Gladiator

by E. L. Todd

  Where would he go? I had to think fast, and I had to think smart. If I were trying to shake someone off, where would I go? My eyes moved to the parking garage on the right. It was five stories high and probably went two floors underground.

  I could drive straight and keep looking, or I could take a chance and listen to my gut.

  I stared at the entrance while both hands still gripped the wheel. I was still driving forward and the seconds were ticking by. The weight of the decision crushed me. My father’s life was on the line. I couldn’t make the wrong decision.

  It wasn’t an option.

  I turned the wheel and made a hard right.

  The parking garage was empty because there was construction on the ground floor. Guys in orange hard hats glared at me as I raced by, quickly moving out of the way so they wouldn’t get stuck under my tires.

  I kept driving and moved further up the structure, reaching the next floor. There still weren’t any cars. Every parking space was empty.

  “Come on…”

  I couldn’t be wrong about this. I just couldn’t.

  I drove all the way to the top, and when I rounded the corner, all hope left me. The Mustang didn’t go this way, and now it was too late for me to track him down.

  I made the wrong decision.

  When I turned the corner, I hit the brakes to turn around.

  And that’s when I saw the Mustang. It was stopped in the center of the garage, a black van beside it. Guys dressed in black stood together, heavy guns by their sides.

  Holy fuck.

  Dad was lying on the ground, tied up and unconscious.

  This was clearly some kind of hand-off.

  There were five guys.

  And only one of me.

  I stared at them and gripped the steering wheel, trying to figure out what my options were.

  They all stared at me, their guns by their sides. They didn’t aim them, but they didn’t need to. The threat was enough.

  I remained in the car and stared them down.

  They stared at me.

  I eyed the gun on my passenger seat then discreetly shoved it into the back of my jeans. I turned off the car and opened the door. Standing up, I remained behind the car door.

  It was silent. A pin drop could be heard if someone dropped one.

  I could shoot them from my stance, but what would that accomplish? It was five against one. I was a great shooter, but not that great. I shut the door then walked toward them. I looked fearless, my back straight and my shoulders relaxed.

  But I was fucking terrified.

  Only fear could beat fear. I was more afraid of losing my father than dying. And that was how I managed the longest walk of my life.

  Still as statues, they watched me come closer. Their guns still weren’t aimed at me. They watched me with hollow eyes.

  One raised his hand. “Close enough. Speak.”

  The guy closest to me held a pistol, but it was in his left hand. He didn’t seem threatened by me, judging by his relaxed stance. He probably thought I was a stupid girl who got lucky following him.

  Boy, was he wrong.

  “Release my father.” That was all I said.

  The one who originally spoke watched me without reaction. He probably thought I was crazy for coming here.

  I was.

  I didn’t look at my father. I couldn’t see the blood on his face. I wasn’t even sure if he was alive, but I had to believe he was.

  “No.” His grip was still on his gun. “If you leave now, we’ll let you go.”

  “You’ll let me go?” I asked with a slight laugh. “Or you’ll shoot me in the back?”

  He kept a stoic face.

  I eyed the guy beside me. “How about we make a deal?”

  “A deal?” the man asked incredulously. He showed emotion for the first time, thinking I was crazy for trying to negotiate.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Why don’t—” I made my move and grabbed the guy beside me, getting him in a chokehold, and pointing the gun at his temple.

  They all pointed their weapons at me.

  “Shoot me and he dies.” I tightened my hold on his neck so he could barely breathe.

  Their guns were pointed right at my head.

  “Let my father go, and I’ll release him.”

  None of them moved.

  The guy to the right of me made a move. He didn’t shoot me. Instead, he snatched me by the arm.

  I did a quick number on him. I twisted out of his hold then slammed my foot into his knee, making it crack. Then I thrust my palm right into his nose, making that crack too.

  He was on the ground in seconds.

  The man I was holding turned on me, making a move to strike me in the skull.

  I blocked his strike then slammed the butt of the gun into the back of his head. He fell on the ground with a thump.

  I trained my gun on the remaining three, knowing I was seriously screwed. Three against one weren’t good odds. We were at a standoff, and it didn’t weigh in my favor.

  Another black car rounded the corner, all the windows tinted. I watched it in my peripheral vision, and my hope evaporated. I wouldn’t get out of this alive. I would end up either in the harbor or in the bottom of an oil drum, cut into several pieces.

  This was it.

  The guys didn’t shoot me. They glanced at the car that arrived, and when the passenger door opened, a man stepped out. I couldn’t see him well because I was trying to watch two groups at once. My hand didn’t shake as it held the gun, which surprised me. I managed to remain cool even though I was terrified.

  The man stopped and turned his gaze on me.

  I didn’t look because I couldn’t.

  “Drop your weapon.” The voice was familiar, too familiar. It entered my mind and burned. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and sweat started to form. I was scared before. But now I was truly terrified.

  My focus shifted to him, and my stomach fell all the way to my feet. My hands started to shake and the remaining strength I had disappeared. I was looking at a man I feared for so many reasons, but never once did I fear for my life—until now.

  Wilder.

