Hours had passed in the back of the truck. Carly had fallen asleep with her head on my shoulder, our backs pressed to the wall as we drove off to god knows where. Wherever it was, it couldn’t be good.

My mind worked overtime in the dark. If I could just free my hands, I could get my phone out and drop Bryan a pin. I could call the police, if necessary. But no, that would be risky. If I knew Marcus, he would’ve made contingencies for the cops.

But for Bryan? I couldn’t imagine a contingency for an angry Bryan.

He’d been part of this club at one point. He had to know—

The squeal of old brake pads filled the back of the truck, and Carly groaned and shifted next to me. The truck slowed to a halt, engine purring still. Finally, it cut out.

“Carly, wake up,” I whispered. “Honey, wake up now.”

“Riley?” Her voice was filled with exhaustion. “Where are we?”

“I don’t know, honey. Just stay as close to me as you can, OK?”

“OK,” she whispered, her voice trembling now.

“Brave mouse,” I replied, equally as soft. “Remember that. We’re both brave brave, brave mice.”

“Can we be soldiers instead?”

“Yes, or pirates. Brave pirates.”

“Brave pirates,” Carly agreed, and once again, I marveled at her. She was strong even in this situation, when it had to be utterly terrifying for her.

I nodded to myself. I had to be just as strong for her. Take the lead and show her how to act.

Voices drifted through to us from the back of the truck. There was a clack, and the doors swung open, flooding the back with muted light from what looked to be a lamppost. Marcus grinned at me. “There you are. I see you made it through the drive without fucking something up.”

“We need water,” I said, immediately. “And Carly needs the bathroom.”

Marcus laughed then clicked his fingers. “Get them out and take them through. It’s almost time.” Two men clambered into the back of the truck, both wearing leather jackets. They grabbed first me, and then Carly by the arm, and half-dragged, half-walked us out.

“Fuck’s sake, pick them up if you have to. Twice that speed. Move it.” Marcus’s barked commands floated down the back road of a small town. I squinted out past the lights and noted the buildings, a sign on one corner, leading out, flashed the town name. Redton.

Where the hell was that?

It was dry out here, and I scanned every which way the direction allowed me. Low brush nearby, dirt underfoot. Oh god, were we out in the desert somewhere? It had to be. The Chihuahuan desert. That would put us east or north of San Antonio. Hours away from it.

God, how would Bryan find us out here?

The men carried Carly and I toward the front door of what looked to be a rundown motel. The neon sign was off, the front door open, and a collection of bikes was parked outside. Men hung around too, smoking and talking in their leather jackets. They didn’t bother looking up as we were escorted past.

They carried us into the motel, past the empty reception desk, and down a hall. We entered a large room, probably a dining room, with boarded-up doors, and one window still present, though closed, the latch rusted shut.

Two cameras were positioned there, facing the back wall. Where two chairs waited.

“There we are,” Marcus said, entering the room behind us. “You’ve reached your final destination.”

“Please,” I said, “we need water, and Carly needs the bathroom.”

“Stop with that shit, Riley. I ain’t buying it. Now, I’ve got some final business to attend to before I deal with you two, but in the meantime, you two be good girls, and sit still on the chairs. Clint, set her down on the left. Jerr, the chair on the right for the kid. Leave ‘em tied up.”

Any hope I’d had waned, as we were placed on the chairs. The man who’d held Carly, Jerr, made for the door, but paused when the guy who’d had a hold of me, Clint, didn’t follow.

“You coming?” he called to his partner.

“Yeah,” Clint replied, the sweat shining on his forehead by the light of the fluorescents overhead. “President said I have to check these cameras are working first. You go on ahead.” The man, portly, with dark, hair, winged gray at the temples, stood straight and watched until his friend was gone.

The minute the door shut, he bent low, and whispered in my ear. “Those cameras aren’t on yet. I have to switch them on,” he said, and I didn’t reply, confusion rocking through me. “Listen close and careful. I’m a cop. I’m deep undercover. I’m friends with Bryan. You can trust me or not, but you gotta get out of here. These men will kill you, understand?”

“You don’t say,” I whispered back, glancing over at Carly, who watched us, wide-eyed.

“I’m going to cut you free, all right, your legs and wrists, and hers too, but neither of you move until after I’ve left. You gotta act like you’ve struggled or my cover’s blown. Do me this favor so I can do you yours.”

“OK,” I said, the hope that had disappeared thudding back to life. “Got it. Carly, did you hear what he said?”

She shook her head. “He’s going to cut you loose, but you have to pretend to be tied, OK?”

“It’s a game?”

“Yes, a pirate game. Just pretend.”

Clint—hadn’t that been the name of the guy Bryan had spoken to the other night?—cut my bindings first then moved on to Carly’s. He tucked his knife away then walked over to the cameras. “All right,” he said, “remember what I said.”

We both nodded.

He switched on one camera first, and then the next. He gave us a thumbs-up behind them, then left, snapping the door closed behind himself.

“OK,” I said, “here goes nothing.” I faked a struggle behind my back, then one at my ankles, rose and rushed over to Carly. “Hold still,” I whispered, as I pretended to free her arms and legs. She got up too. “OK. Now, to deal with these cameras.” It was a struggle to keep my wits about me, not to show my fear even now, and I smiled at Carly.

I ran over to the first camera and kicked it away. Carly did the same, tripping the camera that had been in front of her off its tripod, then stamping on it.

A yell sounded from deeper in the motel.

“Quick, honey, we’ve got to get out.” And that door was out of the question.

I hurried to the window and tried the rusted latch, but it didn’t budge. Just outside was a dimly lit alleyway, beyond that, a fence, and then? Desert, it had to be. But I’d take our chances in the desert over whatever sick shit they’d planned for this motel room.

Footsteps thundered toward the door, and I ripped my shirt, off fast, wrapped it around my fist. “Here goes nothing. Carly, stand back.” She backed up a step and I rammed my fist into the window. Pain shot through my arm, and the window didn’t break. Shit! Again! I hit it again, and it shattered, my shaking fist plunging through into the cool night air.

“They’re coming,” Carly squeaked.

I hit the remaining shards of glass out of the frame, then took the shirt off my hand shook it out and layered it over the thing. I was topless, thankfully with a bra on, in this hellish motel, but goddamn if I gave a shit about that.

“Come here, honey,” I put out my hands as something banged against the door.

“What are you doing?” a man yelled outside.

“I’m knocking it down,” a voice replied, closer to the wood.

“Here, quick.” I lifted Carly to the window, and she scrambled through. “Mind the glass.” She hopped down on the other side.

“Riley,” she whispered. “Riley.”

“I’m coming. Don’t panic, hon, I’m coming.”

“What do you mean, knock it down?” the other voice asked. “The damn door’s unlocked.”

“Oh.”

My luck was officially up. I launched myself toward the windowsill, and scrambled out of it, just as the door crashed open behind me.

“There!” Someone yelled. “Get her. Stop her!” It had to be Marcus.

I wormed my way through the hole, heart thundering in my chest—a mile a minute. A hand closed around my ankle.

“I’ve got her!” A triumphant shout.

Below me, Carly’s eyes were wide as saucers.

“Not today,” I grunted and kicked back as hard as I could, hoping that the universe was on my side today. My foot connected with something, and there was a horrific crunch followed by a howl. Quickly, I slipped out of the window and tumbled to the ground.

Another jolt of pain traveled through me, but I couldn’t worry about that now. I lifted Carly again, practically tossed her over the short fence separating us from the desert, our only hope at this point, then followed.

“Find them! Through the window! Go!” Marcus’s voice followed us as we darted into the night.