Waiting on Summer

by Bella Settarra

  “Don’t you like it?” Her teeth were gritted and her jaw tense as anger welled from her stomach.

  “You looked hideous enough before; you just look completely grotesque now.” He jeered at her.

  “So why were you with me for so long? Couldn’t you get a pretty girl with your looks?” She couldn’t resist the jibe and felt that the slap across the side of the head she received in return was almost worth it. She had become so accustomed to his violent outbursts she hardly felt the pain anymore. The only thing that was really giving her grief right now was the arm that appeared to still have some glass stuck in it. Blood was still oozing onto her trousers where she had laid her throbbing limb, but at least she knew the material was clean. Goodness knows what infections she would catch from any of Colin’s clothes.

  “Why do you think, bitch? It certainly wasn’t your looks. Why do you think I had to get drunk or stoned just to bang you? And don’t think you were my only meal ticket either. I’ve got plenty more dotted around the place, same as the rest of Ross’s men. In fact I hear you’ve met one of their bitches already down here.”

  “I don’t know anyone,” she told him, wondering how he had found her. She knew Ross was a powerful crook and could well have connections down in Miami. If Colin had convinced him she would pay off his debts, it was just possible he might have put word out to find her.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, slut,” he snapped at her triumphantly. “A lot of people work at that posh club of yours, and word soon gets around about a newcomer. You women just love to talk, don’t you? Luckily, Ross likes to listen.”

  Summer frowned. “One of the staff?”

  “Yep. I guess you just thought they were all real friendly, didn’t you?” He sneered.

  “But how would you know anyone from there?”

  “I don’t. Someone who knows Ross fucks one of them now and then. Happened to mention that his woman came home yakking about a new girl who’d just started there, and Ross did the math. I’d already given him a rundown of all your ‘talents’ so it didn’t take a genius to figure it out.”

  “So I see.” She braced herself for the fist, which came flying at her cheek.

  Her face throbbed as much as her head, and she sank back against the rock-hard headrest. It was difficult to think that someone at the club had given her away; they were all so nice to her. Except for Rudey Judy, of course. Although if it had just been pillow talk, it could have been quite innocent. One of her friends could easily have mentioned her without realizing the danger they were putting her in.

  It was beginning to get dark, and she wondered what the time was. Nathan would surely have gone to the apartment to fetch her by now. What would he think when she wasn’t there? Would he just knock on the door, get no answer, and assume she’d changed her mind? Would he just go home and forget all about her? The thought made her stomach churn and her heart ache. No. That look in his eyes when they made love this morning told her that he wouldn’t just forget about her. She had meant something to him. She just knew it. He had been so kind to her and took such good care of her that she knew he would be worried. Would he get into her place? He would certainly be concerned if he went in and found her gone.

  She closed her eyes imagining that gorgeous face of his, the feel of his touch, the scent of him. She bowed her head slightly and tried to breathe in the residue of his shower jell on her skin. Although faint, the aroma gave her strength. He was her only hope now. No matter what, she’d find a way to survive until he came through.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Nathan got right back into his car and tore out of the parking lot. On his way back to Summer’s apartment he used his hands-free to call Dominic, just in case he’d had any news about her previous employment or even knew anything about her past relationship. He hadn’t heard anything. Damn! Dominic was concerned when he told him that something was wrong and she was in some kind of danger and promised to meet him at her place as soon as he could. That was some favor for a workaholic like Dominic. He never took time off work unless he really had to.

  As he had expected there was no answer at the door, so he gave it a good kick and it opened. He cursed himself for not checking on her security before he had left her here. Her purse sat on the sofa and he quickly checked it. Her wallet was gone. The bedroom door was wide open, and he noticed scuff marks on the doorjamb. Fuck. The blood all over the sheets confirmed his fears.

  He went next door, hammering hard with his fist until a middle-aged woman opened up.

  “The girl next door. Something’s happened to her. Did you hear anything?” There wasn’t time for niceties.

