brown eyes and I find something completely different than I had from the other two. There is neither hate nor compassion, and no matter how much, or for how long I look into his eyes, searching for something…anything, there is nothing. Either he has no feelings at all, which I doubt, or he’s a master at hiding them, which is much more likely.
“Ready when you are,” Trey announces, the camera set up pointing right at me. My chest is so tight I can barely expand it enough to take a breath. My heart is seconds away from exploding and it feels like I’m going to have a full-blown panic attack.
“Please…I’m begging you. I’m not lying…I swear you have the wrong person. I didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah, neither did our family,” Trey growls, the muscle in his jaw tightening.
Our family? Does that mean they’re brothers?
“Declan, tie her up,” Wes orders and like a feral cat, I press up from the mattress. I know my escape may be pointless knowing it’s three against one, but I’m tiny, and maybe they just would never expect it. Maybe I’m faster than them. I need to try something, I just can’t let them tie me up, rape, and kill me.
I don’t even make it close to the door. Trey grabs my arm, yanking me back. I cry out in pain while he pulls back my arm roughly and pushes me back toward the bed. I trip and fall into Declan’s arms, who then shoves me back on the bed. In the process, I lose what was left of my shirt, leaving me in nothing but my white cotton panties.
Trey is on me next, holding me down by my shoulders while Declan starts tying my wrists to the headboard. That’s the moment I give up fighting. There is just no way I can overpower three guys. I feel like any further struggle is only going to make it worse for me now. So instead I relax my body as much as I can and stare at the ceiling covered in cobwebs, imagining I’m anywhere but here.
“Already lost all your fight, Princess? I expected better.” Trey smirks while Declan finishes tying me up. His hands are gentle which is surprising given the emotionless look in his eyes. When he is done, both of my wrists are tied to the headboard and both of my ankles are tied to the footboard. I’m exposed, humiliated beyond belief and I know it’s only going to get worse.
“If you stop now, maybe I can convince my father to help you find out who really did this to your family.” I’m grasping at straws, hoping I can end this before it turns into a complete nightmare.
Trey laughs, nudging Wes in the shoulder. “You hear that? She’s bartering. Acting like she doesn’t know what kind of man her father is.”
My stomach rolls and I swear I’m seconds away from vomiting. I pull against the ropes, wishing for an escape.
Trey’s words only ignite the fire in Wes’s gaze.
“You’re going to help us whether you want to or not,” Declan answers this time.
“Camera is ready,” Trey announces, and I go back to staring at the ceiling. Maybe if I crawl deep enough inside my mind, I can escape this moment. I grit my teeth, trying to stop my trembling lips, my trembling body. I feel the bed dip before Wes starts talking right next to me. Tears spring from my eyes, sliding down my cheeks, and still, I keep my gaze on the ceiling.
“Jonathan, remember us? You’re probably surprised to see us since you had the hotels where we were staying blown up. Unfortunately for you, we had already left. I’ll spare you all the boring details on what we’ve been up to. None of that is important. What is, however, is who we have with us today.” I don’t glance over to see his face but can hear the amusement in his tone. He is enjoying this, enjoying hurting me, my father, even though neither of us has done anything.
“As you might recall, you sent us a video of how our family died. We were just thinking since we have your daughter here, we should return the favor…unless you are willing to give us what we want.” He pauses briefly, and I hold my breath wondering what will happen next.
“Hand over the USB stick and we’ll let your daughter live. Of course, we need to make sure you understand how serious we are, so we’re going to give you a little taste of what’s to come.” He barely finishes the words before I feel his huge hand around my neck, squeezing it until it’s hard to breathe. My lungs burn, and spots form over my vision.
No! No!