Chapter 28
If Tristan knew, would he come and save her? Before she could think any further, Cassandra completely blacked out.
The van sped off toward the outskirts of the city and eventually came to a stop at an abandoned factory. The two men dragged her inside.
A bucket of cold water splashed down over her head. Cassandra shuddered violently, her body reacting before her mind caught up. Her consciousness slowly returned.
The chemical left her with a pounding headache as she struggled to open her eyes. Two masked men stood over her, staring coldly.
She frowned. She had been kidnapped. Her hands were tightly tied behind her back with rough hemp rope, and her ankles were bound as well. She couldn’t move an inch.
The air was thick with the damp stink of mildew mixed with the acrid stench of ether. It made her stomach turn.
“You… Who are you? Why did you take me? I don’t have any money,” Cassandra croaked out, her voice raspy. She tried to keep her voice even.
The bald man let out a sneer. “Don’t play dumb, bitch. We know you’ve got a fat stack in your account. Do you think you can fool us? You’re way out of your league.”
Her heart skipped a beat. The only people who knew she’d just received the money from the shares were Aidan and Clara. The funds had hit her account just yesterday, and today, she was kidnapped. This was way too fast.
Cassandra pressed her lips together and tried to look pitiful. “You must’ve been misinformed. Just look at what I’m wearing.
“My whole outfit isn’t even worth 200 bucks. I even got laid off. Do I look like someone with money to you?”
The two men exchanged glances. Suddenly, the one with the scar pulled out a small knife. Under the dim light, the blade glinted menacingly as he slowly brought it toward her face.
10
“Cut the act, slut,” he growled,
done our homework. Don’t want to talk? Fine. No money means one less life in this world.”
Cassandra’s pulse spiked, but she stared him down without flinching. She forced herself to stay calm.
Then, the other one asked, “What about your family?”
Cassandra let out a soft sigh. “I don’t have any. My mom’s gone, and my dad couldn’t care less.”
not wasting our time. We’ll just take turns with her. That’s still a fair trade.”
The bald man snapped, “Enough talk. If there’s no money, we’re not wasting
The scar–faced man grinned, leering. “Yeah, we’ve been dry for too long.”
His eyes dropped to Cassandra’s neckline. Her soft, pale skin made him gulp.
The truth was they had been hired to take some compromising photos. But they figured they might as well get something extra out of the deal. Since she didn’t have money, they’d take her body as payment.
Cassandra felt like her blood had turned to ice. She never imagined these two were that depraved. She kept repeating to herself, “Stay calm. Think. Think”
As the two crept closer, she suddenly softened her voice and said gently, “Wait… tied up like this? That’s no fun, is it? Why don’t you take the ropes off?”
She was stalling for time, praying Tristan had noticed she was missing.
“Are you trying to pull a fast one?” the bald man said, narrowing his eyes.
Cassandra blinked innocently. “Come on, mister, there are two of you and just one of me. Do
you really think I can run?”
The scar–faced man nodded. “She’s got a point. Otherwise, she’ll just lie there like a dead fish.”
The bald man thought for a second and agreed. He proceeded to untie her. Cassandra swallowed hard, mind racing, trying to figure out how to keep buying time. In her heart, she prayed that Tristan would find out something had happened to her.
