by T. S. Ryder
“So. You love Mindy?”
It was less a question than a statement. Rex looked away, the defensiveness that came with talking to Jarvis starting to rise. But it faded quickly enough. He and Mindy hadn’t talked about what they were to each other. They hadn’t had the time, really. It was something that needed to be talked about when there wasn’t a madman threatening their lives.
But the thing was, he did love her. He didn’t know how he knew. He’d been in love before, at least he thought he had, but it had never been like this. When it came to the others, to Cynthia, he’d fallen hard and fast. Taken one look and thought that was it. But with Mindy? It was like a seed had been planted, and a tree had grown from it, getting larger and larger every single day.
“I’d die for her,” he whispered. “If that’s what’s necessary.”
None of them said anything else after that. Fredrick clapped a hand to Rex’s back, a distant look in his eyes. Rex was surprised, actually. Fredrick was one of the men on the island who was opposed to human women finding out about them. He didn’t know why. Fredrick was also childless and without a mate. In fact, from what Rex knew, he refused to take a mate. So why was he risking his life to get Ginny back?
He didn’t ask—Fredrick must have his reasons. Perhaps they were financial. After all, he was head of the college program which was being threatened to be wiped out.
When they docked, the four men got out of the boat. As Fredrick borrowed Noel’s phone, Rex glanced around. As if somehow Meyer would just stroll up to them and give him Ginny back.
Instead, he saw two boats. One was the missing one that Meyer had stolen to return to the mainland. The second? His own. Rex stared at it, not able to wrap his mind around the possible explanations. Had it been stolen? Or . . .
His heart dropped to somewhere around his feet. Mindy.
Chapter Seventeen – Mindy
Meyer was waiting for her with a scowl on his face and a gleam in his eye. Mindy slid into the car, trying not to show how much her hands were trembling. Her stomach churned as she softly closed the door.
Shortly after Rex had gone to Tyrell Jarvis to ask for his help, Meyer had phoned her. Not on her cellphone, as there was no signal on the island, but directly on the landline. He had given her a choice. Come back to the mainland immediately, or never see Ginny again. Her decision was made before she even heard the terms. She would do anything for her daughter. Anything.
“I’m glad you’re finally being reasonable,” Meyer said, perfectly calm. He even smiled at her. “I’d have hated it if the unpleasantness of before continued.”
“Where is Ginny?” There was no sign of even a car seat in the vehicle. If he had left her infant child alone somewhere—
“Safe.”
Mindy glared at him. Her fists clenched with the effort it took not to deck him in the face. The violent impulse surprised her, but she welcomed it. She wasn’t going to be meek and terrified. Whatever Meyer’s game was she’d play it, but she would also use her fists if it came down to it. Meyer caught her glare, and she glanced away.
“Where is she?” Mindy asked again.
Meyer snorted. “I dropped her off at a daycare center, so she wouldn’t be in the way while we had this talk.”
He turned off the main road, and Mindy's heart lurched, but she forced herself to stay calm. Wherever he was taking her, it didn’t matter. As long as she got Ginny back.
“You’ve caused me a lot of trouble,” Meyer continued, keeping his voice utterly calm. “But, because I am a generous man, you can make it up to me.”
“How?”
He didn’t answer, just giving her his shark’s smile. Her stomach cramped. When she opened her mouth to demand that he tell her what he wanted, though, he pulled his jacket back just enough to show her the gun in his waistband. Mindy shut her mouth, though her nostrils flared and her teeth ground.
They stopped at a motel. Mindy’s defiance fled at the sight of it. All of the times that Meyer had looked at her like she was something he wanted to eat came rushing back to her. She was left gripping the seat belt in both hands, her body cold and her stomach churning. If he was going to demand this of her . . .
For Ginny, she’d do it.
Tears started to burn in her eyes, even though she fought them. They got out of the car and Meyer led her into one of the rooms, where she was startled to find a professional-looking setup of cameras. She stopped dead, looking around.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“You cost me a lot of money when you came up with that YouTube trailer stunt. Now you’re going to pay me back.” Meyer stepped toward the camera and adjusted it before moving to the rest of the equipment and checking it. “Believe it or not, I needed that money. We all have our debts, Mindy. And I am going to get that money one way or another. Now. There’s a negligee in the bathroom. Go put it on.”
Mindy stayed where she was.
“Do as I say or—”
“What are you going to do?” Her voice came out a rasp. “If I do as you say, what are you going to do to me?”
Meyer glared at her for a moment. “I’m not going to touch you, if that’s what you’re afraid of. Just take a few pictures.”
A well of relief threatened to burst, but Mindy held it back. She wouldn’t put it past him to lie. “Take pictures and then what?”
“Do whatever I want with them. Now go and—”
“I want to see Ginny.” Meyer glared at her and opened his mouth. She didn’t let him speak. “I want to see her right now, or I’ll start screaming.”
Meyer moved back his jacket to show the gun.