  He wore dark jeans and a black t-shirt. A gun was on his hip, but he didn’t wear a bulletproof vest like the others. The silent way he commanded everyone told me he was in charge.

  “Drop your weapon,” he repeated. He didn’t draw his gun because he clearly wasn’t afraid of me. “I won’t ask you again.”

  I slowly lowered it, my mouth dry. I had so many questions but none of them left my lips. I’d been resisting Wilder because he would break my heart. Never did I imagine he was such a monster, a criminal, and a murderer.

  My instinct was dead-on.

  “Now drop it,” he commanded.

  I was outnumbered and outsmarted. I didn’t have a choice but to surrender. I dropped the gun on the ground but didn’t raise my hands in the air. Proud, I stood straight with my shoulders back. If I were going to die, I’d go out with dignity.

  “You shouldn’t be here.” He didn’t stare at me the way he did the other night. There was no affection or desire in his eyes. There was nothing at all.

  “Neither should you.”

  “Kick the gun to me.”

  I kicked it hard, making it fly past him.

  He didn’t retrieve it. His eyes didn’t leave my face.

  “Go ahead. Shoot me.”

  He didn’t reach for his gun.

  “You’re despicable,” I said. “I knew I was right about you.”

  Wilder didn’t react. “I’m not going to shoot you.”

  “You should,” I said. “Because if you let me go, I’ll never stop hunting you. I’ll never stop until I get my father back.”

  He stepped into the circle, standing next to where my father lay. “You risked your life for him?” A tone of incredulity was in his voice. “This man?”

  “My
father,” I said savagely. “Yes, of course.”

  Disbelief was still in his eyes.

  “He’s a good man. He protects people. The world is safer because of him—because he kills bad guys like you.”

  “You think I’m the bad guy?” His voice was void of emotion once again.

  I glanced at all the armed men around us.

  “Did you ever think that you might have that mixed up?” he asked quietly. “That I’m the good guy and he’s the bad one?”

  “No. I recognize evil when I see it.”

  He shook his head slightly. “Your father is responsible for a lot of deaths—American deaths. He’s a terrorist, a murderer, and a criminal.”

  “You aren’t going to brainwash me. Kill me and be done with it.”

  His eyes filled with pain like they had the other night when I asked about his family. “I’m not going to kill you. You’re free to leave.”

  I eyed my father on the ground. “I’m not leaving without him.”

  “You don’t have that luxury. Now go.”

  Like he’d given a command, one man opened the sliding door of the van, and two others gathered my father. He was blindfolded and restrained. His limp body hung as they lifted him.

  If they shut that door and drove off, that would be the end. He would be gone forever, and I wouldn’t ever see him again.

  Wilder turned away like the conversation was over.

  “Wait.” I stepped forward. Immediately, guns pointed at me.

  Wilder turned back to me. He raised his hand then lowered it, telling his men to drop their weapons.

  “Please let him go.” I didn’t know what else to do besides beg. “He’s a good man. Please don’t do this.”

  Wilder stared at me without any sympathy.

  “He has money.” My voice started to shake. It started to betray me. My emotions were betraying me, and I was losing the strength to pretend I wasn’t afraid. “If you give me an hour, I can get it for you.”

  Wilder didn’t blink as he watched me. “I don’t want money.”

  “It’s a lot of money,” I said. “At least half a million.” That would have to entice him.

  He repeated the same sentence. “I don’t want money.”

  “Then what do you want?” There had to be something I could trade for my father’s life.

  His eyes were glued to my face. The intense look reminded me of the night we met. Even when my gaze was turned away, I could feel his stare burn into me. I couldn’t believe this was the same man I’d grown weak for. Was he the same person? Could that be possible? “Nothing you can give me.”

  The guys picked up my father and put him in the back of the van.

  I wanted to scream. “Wait, hold on.”

  Wilder sighed in irritation. “Gray, you don’t belong here. Now leave.”

  “No, listen to me.”

  Wilder walked to me purposefully, like he was going to grab me by the neck and choke me. He snatched me by the elbow and started to drag me back to my car.

  I twisted out of his grasp then shoved him away.

  Wilder hardly moved, and he didn’t seem surprised by my movements. It was like he anticipated them but didn’t care enough to stop them.

  “Let me take his place.”

  His gaze lightened slightly, and when he stared at me, it was with a different look. My words meant something to him even if he was trying to hide it. He watched the tears develop in my eyes.

  “Take me instead. Let him go.”

  “He’s a dangerous man. I can’t let him go.”

  “No, he’s not.” I clutched my hands to my chest in desperation. “Please take me instead. Please.”

  “You don’t understand what you’re offering.”

  “I do.” I was scared to do it, and a part of me didn’t want to. But I couldn’t let the alternative happen. My dad had done so much for me, and when Mom passed away, he did everything he could to keep things the same for us. He was a great man and didn’t deserve this. If he was free, he could continue to protect so many people. He had to live. “I do understand. Please take me instead.”

  He watched me in silence, thinking behind his eyes.

  “I won’t fight you. I won’t try to run. I’ll do whatever you ask. It’s a fair trade. Please take it.” I knew what Wilder would do to me. I wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t the sweet but dark man I thought I knew. He was darker than pitch black, and he was a monster. He would enslave me and take me against my will. I would be his plaything. I’d probably wish for death.

