“Sadie!” I kneeled in front of her. “Baby?” I shook her, but her eyes closed despite my attempts to liven her up. Panic shot through my soul. My staticky brain struggled to understand what was going on as my whole world spun out of control.
What had I done? How could I endanger my child?
Helplessness crashed down on me like an epic wave.
“What was in those drinks?” I screamed at the blonde as I pressed my hand to my forehead to make the room stop spinning.
Shock crossed her face. “I don’t know. Is she… alive?”
I shot my gaze back to Sadie. “Oh God!” Tears blurred my vision as I pressed two fingers to her neck to check for a pulse. I frantically moved my fingers, searching. I had never taken CPR. I didn’t know what I was doing. “I can’t find it! Call an ambulance!”
“Ernie wouldn’t like that. I’ll go get help.”
My body shook as I stared at my unconscious baby, my head more chaotic than before.
Suddenly the back door flew open. Three people dressed in black and wearing masks ran in, holding guns.
Blondie and I screamed.
“Shut up, Jaynee,” one hissed. How did he know my name? He didn’t sound familiar. Or did he? Whatever was in my drink distorted my hearing and thoughts. He held the gun on me.
“Who… are y-you?” I stuttered.
He laughed and grabbed my arm. “Get the girl,” he told one of the other guys.
I jerked my arm in his grasp, trying to break free. “No! Don’t touch her. Help us!” I yelled at the terrified blonde.
She turned on her heel to run out the door to the stage and was grabbed by the hair, except it wasn’t her hair. It was a wig.
“Son of a bitch!” The masked man reacted quickly and shot her in the back.
The girl screamed as she fell face-first on the floor.
I stared at the young woman, unable to move. My instincts told me to cooperate, or I’d be next. It was loud in the club. No one would hear the commotion going on in the dressing room.
I was alone, drugged, and helpless.
Maybe Ernie had security cameras. Richard did at his club to keep his girls safe.
Richard.
“Fuck, let’s get out of here!” the man holding me back told the others.
“No, let go of me!” The will to fight hit me. I kicked at him as he dragged me to the alley door. “Give me my daughter.”
“Shut up!” He squeezed my arm and shoved me out.
I fell on my knees, yelping in pain. My silk robe opened, baring my chest. I trembled in the cold air as I watched one of the men carrying Sadie.
Before I could stand, I heard a motorcycle in the distance. Maybe more than one.
“Someone is coming,” another masked man shouted.
“Put the kid in the back.”
“No!” I screamed, reaching for Sadie.
I needed to save my daughter. We were all each other had in this world.
Fight Jaynee, fight. Don’t give up.
“Stop, you stupid, fat bitch,” the gunman growled.
Searing pain exploded in the back of my head. My pulse whooshed in my ears as I clawed the asphalt, willing myself to crawl toward my baby.
Save Sadie. Protect Sadie.
It was no use. My limbs locked up as I dropped like a ton of bricks onto the pavement.
Everything went black.