The door ricocheted against the wall, hinges and doorknob rattling from the force of Miranda's entry. She stormed into her living room and yanked off her bag. Letting out a shriek, she savagely slammed her overnight bag into the couch.
What was Naomi thinking? She was erratic and unpredictable at times, but this really took the cake!
A small voice tittered at the back of Miranda's thoughts. This wasn't about Naomi. This was about her and her inability to handle Tyler like an adult. Her friends and family agreed. That's why a wedge slammed down between the couple and Tyler rode off into the sunset.
Plus, this meant that Naomi harbored no resentment to Jack for leaving her in his dust. She wasn't a fellow broken heart in this whole scheme. Miranda growled as pain flickered through her chest and flexed her fingers. She stopped, realizing what she was doing, and paused. Heaving a sigh, she ran her hands through her hair, keeping her fingers busy in a reasonable sort of way. She had to get a handle on herself.
Knuckles rapped against her door. Irritation instantly lit across her thoughts thinking it was the last person she wanted to see. She stormed over to the door, flinging it open without looking out the peephole.
“What the hell do you wa–” Miranda's eyes widened and her angry exclamation coming to a full stop when her palm slapped over her mouth. Her face flared with a blush as her brain registered Tyler wasn't on the other side of the door. Her hand drifted away from her lips and she squeaked, “I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
The stranger stood a few inches taller than her, with a gleaming bald head, and unwavering smile perched beneath a pair of sunglasses. He wore a leather vest over a white t-shirt with jeans. 'Blue collar' flickered across Miranda's thoughts. At the back of her mind, wariness puttered about. Who wore sunglasses indoors or so late at night?
“Not a problem, miss. I'm sure whoever they are, they deserve the tongue-lashin'.” The man's smile flickered with a congenial twitch. His hidden eyes put Miranda on edge.
Somehow, she doubted the smile reached his eyes. He took a step closer, invading Miranda's personal space. She yelped, her feet skittering away, but he caught her by the elbow. Something hard and cold pressed against her side and her mind hiccupped. Was that a gun?
The stranger leaned in close, lips against Miranda's ear. The scent of cigarettes and whiskey clung to his breath. His grip flexed around her elbow, pain cracked across her nerves. “Now, don't be a problem child, miss. We just need you ta' get Ferguson's attention.”
“Ferguson?” Her eyes widened, her breath locked in her lungs. What was he talking about? Ferguson? Realization ticked across her brain. Tyler! A shiver coiled down her limbs.
“Now, don't you make a peep, all right?” The man's hot breath streaked across her ear. Her stomach knotted and soured. Trembles overtook her limbs, but the man leaned away. Her eyes darted down, catching sight of the gun's shiny black muzzle. He tugged her from the apartment, leading her jelly-filled legs.
What could she do? Her purse, her phone, everything was still in the apartment. Her mind froze, completely devoid of options. A bullet was quicker than any move she could hope to make. When he shut her apartment door, the click of the doorknob sent a finality slamming into her thought. Tears bit at the back of Miranda's eyes, a whimper sifted from her throat.
“Now, now, don't be that way.” He leaned close to her ear. He positioned her in front of him, his left hand still grasping her elbow. Against the right side of her back, the muzzle pressed into her. It seemed softer than before. He probably pocketed it for inconspicuous travel. It didn't help her situation any. “Now, bow your head.”
She suppressed another shudder as she did as she was told. Her stomach churned, but her mind's abilities fell flat.
The stranger led her down the hall and the stairs. Tears brimmed at the edge of her lashes, but she couldn't let them fall. Anything suspicious might get them stopped and she'd end up with a hole in her side.
Fear gripped at her chest, making it hard to breathe. She needed to think of something. Silently, she hoped any of the apartments would open, that someone would see her, that someone would help. It was too late at night, though. Very few people came and went at this hour. Those who would were probably high on young adult living or drunk. Miranda's heart sank as that cynical thought took hold her head.
As they breached the threshold of the complex, her hopes died. No one would come for her. No one would see her. This man, whoever he was, would take off with her in tow. Her face would plaster the news channel and she'd be found dead in a field. Tears burned hotter at her eyes.
“Head toward the blue sedan.” The sudden words made Miranda jolt. Terror oozed down her spine, but her legs listened to the orders. “That's a good girl.”
Those last words broke through the ice in her head. Miranda's eyebrows lowered. If she was going to die either way, why listen to him? Hell, if he shot her outside the apartment building, she'd be able to get help! Someone would hear the gunshot and call 911. Conviction solidified in her head.
