After the press conference, Bella’s brothers and volunteers James had arranged helped field phone call after phone call. So far they were all clearly pranks, someone hoping for some money. It was hard not to lose heart. It had been eighteen hours since Rider first called. Bella was running out of time.

“You have to talk to this guy,” James called out, waving me over and then handing me the phone he’d been taking tips on. “He says he saw a woman with a blindfold and her hands tied behind her back being forced into an old factory by four men.”

“I didn’t say how many guys were in the gang. This could be something.” I nodded, feeling the first bit of hope in hours. “Damian Grogan,” I said into the phone, “tell me what you saw.”

“What about the reward?” The voice on the other end asked.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get the reward if I find Bella.”

“Let’s meet face to face. I don’t trust you,” the caller said.

Anger flooded through me. This was the first lead that seemed legit, and the guy didn’t want to talk. “Look, if Bella dies while you waste my time here, you aren’t getting shit. Now, tell me where she is!”

“Trust has to go both ways,” the man insisted.

Clenching my hands so hard they ached, I took in deep breaths to calm myself. “You’re right. If you can save my wife, I’ll double the reward. There’s no way I’m going to stiff you on this. Everyone heard the offer on TV. Tell me your name and contact information, and I’ll get everything ready. Just, please, tell me where to find Bella.”

“Names Gregor Giles. Can’t really give you my address. I’m livin’ under a bridge right now.”

It made more sense why the man wanted to meet in person. “Look, Gregor, I’ll give you anything you need if you really know where Bella is. If she dies while I’m waiting to see you, though, I’ll make the rest of your life hell.”

Gregor chuckled. “Keep your panties on, rich boy. I’m right outside the door.”

The phone disconnected, and I clenched my fists with frustration, but knew I had to keep my cool. I turned to James. “Are there any other leads that came in while I was on the phone? I want to check anything that sounds promising.”

James shook his head. “No one calling in knows any real information. One person said they saw her near the hospital in the early morning, but there weren’t any men with her yet. She was walking alone at that time. I think the call was legit, but it doesn’t help us.”

I nodded, not really surprised. “Let’s hope this homeless guy is telling the truth or this might have all been for nothing.”

Gregor told his story in relatively short time. I fronted him half of the promised money to get him to talk, but we finally had a location for the factory he saw Bella being dragged into. It wasn’t all too far from the hospital. It seemed everything had gone perfectly for Rider and the gang. If the only witness was a homeless junky, things had gone exceptionally well. If Gregor hadn’t just happened to be in a homeless shelter that had the news on at the time of my press conference, a witness would have never stepped forward.

I called my contact at the police station, telling them they needed to send units out immediately.

To my shock, the officer scoffed. “Gregor? Let me guess, the one who lives under a bridge and looks like he’s one high away from overdose? There’s no way that guy saw anything. He just wants your money. Call back when you have a real lead.”

“What the hell do you mean?” I couldn’t keep my voice lowered, and all the volunteers looked at me. “The factory’s in the area near the hospital, and Gregor knew how many men were with her. It’s the same number of gang members they had the other day. It might be a damn good guess, but he might have really seen something.”

“We deal with that guy all the time,” the officer responded, no compassion in his tone. “I’m not wasting my time. Call when someone else confirms it.”

“Shit!” I threw my cell across the room, anger taking over before I remembered that if it broke, Rider had no way to contact me.

Luckily, Kyle was taking phone calls on that side of the room and caught it before it smashed into the wall, giving me a frown. “What’s up?”

“Cops don’t think this druggie is reliable. They won’t help.”

Elias’s head lifted from the table he was resting at after our sleepless night and day. “What? It’s the only thing we have to go on. They have to go check.”

It seemed pointless to argue further. The police had other problems they worked on. In a way, I could understand why they didn’t want to take Gregor’s word as truth. If I had any other options, I’d probably think this guy was a fraud too. He got half the money out of me. He could leave now and cash my check before I was able to verify his story, and there’d be nothing I could do about it. However, he hadn’t left, waiting for the remainder of his reward. That alone gave me hope that he truly believed he’d seen Bella.