  She looked a little embarrassed. “Well, there was some screaming and banging noises, but I didn’t know if that was her normal behavior. She only just moved in, you see…”

  “Did you call the cops?”

  “No.” She blushed with shame.

  “Does the CCTV work here?”

  “Sometimes. There’s an office…” She pointed to what looked like a cupboard door farther down the corridor, and he shot off in that direction, thanking her as he went.

  He banged hard on the door she had indicated.

  “Nathan?” Dominic’s voice echoed in the corridor while Nathan waited for an answer.

  “Down here.”

  Dominic ran toward Nathan just as a young guy opened the door in front of him.

  “We need to check your CCTV right away. Something happened to the young girl from 104, possibly within the last hour. Did you notice anything?”

  The open newspaper in front of the monitor told him the answer to that one, and he pushed past the guy to get into the room.

  “Hey, you can’t just…”

  “I think you’ll find I just did, kid.”

  “Only the cops get access to those tapes,” the guy protested, following Nathan over to the desk.

  “You can call them if you want to. Meanwhile, show me the outside of the building on here.” Nathan wasn’t waiting around, and he soon felt Dominic at his elbow.

  “She’s been hurt.” Nathan told him without looking up from the screen in front of him.

  “I saw the blood.” Looked like Dominic had been in her room too.

  The young guy rewound the tape, and they stared at the entrance of the building as he slowly forwarded the tape again.

  “Who’s that?” Nathan pointed to the screen where a rusty old pickup had pulled up, the engine still running. A scruffy guy leaned out of the driver’s window while his colleagues ran into the building.

  “Never seen them before.” The young guy shrugged.

  Nathan was already jotting down the vehicle registration when he saw the guy coming back out of the main entrance, dragging Summer with him. Blood was gushing from her arm, and she was struggling in his massive grip. Another guy was rushing out behind them, and they watched as the gorgeous blonde was shoved into the truck, which then sped off.

  “Fifty minutes ago,” Dominic announced, checking the time on the screen against his Rolex.

  “Damn!”

  “I’ll call Steve.” Dominic got straight onto his cell phone and was soon speaking to Steve Ratner, one of the dungeon monitors from Collar and Cuffs, who also happened to be a cop.

  “Thanks for your help, kid,” Nathan said to the young guy as he followed Dominic out of the office.

  “He’s running the plate right now. Your car or mine?” Dominic asked quietly, covering the mouthpiece of the phone.

  “Mine.” Nathan had left his car right outside the building, so he would have had to move it anyhow. He hadn’t parked it properly earlier because it would have wasted too much time.

  Besides that, he knew that driving would be more therapeutic for him than sitting in the passenger seat worrying helplessly.

  They jumped in and sped off, with Dominic taking instruction from Detective Sgt. Ratner. It turned out that the pickup had put a lot of distance between them already, but once Nathan explained about the note, Steve
confirmed that there would be a few squad cars on their trail now too.

  “Do we know who this guy is?” Dominic asked.

  “Nope.” Nathan seethed. He hated secrets, especially since Sharon’s little escapades.

  “You really like her, don’t you?” Dominic was a shrewd man and knew his friends well.

  “Yeah. I like her a hell of a lot,” Nathan admitted. “That’s what makes this so fucking awful. I didn’t know she was in trouble. I guessed she was in some financial strife but nothing like this. How did I not know?”

  “You haven’t known her long,” Dominic reminded him.

  “Yeah, but even so. I guess I knew there was more to her move here than she was letting on. Fort Lauderdale’s where she’d come from, right?”

  Dominic frowned. “Her last job was in West Palm Beach. Some club, but I can’t get much out of them. She worked in Fort Lauderdale before that, as a silver service waitress, among other things. They gave her a great reference, said they were sorry to see her go. Some family problem or something meant she had to move.”

  Nathan felt his gut wrench. She hadn’t lied to him, but it seemed there was a lot she hadn’t told him.

