Emily sucked in a breath and tried to fight back.

Hands closed in from every direction, holding her down her head, her arms, her legs. She couldn't move at all. She twisted and kicked, desperate for any kind of escape, but her attackers stayed hidden in the shadows. All she could see and feel were their hands, faceless and cold.

A sharp cry came from her right. She managed to turn her head and saw the driver pinned to the ground under Benjamin Gomez's boot. The driver's phone lay a few feet away, its screen glowing uselessly. One of the man's arms was bent at a sickening angle. His face was bright red, contorted in pain as he let out another strangled shout.

Emily's brow knit together. She yanked at her arms, but it was pointless. She was completely trapped.

Her lungs burned. She couldn't hold her breath much longer.

She realized the cloth pressed to her face must be soaked in something that would knock her out. She had tried so hard not to breathe it in, but struggling made it impossible. Every second, it got harder to resist.

Then she couldn't fight anymore.

Her thoughts turned foggy. Her vision swam with double images and shadows. Just before everything faded, she caught sight of Benjamin letting go of the driver and tossing him aside like a broken doll. Benjamin walked toward her, slow and deliberate, his eyes bloodshot and cold as he stared her down.

Emily's body went slack. She tried to keep her eyes open, but they kept closing. She wanted to see what was happening, but everything was just a blur.

She heard Benjamin's voice, low and dangerous. "Be careful. Don't let anyone see

us."

The words echoed in her mind as everything slipped away, and she fell into darkness.

"She's out," someone said.

Benjamin's voice was rough. "Take her."

A couple of men grunted quietly and carried Emily to a van waiting in the alley. Benjamin paused, looking back at the driver.

The man was still conscious, but both his hands were twisted the wrong way. He couldn't move. He just stared, wild-eyed, as Benjamin's crew took Emily away.

“Let her go! Let Ms. Blair go! This is a crime, do you hear me? You're criminals! I'm calling the police!" the driver yelled, his voice shaking.

Benjamin dropped his cigarette, crushing it under his shoe. "Call whoever you want," he said, calm as ever. "But if I find out you did, she's dead. Right then and there."

The driver's eyes went wide with fear.

Benjamin's tone was so flat and certain, it was impossible not to believe him.

The driver started to shake, his whole body trembling. "How can you do this? How dare you? We're in the capital! This is the capital!"

Benjamin's lips curled in a faint, cold smile. "I leave the phone with you. Call whoever you need to call. Tell them to get in touch with me. When they do, well talk. fo FindNovel.net

The driver shuddered. "Talk about what? What do you want?"

Benjamin ignored him and climbed into the van with the others.

The van started moving. Emily, still unconscious, was jostled in the back, heading for somewhere she couldn't even imagine.

She was slumped on the back seat, a guard on either side, both watching her closely. Benjamin sat up front, glancing at her in the rearview mirror before turning away.

The driver in front looked at Benjamin, trying to sound eager. “Boss, once we drop her off, do we get paid and leave?"

Benjamin lit another cigarette, the smoke curling around him. His voice came out rougher than before. "The money's in the trunk. Take it and go when we get there Just

remember-don't tell anyone anything."

The mention of money made the driver grin, his scarred face stretching with relief.

"Of course, Boss. We get it. You can trust us."

Benjamin didn't bother to answer.

He turned to stare out the window. Grass and trees blurred past as they drove deeper into the darkness leaving the city behind and heading into the unknown.