Bella’s brothers and James had gathered around me. I looked them all in the eyes. “I’m going to get her back myself. If the cops won’t help, I’ll have to rely on the small experience from my past. I’ll kill them all if I have to, whatever it takes to get her back safe.”

Kyle cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. “You don’t think you’re goin’ alone, do you?”

“What do you mean? I can’t put any of you in danger.”

Brandon chuckled. “Yeah, ’cause we’re sitting back like good boys while you go get our sis? No, thanks. I’ll call Pop, too. He’ll wanna come.”

James put his hand on my shoulder. “I’ve never been in a fight, but I’m coming too. There might be something I can do to help.”

Knowing they were all as determined as I was, I nodded. “Fine. I don’t have access to guns, but we can get knives. That’s all the gang uses, so we won’t be facing firearms as long as nothing has changed. Snake stabbed the guy he killed, so I think it’s the same.” I smiled at my new comrades. “Let’s go get her back, guys!”

BELLA

I was getting entirely fed up with Rider’s caresses and leering eyes. It felt like his hands had touched my body with more frequency than Damian’s. Still, I smiled and flattered his ego as best I could. There was no way I would die in this hellhole.

“Rider, it’d be a lot more fun if I could touch you.” I batted my eyes and placed a kiss against his t-shirt. “My hands hurt so much, too. I told you how I tried to get free earlier. They’re pretty scratched up. Can’t you help me?”

“I...” Rider looked uncertain for a moment before spinning me so my back faced him. With a gentler touch than I would have expected from a thug, he stroked at the skin around the ropes. “You really did a number on this, didn’t you? I’m surprised you ain’t crying.”

I forced a bark of laughter. “Hurts like hell, but your woman can’t be whiny, now can she? I’m tough, just like my new man.”

He suddenly stood upright, his lips once again on my ear. “You ain’t playin’ me, right princess? I really want to believe I can trust you and let your hands loose, but I’m sure you’re scared right now and doing whatever it takes to trick me into setting you free.”

His voice against my ear made me both disgusted and scared, but I did my best not to show it. “Well, I’m not madly in love with you for sure,” I responded, shrugging. “That doesn’t matter though, does it? I think you’re hot and tough, and I’d like to do more than be at your mercy while you kiss me. I want to respond to you.”

That was all true enough. Rider wasn’t a bad-looking man. It was too bad he had to be such a shitty person. And, I certainly wanted to do plenty more than sit passively while he kissed me—such as stabbing him and running away.

After a few moments of silence, there was a sudden pressure against the ropes binding me before they fell away. When I turned around in surprise, Rider re-sheathed the large knife at his side.

Upon seeing my wide eyes, he smiled. “Don’t look so surprised, princess. You were honest with me. I have to respect that. Now, give me your hands.”

Too stunned to do anything but obey, I shook the tingles and soreness from my arms as I brought my hands forward. Angry abrasions on both wrists and dried blood showed just how badly I’d injured myself while trying to break free.

Rider’s frown was as deep as I had ever seen, and he looked around the dirty room. “There’s no way to disinfect these here. I’m sorry to say this, but you’re going to have to deal with it a bit longer.”

He pulled something out of his back pocket, the gag they’d used on me before. Once again going for his knife, he sliced the fabric down the center as best he could. Though my fingers itched to snatch away the knife, I knew it would be a death sentence to try and take on all four of them together.

As Rider quickly bound my wrists with the prior gag, Tony finally let out a rumble of discontent from his spot on the other wall.

“Got a problem?” Rider asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Why’d you get to be her knight and take off the ropes? When I wanted to, you said it was too dangerous.”

Rider smiled. “Because, before she was only pretending to like you. Now she knows the truth about Prince Pussy, and she really wants to be with me. I’m not gonna tie up the girl I plan to fuck.”