“Don’t bother threatening me. I need to know that you haven’t killed my daughter already, or I swear I’ll—”
“Shut up,” Meyer snapped. He narrowed his eyes at her but snorted. “Fine. I’ll go get her. But you stay here, stay quiet and don’t cause me trouble. Or I really will kill her.”
Mindy didn’t trust her voice. She sat on the bed, nodding and Meyer gave her one more glare before he stalked from the room. The door slammed behind him, and Mindy let out a soft gasp. The tears she had been fighting before came back full-force. A lump choked her, and for a moment all she could do was sit there, trying desperately not to cry. The moment passed as she looked at the equipment around her. Did Meyer intend to sell her pictures online? Auction her off? Or was he hoping that humiliating photos would keep her in line?
For a crazy moment, she wished Rex were with her. But he’d probably attack Meyer and get himself killed protecting her. No. It was better that he wasn’t here.
That didn’t stop her heart aching for him.
The computer sitting on the table caught her eye. It was open, a screensaver dancing patterns over it. Her heart started pounding. Could it be that . . . She glanced at the door, uncertain, then moved to the computer. When she wiggled the mouse, it went directly to the home screen. Euphoria rushed through her as she quickly began to look through Meyer’s files, searching for anything that could be useful.
She found pictures. Dozens of pictures of women in half-naked poses. Most of them had their faces turned or cropped out but the tears showing on the ones whose faces were seen made Mindy feel sick. Then burn with fury. How many women had he done this to? How many of them had gone to him in desperation for money, only to end up having everything, even their dignity, stripped away from them?
Working quickly, she emailed herself a set of the pictures and then deleted the evidence from Meyer’s email. Then, on a wild impulse, she went to the camera, pulled out the SD card and crunched it between her teeth before putting it back.
She returned to the bed where she had been sitting and waited. It was only a few more minutes before Meyer returned. Mindy sprang to her feet, seeing the car seat he brought in. She rushed forward, her heart in her throat and with a cry of relief saw Ginny inside.
“Here she is,” Meyer grumbled. “Now you are going to behave, or I’ll kill you both.”
“You’ve seen her, and she’s alright. Now go get—” Meyer cut himself off abruptly. There was a long pause, and then he let out a harsh curse and whirled on her. “What the hell did you do?”
Mindy flinched back from him, holding Ginny closer to her heart. He stood at the camera, the crushed SD card in his hand. She opened her mouth, trying desperately to think of an explanation but he charged forward and grabbed her by the throat.
“I try to be reasonable,” he screamed at her. “I try to show compassion. And this is what you do? You useless bitch!”
A wad of spit hit her cheek. Mindy pressed herself against the wall, trying to put space between them.
Meyer released her, then backhanded her across the face. He shook his head, looking disgusted. “I’m tired of trying to work with you. No. You’ve lost your chance. And now, you are going to lose your daughter.”
Mindy’s heart stuttered. She held Ginny closer, aware that her daughter was squirming and starting to fuss. Blood rushed in her ears, and she tasted bile in her throat. She opened her mouth, but all that came out was a frightened squeak.
He took one look at her terror and smiled. “Didn’t expect that, did you?”
“I can keep paying you money,” she blurted.
“We’re past that point. Besides, Ginny will be better off without you, won’t she?” Meyer gave her a toothy grin again. “We all know you’re a poor excuse for a mother. Useless. Ginny would hate you in a few years, anyway.”
Mindy shook her head, trying to deny his words and the implications behind them. Her stomach cramped. “No.”
“Yes. But don’t worry. I’ve found a perfectly lovely couple who are looking to adopt a little girl. For a fee of course.” He turned to her with that smile in full force as he tossed the SD card into the garbage. “The paperwork is already being sent through. By tonight, Ginny will be with her new parents. The ones that will care for her, love her and give her everything she needs . . . basically, everything you are incapable of.”
His words made her very bones turn to ice. A shudder rippled down her spine as she backed away. Ginny let out a shriek, making her unhappiness known but Mindy couldn’t soothe her. Not when Meyer was still looking at her with that expression in his eyes. Her head throbbed. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that if the paperwork was already being sent through, he’d have had to start this long before she ruined the SD card.
The pounding of her heart and adrenaline in her system didn’t want to hear that, though.
“Please.” She could taste her own fear. “Please, I’ll do whatever you want—I’ll sleep with you, I’ll—”
“What makes you think I want to sleep with you?” Meyer rolled his eyes at her. “Do you really think you’re that pretty? You’re not my type, and even if you were, I wouldn’t bargain away that sort of cash in exchange for what would no doubt be a lousy lay.”
“Please—”
Mindy choked on her words as Meyer pulled the gun from his belt. He pushed it right into her face, and she knew she was dead. She screwed her eyes closed tightly, waiting for the blast. It didn’t come, though. Instead, Meyer started to laugh.
He was sick. Seriously sick.
“Put her in the car seat.”
Mindy stepped toward it, then stopped.
Meyer prodded her in the back of the neck with his gun. “Go on. You know you’re a terrible mother, anyway. You’d end up turning her into a slut, just like you are. I’m doing you both a favor. Once she’s out of your hair, you can go back to the way you used to live. No more worries. Just you, living in the moment. Babies are such a financial burden anyway.”
