Bennett Mafia(11)

The guard on my side was still waiting. My stomach clenched, but I got out too.

I needed a camera—just one connected online would be enough for Blade to find me. It was past time now that my roommates would’ve realized something had happened to me. They probably looked for my car, which would’ve still been at work, and Blade would’ve sent all the alerts on full blast for me.

We were trained for situations like this. I just needed to leave a trail of some sort. As I crossed the parking lot (empty except for our vehicles), I spotted a camera at the corner of the building.

Thank God.

I raised my head so he could get a positive ID.

“It won’t work,” Tanner called from the door. He waved to the camera. “They’re offline. It’s why we come here.”

But there’d be video, at least. Some proof that I’d been here. Blade would find it, eventually.

I stepped inside, and as if hearing my thoughts, Tanner added, “The whole system was shut off before we even pulled in. We called ahead.”

He stopped to look over the magazine rack, pulling out an issue of something that had Brooke’s face on the cover

His mouth tightened. “Go to the bathroom, Riley. I’ll still be here when you’re done.”

He pulled out his phone, so I went ahead. I felt like collapsing on the toilet.

They’d taken my phone. I had no clue if they’d taken my bag too or left it behind in my car. I still didn’t really know how far away we were, but they were driving back roads for a reason.

They were smart, damn smart.

I left the bathroom, and even though I knew they had guards outside, I poked my head around for any escape routes.

There were none. The door that led to the rear of the gas station was kitty-corner to the front desk, and three guards stood in front of it. The clerk was a gangly teenager, standing off to the side by the register. Tanner had placed some water bottles, food, and a few other things on the counter, but the kid wasn’t ringing anything up.

A second later, the bell over the door jingled and an older man entered. He nodded to Tanner and walked around the counter, then did the same to the kid, who looked relieved as he slipped out the front door.

They’d called in the owner, or the manager. Whoever he was, he moved with purpose and familiarity as he began ringing everything up.

Tanner looked over as his phone began ringing. “Get whatever you want, Riley.”

My neck was stiff as I moved toward the beverage aisle. I needed water, food, but I didn’t move far so I could eavesdrop when he answered the phone.

“Yeah?” A pause. “We are.” Another pause. “Will do.”

Well, that was informative.

I shook my head and went to grab everything I needed. I bought a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant, along with water and a couple pieces of fruit, up to the front.

Tanner moved aside as I put them on the counter. “We have all of that for you where we’re going.”

“You didn’t tell me that.” I still pushed them ahead.

It was small, but it was my only way to resist. I didn’t think a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant would break the Bennett bank. They were billionaires.

The owner/manager didn’t meet my gaze as he rang my items up and bagged everything.

Tanner said something to one of the guards, gesturing to me. The guard nodded and moved toward me as Tanner went to the bathroom. I realized the guards were slipping into the bathroom through a back door I’d missed. They were coming in and out in pairs.

They had coordinated all of this to help them as well.

I went to the front door to wait. Two guys moved with me, and it was eerie how two other guys from outside came to stand near the door at the same time. I knew they were talking into mouthpieces, but it just showed how prepared and professional they were. A whole new level of helplessness washed through me, but a surge of anger came right after it too.

I didn’t like this feeling.

My father was powerful too, dangerous, and he’d never had a setup like this. He couldn’t have afforded it. He also didn’t have the need for it. I hated him, but he didn’t have the enemies the Bennett family did. Owning his trucking business wasn’t profitable enough to put him at the billionaire level. Not even close.

“Okay.” Tanner emerged from the bathroom, putting his phone away as he walked toward me. “We’re ready to go.”

I spied one of the men handing an envelope to the owner before picking up all the bags.

I had to admit, I was surprised they didn’t just go in, take what they wanted, and leave. The owner wouldn’t have done anything. No one went against the Bennett family, but he seemed happy as he skimmed through the envelope.

“Riley.”

Tanner waited for me outside the vehicle, one of the guards holding the door for me.

I hurried my pace, then cursed myself for doing that. I could walk the speed I wanted to walk. There was a slight breeze in the air. It was usually in the twenties in June around here, but I shivered. The temperature had dipped lower as the sunlight began to wane.

SHIT!

I’d forgotten to look at the time inside.

I’d been so consumed with thinking of escape routes, then watching how the guards were operating, that I completely forgot. But, thinking back, I had taken a step toward the counter, and two guards had moved to intercept me.