Tony stood up, shaking his head all the while as he approached us. “You don’t get her. I have dibs on her! She’s my girl!”

“Don’t be such a crybaby,” Rider said. “She’s mine, but I’ll let you watch if you want.”

“Um, Rider...” I shook my head firmly, grabbing his arm. “I’d rather our first time be more meaningful, ya know? If the guys watch, I’ll just feel like some piece of meat. I thought I was special to you?”

I’d say whatever I had to in order to get him alone. Reminding myself that I wasn’t cheating on my husband, but finding a way to get back to him, I stroked Rider around his waistline and gave him a flirty smile.

“You are special, princess.” Rider jerked his chin toward the doorway. “Everyone, out.”

One of the nameless snorted. “You get out. I ain’t movin’.”

Knowing I’d have the best chance at escape if the rest of the guys stayed here instead of outside guarding the doorway, hope flared within me. “Come on, Rider. Let’s leave these losers here. I’m sure we can find somewhere down in the factory to enjoy our first time.”

He chuckled. “First of many, right princess?”

Flashing a wink, I stroked his arm. “Think you can keep up with me? I’m a bit insatiable.”

“Good, just the way I like it.” He glared at the other men. “We’ll be a while. No one bother us.”

Thank God. I had thought Rider was a lot smarter than Tony, but it seemed any man would make wrong decisions when they started thinking with their dick. That worked for me. If I could somehow get away, the other gang members wouldn’t come looking for me for a while. I should have time to get out of here and find help before they realized something was wrong.

I looped my arm through Rider’s. “Let’s go, baby.”

“Don’t call me baby,” he said, leading me to the office door.

With a pout, I looked up at him. “Then what do you like? What do you want me to scream out while you make me cum?”

“Hmmm...” He looked as though he were deep in thought, as if this was the most important question he’d ever been asked. What a prick. He really did think he was God’s gift to women. Well, as long as I could make him think I agreed until I got away, everything would work out.

We reached the ground floor, and Rider led me between large machinery on the ground floor. I had no clue what it might have been used for. There were long conveyer belts threading through the room and other tall machines were surrounded by various arm-like things protruding from the edges. As we reached one of the back walls, Rider stopped, picked me up, and sat me on a conveyer belt.

“Call me lover,” he said, his greedy lips taking mine as his hands went to my chest.

It was all I could do not to cringe. After reminding myself I was doing this so I could get back to my family—and my husband—it was a bit easier to act as though I were into Rider’s advances. Still, thinking of Damian just confused me. I had a hard time figuring out how I really felt about him now. Could I forgive him for what he’d done to me? Did I want to? I still wasn’t sure. One thing I did know, I’d never figure that all out if I didn’t find a way to escape.

Rider kissed me until he’d had his fill, then his hands went to my skirt, pushing it upward as he ripped down my panties. “I’ve been wanting to do this since we got you here. You might not have the prettiest face, but your body is so damn hot. I’m gonna pound you so hard you’ll scream with pleasure. Tell me what a good lover I am, tell me how much better I am than Prince Pussy.”

Wow, this guy had a real inferiority complex where Damian was concerned. Perhaps because, deep down, Rider understood that he was still a piece of shit criminal while Damian had felt bad about his crimes and gone on to better his life. At least, that’s what I thought had happened. Damian told me his mistakes made him realize he wanted to help people. His eyes on that video had seemed so shocked and sad after he’d cut me. I truly wanted to believe Damian was a good person who’d made an awful mistake that he regretted.

The more I thought about Damian and the more Rider’s hands touched me, the more I realized I didn’t want any man except Damian stroking me so intimately. Perhaps I couldn’t completely forgive him right at this moment, but I did care about him. Letting Rider do more was out of the question. I couldn’t handle this. The farce had gone too far. Even if it cost me the chance to escape, I couldn’t let this go on.

I had to stop him, no matter what.