“We need to get her out of here.” I wake up groggy, to a voice I don’t recognize. My back is to them. I know they’re behind me. I’m lying on my side, and I can feel a cool breeze on my face. I remain still and silent, and I’m sure to keep my breathing even. My face is killing me. My temples pound with pain. But I ignore the painful throbbing. I do a mental check. It’s only my face and my side that hurt.

They didn’t bind my wrists. I try to keep the smile off my face. Thank fuck they’re behind me so they can’t see my relief. Vince was wise to tie me up. These fuckers have underestimated me. My heart pounds in my chest, but I keep forcing myself to breathe evenly. I listen to them. I’ll wait until I can strike. I couldn’t do anything back at the house, with all of them on me at once. I just need to wait until I have a chance.

I’m sure Vince will come. But right now, I can’t rely on him. I don’t know if he’ll get to me in time. I also don’t know how much time I have. I listen and wait.

“You really think this is going to work?” someone behind me asks. His voice is deep and throaty, like someone who’s smoked his whole life.

“It’s their signature move. They’ll definitely believe it’s a message from the cartel.” Another man, one who’s closer to me.

“They’re a bunch of pussies.” I can hear three men in total laugh. So I’m up against three of them. Those aren’t good odds. I don’t think I could take out three. My heart sinks. I won’t give up hope though. I just need to try to take them on one at a time. I can manage that. I will manage that.

“Thought they’d have already gone after them. They move slow.” My eyes slowly creep open as I continue to take stock of my situation. I’m facing a cinder block wall, lying atop cardboard boxes. My arm is above my head and it fucking hurts. I want to move it but I don’t. I lie still and wait. Smoke fills my lungs with the smell of cigarettes and I hear a drag being taken.

“I want at her first.” My eyes open wide, but I keep my breathing steady.

“You’ll wait your turn.”

“You sure they won’t be able to get anything from the video?”

“Yeah, we’ll edit it to cover our voices. It’ll look just like the cartel’s threats. Vince is a fucking stupid hothead. I know they’ll go in for the kill as soon as it’s sent.”

The men laugh again, and I try to keep the sickness I'm feeling from creeping up my throat. But I can’t. I nearly vomit at the image they’ve put in my head.

I’m fucked. I know it, too. A hand grips my hair and yanks my head back. I scream out with tears creeping out of the corners of my eyes.

“Our little bitch is up.” I want to close my eyes, but I can’t. A bald short man with yellow-stained teeth stares back at me with a menacing look. He's got a sick grin plastered on his face. From his voice, I recognize him as the one saying their plan will work. I decide to think of him as the planner in the group.

His nose is nearly an inch from mine and I take the opportunity to spit in his face. He wipes his face off with the back of his arm and then backhands me so hard I hit the cement ground with enough force that I nearly go unconscious.

“Get her ass up here.” I hear him move around as I hear more heavy steps come from behind me. “We can all have a practice round.” A sick, disgusting chuckle fills the hot air as I’m pulled up onto my feet. I turn around and kick the fucker as hard as I can right in his balls. The second hurls himself at me from my left side, and I ball my hands into fists, and draw back to punch him, but the first man's arms wrap around my front and hold me back. Fuck! No!

“No wonder he kept this cunt. I hope she fights us every time.” A tall, thin man with oily black hair smiles and walks closer to me with his hands out to reach for me.

I don’t care that I’m being held back. I’m not going to stop fighting. Vince would want me to fight. As soon as this bastard’s close enough, I push my weight back and throw my legs up to kick him. The bald man holding me tilts backwards as he's knocked off balance, and my foot gets high enough to knock the guy square in the face. His head flies back as I fall to the ground and when I look up, blood’s pouring from his nose. I don’t waste a second, but the man behind me is faster. He wraps his arms around me and pins my arms in place. He holds me close and I’m trapped. I struggle against him, but I’m trapped in his hold.

The door to the room flies open.

“They’re here!” A man barges into the room, completely out of breath.

“Who’s here?” the bald fucker asks, his vile breath filling my nose and I try to push away from him again.

“Valettis!” the man yells, and the men all exchange quick glances.

“I’ll tie her up. You three go now!”

They run out of the door and the bald man reaches into his jacket and I know what he’s getting. I lunge at him. I’ll pry it from his hands if I have to. I’ll scratch, bite and claw. I latch onto his wrist while it’s tucked at his side, gripping the gun, and sink my teeth into his arm as he fires a shot that hits the wall behind him.

He screams from the pain and pushes me away, but I bite harder, until his flesh rips from his arm and I spit it out, digging my nails and fingers into his arm and back.

The man looks down at me with a twisted snarl on his face and tries to shove me away. It gives me enough room to elbow him in his ribs and as he hunches over, the gun falls to the ground and goes off.

This is my chance. My only chance.