Prologue

BANG!

"What was..."

Looking down I see my yellow sundress instantly becoming red with blood. My blood.

All I can seem to focus on is the mind-numbing pain.

"Gemma!"

"Stay with me!"

Isaac?

But you did this to me. I saw you. We were just days away from our wedding. If you didn't wish to be with me, all you had to do was say as much. I thought we made a pretty decent team. I guess I was wrong.

I'm so tired.

I'll just take a short nap. Perhaps this is all merely a dream anyway...

******************************

"Bleeeuuurrrggghh!"

Ugh, there went the breakfast I never got to eat.

Where am I? "He...hello?"

I don't think I need to be a detective to know this isn't a hospital. It's probably the fact my hands are tied and my eyes are blindfolded.

What the actual hell is going on?

However, I guess I'm still alive. Actually, I feel pretty darn good. Tingly skin and all.

"Hello?!"

SMACK

"Oof! Who are you and what do you want with me?!"

Maybe I can barter with whoever did this? Probably not but it's worth a try at least.

"Is it money you want? I don't have much but I do have a small house and a car. Take them. They're yours. Just please let me go."

"Shut up you stupid women. We don't want your money. In fact, you're going to be making us money soon enough."

"That's enough Drake. Don't go spilling the freaking beans."

"Whatever. Dumb b**** will be gone soon anyway."

Um..."I'll be making you money how exactly?"

"Some rich guy is gonna...ow! What the hell man? Who she gonna tell? No one! It's fun to see em' get all riled up and nervous."

"It's bad enough you went and drugged her Drake! Don't get handsy with her or I swear I'll lose it. If we don't give him what he asked for it's going to be MY hide. Not yours. They asked for an undamaged product."

"She has a gunshot wound. I wouldn't consider that undamaged..."

"He knows about that already."

Okay. Okay. Okay. No need to freak out yet. I can still...ugh who am I kidding. I can't do this! Isaac was always the brains in our relationship. If he were here we'd be out of this situation already.

Wait.

What am I thinking?! He's the reason I'm laying on a damp hard floor tied up in the first place!

When I come down from this high I'm going to be a wreck. My shoulder is already starting to ache. Damn!

"Yo Tommy. Cig break?"

"Sure."

They've moved outside. Alright. Luckily for me, they zip-tied my hands in front and not behind my back. Who knew those random self-defense videos that popped up online could actually save my life. If it works.

I'll just slam my arms back towards myself with elbows splayed annnnnnd...

"mhnnnn!" son of a biscuit that hurts! I really hope they didn't hear that.

Try again.

S***.

Third times a charm? It's now or never.

SNAP. YES!!! Now I just need to untangle the blindfold. Ahhh bright lights.

Looks like an old rest stop? That's good. There must be a main highway or interstate close by.

Now to just slip out the back window while bleeding like a stuck pig. Oh wow. Yeah, that's a lot of blood.

Sloooowly open the window. Why does everything have to make so much noise when you need to be quiet?

"Drake, you hear somethin?"

"Nah."

"Go check on the girl."

Squeeze squeeze squeeze! Ugh!! Now to RUN. I'll head for the trees. There are only two of them. Hopefully, they won't know which way I went.

"She's gone!"

"WHAT? Go find her! NOW!"