“She’s not a burden!”
“She’ll be dead if you don’t do as I say.”
Mindy had no choice. She had no doubt that Meyer would kill her daughter right in front of her to teach her a lesson. And so, though it tore out her heart, she put Ginny in the car seat and buckled her up. She might as well have been signing the adoption papers herself. Tears ran down her face as she kissed Ginny for the last time.
“Please,” she tried again. She turned to Meyer, ignoring the gun now. “Please. Don’t do this. Don’t take my daughter away from me.”
“It’s too late for tears, Mindy. Not when you spurn me at every turn.” Meyer shoved her back, making her trip over a chair. She landed hard as Ginny started to cry. “But when you turn to drugs—because, let’s face it, you’re trash, and you will go on drugs—flying high as a kite with no money and no future, give me a call. I’ll arrange for some rich clients to buy you.”
“I’ll go to them now if you—“
“Now? No, you’ll have to be on the drugs for at least a year . . . you’re far too fat right now. Who would want you?”
“Ple—”
She didn’t get a chance to continue. The hand with the gun whipped out. The butt of it slammed into her head, and she collapsed.
***
Mindy woke to the sound of her blood mimicking the ocean as it sloshed around in her ears. Light stabbed her eyes. Hands were on her butt as she weakly lashed out. They grabbed her by the waist and hefted her onto something hard and flat. As everything came into focus around her, she saw she was on a beach. The ocean lapped on the rocks while gulls cried overhead.
Meyer pushed her over. He grunted as he stepped back. “Ah, so you are going to live. It’s almost a pity . . . I was going to get rid of your body here. But no matter. You’ll behave now, won’t you Mindy? No running to the cops. Even without pictures to keep you in line. Only I know where Ginny is.”
Mindy opened her mouth, but all that came out of it was a stream of vomit as her head throbbed. Everything went black again.
***
It was dusk before she woke up again. Her head still throbbed but her thoughts were finally in some semblance of order. Her heart felt hollow. There was no need to remember what had happened. She rose to her feet, tottering slightly and headed for the closest buildings. Her head hurt enough that she had to stop several times but sitting out here, waiting for nothing to happen? She couldn’t do that.
Only one thought managed to pierce through the thick fog of pain and loss.
Meyer had made the biggest mistake of his life, and he was going to regret it—if he lived that long.
When her head’s pounding became too much for her to stomach, she sank down onto a small piece of grass and pulled her phone from her pocket. To her relief, she had an email notification. When she opened it up, she saw the pictures she had sent herself. Which meant she had something to use against him. Somehow, she would be able to use this to . . . to . . .
What did it matter, though? Ginny was gone. He had taken her away and given her to who knew what sort of people—they had bought a baby from Meyer, they couldn’t be a morally upright couple.
Her head spun, and her stomach churned. Tears began to course down her cheeks. At that moment, all she wanted to do was to forget everything. And to do that? She needed a drink.
Chapter Eighteen – Rex
It was well after dark before Rex finally found Mindy. She had called him on his cell phone. She was in a bar, sitting at a table by herself, with a beer clutched between her hands. Her eyes were red and puffy, the injuries she’d suffered before standing out on her pale skin. There was a new bruise showing through the parting of her hair.
Rex hurried over to her, his heart in his throat. What had happened? He slid into the seat next to her and took the beer from her hand, already seeing that she had had too much to drink.
Mindy blinked as she stared at him for a moment.
“Are you okay?” he asked, keeping his voice low and soft.
“No,” she choked out. She lunged, flinging her arms around him. Her speed surprised him. He held her tightly, trying to whisper soothing words while knowing that they would make no difference. Mindy buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Meyer’s scent clung lightly to her, along with the scents of the sea, and copious amounts of beer. From the scent alone he knew that Meyer had been around her, but it wasn’t very strong. Rex’s heart eased. At least he knew that Meyer hadn’t touched her. He stroked her hair, rocking her gently.
“I’m sorry,” Mindy whispered again. “I . . . I lost her, Rex. I lost our daughter.”
“No, you didn’t.” Rex kept his voice firm. “You didn’t lose her. It’s my fault. I’m supposed to protect her, and I failed. But I am going to get her back, Mindy. I promise. No matter what I need to do.”
Mindy stared at him for a long moment before she nodded. He helped her to her feet, supporting her when her knees buckled and took her outside. One of the servers came over to them, looking suspicious and Rex passed her a wad of bills to pay for Mindy’s drinks. When she asked Mindy if she wanted to go with Rex, Mindy told her yes, and they headed out.
Rex helped Mindy into the car, where she promptly passed out.
His heart was heavy in his chest as he drove to the hotel where the four bears were staying until they could make the trade with Meyer. He carried her up to the room. The other three were already there. Noel turned down the blankets on the bed so that Rex could lay Mindy down on it and Jarvis soaked a washcloth so Rex could clean up some of the dried blood on her face.
“What happened?” Noel asked, a hand on Rex’s shoulder.
