7
Ipaused the movie on my phone when I heard the lock on the front door tumble to the floor. I jumped off of the couch and rushed to Drake’s room, hiding in the back of his closet. Drake had gone with Tyrone for a meeting with the Reapers, and the last that I had spoken to Drake, they weren’t sure if they would be back before the night was over.
I was alone in the house with no defense whatsoever.
And someone knew I was here.
With shaking hands, I dialed Drake’s number, only for it to go to his voicemail. I jumped in fright when I heard something crash to the floor in the dining room. I blew out a harsh breath, forcing myself to stay calm while I dialed Damien’s number.
“Hey, beautiful,” he answered, his voice soft and smooth, helping me focus on what was going on around me.
“Damien, I need help,” I whispered.
A low growl sounded from his throat. “Stay calm and hidden. I’m on my way,” he told me without hesitation.
I held my breath when I saw boots move in front of the closet. I was praying to everything holy that Damien made it there soon—and fast.
The closet door swung open, and I screamed when one of Mark’s men yanked me up off the floor, holding a gun to my head. “Let’s have a chat, sweetheart,” Mark said, sauntering into the bedroom. “Put her in that chair, James,” he instructed, pointing to Drake’s computer chair.
James—the guy holding me—shoved me down into Drake’s computer chair, taping my wrists to the chair so that I couldn’t get up. I clenched my fist, glaring up at both of them despite how terrified I felt. “Alright, sweetheart, here’s my problem,” Mark started, walking forward so he was standing in front of me. He knelt so his eyes were level with mine. I kept my gaze level with his even though my heart was pounding with fear, and I felt like throwing up everywhere. “Lacie owed me a lot of money, and before we killed her for not paying us back, she told us you had our money. I’ve told you before that I need that money.”
I glared at him, forcing myself not to show him any kind of fear. “All I remember is you holding a gun to my head and forcing me to snort coke up my nose,” I snarled.
He backhanded me, sending me toppling to the floor. I gritted my teeth against the pain as James righted me back up, but not a single sound of pain left my lips. “I guess knocking you out took away some of your memory, so let me remind you.” He pulled a gun out and pressed it to my temple. I squeezed my lips together into a tight line, feeling the blood rush from my face. “Lacie owed us ten grand, Hayley, and she told us you would pay it back. We want that money, sweetheart.”
Joke was on him because I was so broke that I was two months behind on my rent.
Another man came into the room with a phone held up to his ear. “Sir, someone is coming up the driveway. We need to go.”
Mark nodded and stood back up to his full height. “I’m going to leave you with a reminder that I intend to get my money, Hayley.”
A blood-curdling scream ripped from my lips as Mark shot me in the thigh. Both men left the room, and I sobbed, desperately trying to breathe through the pain. “Hayley!” I heard Damien shout. “Hayley, baby, where are you?”
“Damien!” I called, another sob falling from my lips.
He rushed into the room with Miles right behind him. “Fuck!” Damien roared as he rushed over to me. He yanked his shirt over his head and applied pressure to my wound. I cried out in pain, gagging when the intensity of it made vomit rush up my throat. Damien reached up and ran his hand over my unbruised cheek, his face pained. “I’m here, baby,” he soothed. He looked up at Miles. “Cut this fucking tape,” he ordered.
Miles quickly cut the tape and ripped it off me. Damien stood up and lifted me into his arms, cradling me to his chest. “I’m taking her to the hospital. Call Dr. Burns,” Damien instructed Miles. “I want him ready to take care of her when I fucking get there.”
Miles nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket as he walked ahead of us to the front door. He slid into the driver’s seat of a sports car and Damien got into the backseat with me, keeping pressure on my leg. “Fucking hell, baby girl, I’m sorry this happened,” he murmured, agony for me clear in his voice.
“It hurts,” I cried.
Damien pressed his lips to my temple. “I know, beautiful. I know, and I’m so fucking sorry.”
Damien
I pulledmy phone out of my pocket as soon as Hayley was knocked out from the morphine Dr. Burns had given her so he could work on her leg. I dialed Drake’s number and put the phone to my ear. His phone went straight to voicemail, and I clenched my jaw, flexing my hand at my side to prevent myself from trashing the hospital room.
How in the fuck were you meant to protect someone—especially someone as precious as Hayley—if you didn’t even have your goddamn phone on?
I tried Tyrone’s number next. He answered on the third ring. “What’s up?” he asked.
“Where’s Drake?” I demanded to know as I paced the length of the room, feeling like a caged lion.
“Beside me. What’s going on?” he asked.
I wanted to reach through the phone and wring Drake’s fucking neck. “Put him on,” I growled.