  “I wonder what it is the bastard thinks he’s going to tell you that will make a difference,” Nathan mused, handing him the note.

  Dominic shook his head. “She’s a damn good worker. I can’t think of anything that would jeopardize her job, if that’s what he means. Actually, she’s the best we’ve got in the alcoholic beverages department. I’m considering her for the job of sommelier. The one I’ve got takes more sick leave than the rest of the staff put together, and anyone who can talk Brad Dexter out of his cash is worth their weight in gold, in my book.”

  “Yeah, I liked that.” Nathan felt a sense of pride, and a smirk crossed his lips as they sped away from town.

  “She went on to sell our most expensive bottle of Cristal the following night,” Dominic said with a grin.

  “That’s my girl.” Despite the seriousness of the current situation, Nathan found his face split into a shit-eating grin. This girl would be a great addition to the finance department.

  “We’ve got a lead. Someone tried to use Summer’s bank card in Medley.” Steve Ratner’s voice came over Dominic’s cell, giving details of the latest whereabouts of the truck.

  “We’re onto it,” Dominic confirmed as they swung a tight right and sped off down a back road.

  “Let’s get these bastards.” Nathan felt the excitement bubble up inside him as anger and anxiety fought for pole position in his system, promptly knocking pride clean off first place.

  * * *

  Summer badly wanted to close her eyes as the throbbing in her head continued to pound. She needed to keep her wits about her, however, and thought it would be best to get some idea of her whereabouts just in case she got the opportunity to run. She made mental notes of key signs and places of interest—or at least those that stood out in her mind—as they sped carelessly down the back streets of goodness-knows-where.

  “There’s a small town down here where we can use the bank,” the driver, who was apparently called Mickey, said with a smirk.

  “OK, but we’ll have to be quick. It’s too risky to be here for long.” Colin was starting to shake, and Summer guessed he was about ready for his next fix.

  Mickey pulled over, and Colin leaped out of the car. Summer went to follow him out, but Mickey grabbed hold of her.

  “It’s all right. I know the number.” Colin smirked at her, and she felt herself go hot. She had already changed her bank card number four times because she suspected him of taking money from her account but didn’t realize he’d found it out again already. She wondered if she’d ever feel truly safe again, even if she got away.

  “You’re with me,” Mickey sneered, holding her even tighter as Colin slammed the door shut.

  She watched Colin pull her wallet from his pocket as he approached the machine.

  “Never mind him, we’ve got a couple of minutes to ourselves.” Mickey showed her a toothless grin, which made her feel sick.

  Holding her with one hand, he put the other straight onto her breast, and she yelped at the shock. He squeezed it tight, a salacious expression on his pug-ugly face. Instinctively, Summer brought her leg up and kicked him before scrabbling over the seat and pushing the door open.

  “Fuck you!” Mickey yelled, and Summer jumped out of the truck just as Colin finished at the machine and Harrison appeared in front of her, seizing her arms in a vise-like grip.

  “Nice try, slut,” Harrison jeered at her, and she wriggled as much as she could. It was no good. The guy was a bulldozer.

  “Get back in there, bitch.” Colin punched her bleeding arm, and the agony that shot through her body was unbearable. Summer honestly thought she was about to pass out with the pain, but she wasn’t so lucky. She heard her own scream as if she was listening from elsewhere, and she swallowed a mouthful of bile.

  Harrison threw her into the cab, and Colin climbed in after her.

  “Fucking whore!” Mickey slapped her face as soon as she got near him. “Think you can kick me and get away with it, do ya?”

  Summer was aware of tears streaming down her face, and she sat still and quiet while they both subjected her to a barrage of abuse before zooming off down the road.

  “Ten lousy dollars! Is that all you’re worth?” Colin snapped at her, holding a note up in his grubby hand.

  “You’ll have to do a lot better than that when Ross gets hold of you,” Mickey jeered with an evil laugh.