  He released a quiet sigh. “If I agree, you can never run. If you do, I’ll kill him.”

  Tears broke the surface and fell down my cheeks. “Okay.” I was relieved he was accepting my offer so my father would be free. But I was also disappointed to hand my life over to a man I knew nothing about.

  He studied my face for another moment before he turned away. “Release him.”

  I wanted to fall to my knees, but I kept my strength. I’d accomplished what I set out to do.

  They pulled him out of the van and returned him to the concrete. One man cut his restraints and the other cut his blindfold. Dad was still passed out. His lips were slightly parted.

  Wilder eyed him as he walked around him. Then he turned his gaze on me, silently commanding me to get into the van.

  I approached my dad and kneeled on the floor. My hand rested on his bloody cheek. His chest still rose and fell at a steady rate. I stared at him, wanting to remember the last moment I had with my father. I remembered the way he called me Unicorn, and the fact I would never hear that name again brought more tears. “Goodbye, Dad. I love you.” I kissed his forehead before I rose to my feet.

  Like a statue void of emotion, Wilder watched me without an ounce of sympathy.

  Never in my life had I been so scared. I was about to get in the back of a dark van without any idea where I would end up. I’d agreed to be Wilder’s prisoner and I knew unspeakable things would happen. It would probably be worse than death, and I would pray for the end.

  I was never scared of anything. I looked my fears in the eye and conquered them. But in this instance, I was beyond terrified. No longer was I in control of my own destiny. I handed the reins over to a fiend. Invisible shackles bound around my wrists, ankles, and my neck. The sunrise would no longer look beautiful. They would only remind me of another unbearable day. Every time the sun set, I would hope it would be the last.

  I stepped inside the van and took a seat in the corner.

  Wilder came inside then shut the door behind him. He leaned against the opposite side of the van and watched me with an unreadable expression.

  I could hold any gaze without being intimidated. I always held my ground without faltering. When the ground was uneven, I always found my footing. But this time was different.

  This time I looked away.

  Chapter Five

  I was sedated with a syringe once the van started moving and was out for a lifetime. When I woke up, I wasn’t on a plane or a ship, but in a warm bed with luxurious sheets. The pillows were made of silk, and I felt like I was sleeping on a cloud.

  I opened my eyes and stared at the high ceiling. It was dark, rustic wood. My eyes blinked and tried to focus. I was still groggy from the medication. Since I never took meds for anything, not even a headache, that stuff knocked me out hard.

  When my gaze was clear, I examined my surroundings. The hardwood floor was made of mahogany, and a soft white rug covered most of it. The fireplace directly in front of my bed was made of white stone, and the dressers and vanity were white too, pure as fresh snow. The bed frame was made of the same wood. My eyes drifted to the large window to my new life. It reached from floor to ceiling, and it was at least twelve feet tall. The view I saw made me blink and gasp at the same time.

  A village was at the bottom of the hill, and all the lights from the houses twinkled like Christmas lights. The valley was small, and t
here were only a few hundred buildings. They were all the same height and none of them blocked each other’s view. Behind it were the snow-covered mountains, and one mountain in particular caught my notice. It was an iconic image. Even a child would recognize it. With the stars as the backdrop, the Matterhorn reached high into the sky, its distinct curve at the top.

  “Oh. My. God.”

  I knew exactly where I was. I was in the Village of Zermatt, better known as the Swiss Alps.

  Switzerland.

  I sat up quickly and realized I was wearing different clothes. They were red plaid. It was a two-piece set, and the delicate fabric was one I didn’t recognize.

  I left the bed and stood at the window. Staring out over the breathtaking view, I forgot the real danger I was in. It was so peaceful that it subdued my mind. After Wilder did unspeakable things to me, at least I could come in here and stare at this.

  When my eyes were satisfied, I examined the private bathroom and the walk-in closet. Clothes were already inside, and they looked like they would be my size. I had the strangest thought as I stood there.

  I missed the deadline to my paper.

  I left the closet and returned to the main room. The fact Wilder changed my clothes pissed me off, but I knew there was nothing I could do about it. I gave myself over freely and I knew what to expect.

  There was a light tapping on my door.

  Wilder knew I was awake.

  “Come in.” May as well get it over with.

  The door opened, but Wilder didn’t come inside. It was a woman, probably in her forties. She greeted me with a genuine smile and reminded me of my mother. “How are you feeling, dear?”

  Caught off guard, I blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Who are you?”

  Her smile didn’t falter. She wasn’t taken aback by my rudeness. “Judy. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She didn’t attempt to shake my hand or hug me. “I’m the caretaker here. If there’s anything you need, just let me know.”

  Caretaker? What? “Thanks… I’m Gray.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s a pleasure to formally meet you.”

  Why was she so polite? So sweet? Did Wilder threaten to kill her if she did otherwise? “You too…”

  “Can I get you something?” she asked. “Perhaps some hot cocoa. The Swiss version is much better than the American kind, even those that claim they are from Switzerland.” She chuckled at her own comment.