What Doesn't Destroy Us (The Devil's Dust #1)(56)

“I’ll give him a call,” Ricky says, leaving the room.

I jump to my feet, pain ripping through my body and making it hard to think clearly. “Wait!” I yell.

Ricky skids to a halt at the door frame.

“How is Shadow, er, I mean Adrian supposed to give you what you want if he doesn’t know who has me?” I reason, trying to think on my toes at where I am going with this. I am merely trying to stall them.

“What do you mean; he knows who has you. I told him what would happen if he didn't give me what I want. I've given him plenty of time,” Cassie says, as she lifts off the bed to join Ricky.

“He is in a Motorcycle Club. I have had plenty of threats of being taken, sweetheart. He has no clue who has me,” I say, my tone flat and shaky. As far I know only she has threatened to take me, but maybe if I play my cards right I can make contact with Shadow so he can pinpoint exactly where I am.

“What’s your point, bitch?” Ricky asks, irritated.

“Call him; tell him where I am? Take a picture of my face?” I say, pointing to my busted lip and my head. If it looks as bad as it feels, it will make Shadow blow his lid for sure. “Show him you’re not messing around,” I pronounce, matter-of-fact.

“And what happened to my head anyway?” I ask, as it throbs loudly.

“I couldn’t get you in the f*cking trunk,” Ricky says, laughing. So glad my pain brings him pleasure.

They both look at each other, both wondering if I had a point.

“Go get her phone,” she orders Ricky. He rolls his eyes and mumbles off into the other room. He comes back with my phone and starts trying to figure out how to take a picture. I look around the room to see if something can help locate where I am, but even I don't know where I am.

“Maybe you should take me into the other room; the lighting in here sucks. He will never see my busted lip with the lighting in here,” I say, trying to play them over. Night is coming on and the two little windows did nothing for light. Maybe in the other room there is a larger window and something out the window will place my location. I have to be quick with night approaching so fast.

“Nice try, bitch. I worked hard on that chain. You’re staying in here where you can’t escape,” Ricky says, pointing the phone in my direction. My gut wrenches; Shadow will never know where I am. They will give a drop location and never deliver me. They will sell me to Poppy and I will never be with Shadow or my dad again.

“Shit, she’s right. This damn lighting in here sucks. We are going to have to take her to the other room,” Cassie says, looking at the picture. My heart resumes beating; a flicker of hope springs to the surface.

“Shit,” Ricky says, agreeing with her after looking at the picture. He walks over to me and pulls a key from his pocket. He leans over and takes off the metal cuff suffocating my ankle. Once released, the relief makes me moan in gratification. He grabs my forearm hard, his fingers bruising my delicate skin.

“Don’t f*cking try anything,” he hisses in my face, his breath so deadly it brings bile to my throat.

He pushes me into the other room. My eyes sway around the room taking in anything I might be able to get my hands on to help my escape. The floor looks like it has never seen a broom or mop, the only furniture is an old ripped blue couch and an oval kitchen table with two rickety chairs around it. Ricky pushes me in front of the table with used drugs littered across it. His grip tightens making the circulation difficult in my arm. I wince. I notice behind the table is a window; it has a blind halfway torn down and I can see pink and blue lights illuminating the dark sky through the window. It’s not much, but maybe the odd, “Miami Vice” looking building will give Shadow a clue as to where I am.

Ricky stands behind me. His arm snakes around the front of me and grasps my throat tightly. I wince from the harsh contact, my skin still sensitive from when he choked me earlier. I can still breathe, but his grip makes it difficult and my panic rises. His dirty fingernails cut into my skin and I can feel my blood rush to the small nicks he is causing.

“Yeah, I think we should still sell her to Poppy. Give some poor bastard an early Christmas,” he snarls in my ear while thrusting his hips into my lower back. His erection is evident and I gag. I look up at Cassie, wondering if she is seeing this, but she is messing with my phone and not paying attention.

This is it for me. I'm going to die in this shit hole. I will never see Shadow or anyone again. I feel a tear slide down my cheek, making me feel vulnerable. Ricky turns my head to the side and snakes his tongue out of his dry cracked lips. I whimper and try to pull free but he grips my throat tighter forcing me in place. His cold, slippery tongue darts to my fallen tear and licks its presence, leaving behind his slimy trail of an existence. I look into his eyes; the eyes of an empty shell with no remorse or regret.

“Yeah, I bet he would pay more than Adrian; would get us a lot further,” she answers Ricky as she points the camera in my direction and takes a picture. Looking at these two, reality sets in. What if Shadow doesn’t come quick enough and this Poppy comes to get me? I can see some Cuban man named Poppy smoking on a cigar, laughing in excitement at how much I would sell for. I have to try and fight. I can’t just let these junkies sell me into sex slavery so they can run from whatever it is they can’t face.

Without thinking, I rear my head back and bust Ricky in the nose. He bellows out in pain and stumbles back. I see my chance to run for the door and take flight, not thinking about Cassie. As soon as I round the table, she grabs me by the hair, “Oh, no, you don’t, bitch!” she snarls, halting me in my run for safety. The door only feet away from me, I can almost taste my freedom. I can’t stop fighting; I have to get out of here. I bust my elbow in her nose, making her scream out in pain and she lets go of my hair. I push her bony body away from me and run for the door.