Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
“Fine. Whatever. I’m trying here, Astrid.” He shoves his key into the lock on the trunk of his car, then spins back toward me and I ready myself for whatever he’s going to say, but he raises his voice, looking toward the van. “Now, Wally!”
For a second, I’m stunned. Who’s Wally?
A few seconds later, I’ve got it put together but it’s too late.
The doors on the back of the van swing open, and a huge sweaty paw clasps over my mouth, cutting off my scream. I struggle, kicking out, but just hear a low laugh as I’m dragged back and bent over the back of the van.
“Settle down, or I’ll give you something to cry about.”
He slaps my ass hard, and I screw up my face, trying desperately to scream, or bite his fingers, or anything to get him off me but a sticky strip of duct tape slaps over my lips.
I recognize the voice right away, and I know who he is. Wallace Yates. A friend of my stepfather’s. He’s big and rough, and he smells like sewer water.
“That’s enough, Wally. She’s a little bitch, but she’s still my stepdaughter. Put her in the van.”
I shake my head, and somehow find the strength to wrench my body out of Wally’s vise-like grip. Seizing my chance, I kick out at his shin, landing a good, solid blow. Wally cries out and I pull away from his arms. My stepfather reaches out to grab me, but I throw a punch his way, landing it solid catching him on the side of his nose and seeing blood spurt.
That’s it. It’s my chance. I don’t waste another second as I half-stumble, half-sprint for the back door of the bar. As I run, I am counting my steps but I don’t get far.
The blow hits in my lower back and knocks the wind out of me as it sends me hurtling into the asphalt. I scream into the tape over my mouth and there’s no way it’s loud enough to alert anyone not close by.
I scrape my palms and knees on the hard surface of the parking lot, but I barely feel the pain as a heavy body is on top of me, hands around my torso as I’m hauled up and manhandled back to the van.
Wally drags me inside and my stepfather climbs in behind him, grinning as I’m shoved down onto the floor.
“You think I’m just going to let you go? Let you take what’s rightfully mine?” My stepfather laughs. “No. You’ll sign over the inheritance, and then I’ll decide what to do with you. Maybe you can convince me that you won’t be any bother.” He presses his lips together as though in thought. “Or maybe I just let Wally here do whatever he likes with you before he gets rid of you permanently. He always did like you. After all, you did disappear into the woods. But if you want any chance of living, you’ll sign what I tell you to sign. Wally, tape her hands and feet together and let’s get out of here before somebody decides to play hero.”
He turns and grabs the inside handle to the van door, about to pull it closed, then a little yelp escapes his lips, and that’s the last sound he makes before a black shadow darkens the open door.
12
Mathias
MY FIST CONNECTS WITH the fuck’s face so hard it knocks him across the van and into the backs of the seats on the other side. I don’t waste a second, climbing inside.
The space is small for me, and I end up crouching, which isn’t the best situation for a fight but I don’t give a flying fuck. This asshole is going down, and he’ll be lucky if he ever wakes up again.
“Astrid. Is. Mine.” With each word I land another punch, his face turning to a pulpy mess, but my rage is a fire burning through me.
He throws up an arm to defend himself, but his pathetic attempt does nothing to stop me. “No. One. Touches. What. Is. Mine.”
There’s a growl of rage from behind me, and as it’s clear Astrid’s stepfather isn’t going to be moving for a long while, I turn around just in time to see the glint of steel as the other fucker takes a swipe at me.
“Seriously? You too,” I growl as the blade glances off my shoulder. I feel it connect but there’s no pain, only more rage.
I lurch forward and his eyes go wide as he steps back. Maybe it’s seeing me up close that’s given him the shits, or maybe it’s seeing the state of his partner in crime. I don’t really care about the details. All I know is, he’s my next target.
He takes another shot at me, a bit of the bravado in his face gone. I pop my clenched fist at his eye and hear a squelching sound as my punch lands right on target.