  “I’m not waiting until then. You promised me my share, don’t forget!” Harrison hollered from behind them, and Summer felt a thud in the pit of her stomach.

  “We’ll all get our share before he does,” Colin promised, giving her a sneer. “And you better make sure we all enjoy it.”

  She glared at Colin. “I thought you didn’t think I was pretty enough for you?” she snapped.

  “Ha! You’ve never been pretty, bitch, but that’s never stopped me from boning you before, has it? With that fucking awful haircut I’ll have to keep my eyes well and truly shut this time, or I’ll think I’ve turned into a faggot. What in hell did you get it done like that for? At least when it was long it covered up that ugly fat face of yours.” He laughed at her cruelly as hot tears streamed down her throbbing face.

  Nathan likes it, she told herself. He said she was cute, and he ran his hands through it all the time when they made love that morning.

  “I hope you like it up the ass, whore,” Mickey joined in.

  “We having a foursome?” Harrison yelled through the window.

  “Might have to.” Colin glanced at his watch, and Summer took the opportunity to check the time. It was nearly nine o’clock and was almost pitch dark outside. She wondered where Nathan would be right now, and her heart pounded. He was her hero. He would save her. She just knew it.

  “Do they know, at that fancy club you work at, that you’re a hooker?” Colin sneered, and she knew that he was trying to quash any hope she might have left. She seethed at his remark and then remembered that he had threatened to tell her boss all about her in his note. What the heck would they think? Would Nathan still want her?

  “I’m not a hooker,” she bit back.

  “Yeah, right! You think I don’t know how you made your money? Fuck, that’s the only reason I stayed with you, you fat slut.”

  “She’s good for something, then, eh?” Mickey piped up.

  “Good enough for keeping a roof over your head and food in your belly. Oh, and let’s not forget paying your fucking drug debts!” Summer had just about had enough. She knew that Colin and his friends could kill her. Even if they didn’t, they would make damn sure Nathan wouldn’t want her anymore. After they’d finished with her no man would ever want her again, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. The thought made her feel physically sick, and she swallowed another mouthful of burning bile.

  “
He’ll be at the meet point in half an hour!” Harrison yelled from the back of the truck. He had evidently been on his cell.

  “That doesn’t give us long to have our fun!” Mickey groaned.

  “Well if you step on it we might do it!” Colin snapped.

  Summer was beginning to lose heart in a big way. She couldn’t escape, and she knew Ross wouldn’t be there alone. The manipulating bastard never went anywhere without backup. Her arm seared with pain, and her head throbbed. She felt weak and vulnerable, a feeling she had promised herself she had left behind when she escaped from Colin. He was planning to ruin the rest of her life. She knew that. Even if Nathan managed to rescue her—which looked increasingly doubtful—he wouldn’t want her once Colin had told him about her past. No matter what happened her future with him was over. Within the next hour Colin would have robbed her of everything.

  Mickey had his foot to the floor as they sped through the country roads, and Summer strained her eyes in the dark to find some way of identifying their whereabouts.

  “You getting excited?” Colin jeered.

  Summer stared at him, wondering, not for the first time, what she ever found attractive about the scumbag.

  “You want us one at a time or all together?” Mickey’s voice was as rough as gravel as he leered at her.

  “I don’t think there’ll be time for taking turns,” Colin laughed.

  Summer felt bile rise in her throat, and she swallowed hard. This had to be her worst nightmare about to come true, and there was nothing she could do about it…or was there? With no idea where they were, and no concept of time, her mind raced for clues. Harrison had a cell phone, so she had hope. No one had waved any weapons around, and she hadn’t noticed any guns. Unless they had rifles in the back of the wagon or something.

  “I need the toilet,” she said, fidgeting a little.

  Colin laughed derisively. “Well, that might make things a little easier for you then.”

  Mickey guffawed. He really was an ugly brute.

  “Please, Colin. I won’t try to get away or anything. Heck you can come with me if you want. I just really need to pee, that’s all.”