All I've Never Wanted(30)

Venice snickered. “Well, this shameless hussy needs to get to the mall and buy her sister a gift.” She made a face.


“Why? Is it her birthday?”

“Nope, but I accidentally broke my mom’s favorite pearl necklace and she kind of took the rap for me, so I owe her.” She gave me a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow! Hope you get ungrounded soon.”

“Me too,” I said, even though I didn’t really care. After all, it’s not like I had anywhere to go after school or on the weekends besides Venice’s house, anyway.

With one last wave, Venice hopped into her chauffeured Benz. I was about to start walking home when I saw a pair of suspicious-looking, black-suit-clad men standing next to a black Town Car. They were staring at me and whispering into their earpieces.

Very subtle.

My heart immediately started racing. Oh shit. Was this it? Had Roman finally decided to hire hitmen to get rid of me, once and for all?

I looked left and right frantically, wondering where I could run. Maybe you’re just being paranoid. Maybe they’re just bodyguards…after all, it’s not like kids at Valesca don’t have them.

Trying to look nonchalant, I turned and started walking towards the school again. After a few steps, I stopped and looked over my shoulder.

Ok, they were definitely closer than they’d been before, although they were staring up at the sky and trying to act like nothing was amiss.

I turned back around and took another two steps, then whipped my head around.

Aha! Busted!

I frantically yanked on the doors to the school, but they were locked. Crap! The janitor must’ve just locked it.

Without thinking, I immediately sprinted to the left, not even sure where I was going, but I knew I needed to go somewhere. I’ll be damned if I was just going to stand there like a lamb waiting for slaughter!

“After her!” one of the men shouted, all pretenses dropped.

Letting out a small grunt as I accidentally slammed my hip against the corner of a car, I skidded to a stop when I saw three more men in black coming towards me.

There were more of them? What, did they come from a clone factory or something?

I switched direction, my breath coming out in short spurts. I’ve never been a good runner, and the only thing keeping me going right now was my survival instinct.

I eyed the hedge that was blocking my way. I couldn’t go anywhere else. I had to try. Taking a deep breath, I sped up, ignoring the men’s shouts behind me.

The hedge was getting closer…closer…just a little more…now!

Closing my eyes, I leaped as high and far as I could, like an Olympian doing a high jump.

Problem was, I was no high-jump Olympian, and I don’t think closing my eyes was the best idea, because when I opened them again, I was sprawled out on the grass. My face was pressed against the dirt and if I was right about the small stinging sensations on my legs, I had just cut myself in a million different places.

I tried to lift myself up, but the ensuing dizziness caused me to collapse again.

Suddenly, I felt someone grab both of arms. “We got her!” one of the men shouted.

I sucked in some air, my thoughts clearing up a bit as I suddenly remembered what was happening.

“Let me go!” I screamed, kicking out at the men and trying to twist my way out of their grasp.

Obviously surprised by my sudden movement, they let me go, and I stayed just long enough to give the closest one a well-aimed kick in the family jewels before I took off running again.

I was gratified to hear the man let out a loud, pained grunt, but that feeling was immediately replaced by panic once more when someone tackled me to the ground.

“You’re a feisty one,” the person on top of me muttered, yanking me up and carrying me bridal-style back to the parking lot, while two of his colleagues kept a firm grasp on my limbs.

“Who are you?” I yelled. “And where are you taking me? Let me go right now! This is illegal, you know! You could go to jail for this!”

The man holding me sighed and shoved me into the backseat of the Town Car. “Keep a close eye on her,” he warned his colleagues, before getting into the driver’s seat.

“Let me go!” I screamed again, wriggling in the seat.

“Hold still!” The man on my left sounded exasperated. “We’re not going to hurt you. We—ow!” He let out a string of curses. “She bit me!”

“There’s more where that came from, *!” I yelled, attempting to elbow the other man in the gut.

“Jesus Christ!” He evaded my attack just in time. “Screw this, it’s time to bring out the big guns.”

With that, he slapped a chloroform-soaked cloth over my mouth.


"Stop! What do you...think..." My muffled yells gradually faded away as darkness sank in.

* * *

Roman flipped impatiently through the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, but was unable to focus on the words and images in front of him.

What the hell was taking so long?

You would think, with the amount of money he paid them, they could work a little faster.

Note to self: fire old staff and hire new ones.

There was a timid knock on the door.

“Come in,” Roman called out in an irritated voice.

One of the maids walked in, looking a bit scared. “Mr. Fiori, she’s ready.”