The flap of her flip-flops smacked across her ears. A plan sparked to life in her mind.
Miranda wiggled her toes, adjusting the sandal just right for–
She let out a shriek and tumbled forward, tripping on the ragged sandal. The left side of her body jerked backward. The man's hold on her elbow nearly yanked her arm out of her socket. He grunted, but Miranda couldn't tell if it was out of effort or displeasure.
It didn't matter. Her fingers clasped her prize.
“Get back up,” he growled.
Miranda rose, slowly, to her feet. The rock weighed down her palm and excitement riveted along her bones. She could barely breathe as adrenaline pumped through her. This was her chance.
As soon as the stranger placed the muzzle of the gun to her back, she spun to her left. The man snarled an exclamation, but she couldn't hear it over the pumping of blood in her ears. She brought the rock up, using the momentum of her spin and slamming it toward the side of the man's head.
A satisfying crunch echoed through the air and the man howled. His grip only tightened, though. Miranda gasped as he slowly turned to face her. The sunglasses, shattered on one side, fell away from his features. Blood dribbled from a small gash on his temple. His blue glare caught her, fury and livid rage burning through Miranda's skull.
Her heart sank as the man's right arm shifted. This was it. Her chest clamped hard against her thrumming heart and terrified shivers coursed across her limbs.
“Hey!” A voice rang out, over the roar of a hog. The stranger's head snapped to the newest interference. Miranda's heart recognized the voice and hope filled her thoughts.
Tyler saw only red as he hurtled toward Miranda's would-be captor. He stopped mere inches away, but the man didn't even flinch. The two stared each other down, heat and pressure building up between them. Tyler's eyes drifted to Miranda, taking stock of her limbs.
The stranger squeezed on her elbow, eliciting a whimper from her lips. There would be round bruises on her arm in the morning. Well, if she survived that long. Tyler's glare flickered back to the bald man's eyes, murder painted across his face.
“Tyler Ferguson, as I live and breathe.”
“Not for long.” The growl came from deep inside Tyler's chest, coated in vitriol and bile. His heart throbbed in his chest. His sweat-slicked palms stuck to his hog's handlebars.
“Witty as ever,” replied Miranda's captor with a chuckle. “Well, this saves me a bit of trouble.”
“What do you want?” Tyler's knuckles whitened against his handlebars. He barely contained the urge to rev his engine and run this asshole over. But, he couldn't be sure he wouldn't hurt Miranda in the process.
“It's not about what I want,” laughed the man. Miranda glared at him from the corner of her eye. Vaguely, the pieces were starting to fit into place. Tyler did something, someone wanted his attention, they knew about his past with Miranda. Emotions dueled in her mind at this revelation. The bald man shook her arm, his bruising grip rubbed painfully against her flesh. “This is about what Pete wants.”
“Why the hell do you need her, then?” Tyler's rage piqued higher, watching Miranda shaken like a rag doll.
“Well, I needed to convince you, of course.”
Tyler snarled, “Convince me of what?”
“Don't play dumb. Pete wants you back.” The amusement faded from his face.
Miranda suppressed her shiver while her mind marveled at the change in demeanor and temperature. Yet, curiosity nipped at her ears. Who was Pete and why did he want Tyler? What did Tyler do? Fear and excitement thundered through her thoughts, resonating in her chest.
Her captor's lips twisted into a scowl. “You need to explain yourself. You and Jack.”
“I don't need to explain jackshit.” Tyler wrinkled his nose. Despite the urge to glance at Miranda, to gauge her reaction, he swallowed the desire. She was smart. She'd figure something was afoot and that it involved his less-than-legal lifestyle. After her vehemence at the hospital and Naomi's place, Tyler wasn't sure if he wanted to see complete disgust.
“That's not what I heard,” replied the bald man in a singsong tone. He shook Miranda again for emphasis and to remind Tyler of the stakes.
Tyler's lips thinned as he leveled a glare at the other man. Baldie was trying his patience. If he didn't have a gun, and if he didn't hold Miranda hostage, he'd be long dead. Without the situation he wished for, Tyler couldn't find any other tactic other than stalling. Someone was bound to return home and see the hostage situation. “Yeah, and what did you hear?”
“You lied about Pete, spread a rumor and let it fester,” Baldie shook Miranda savagely. She gasped, unable to stop his manhandling. His fingers felt like they were leaving imprints on her very bones. “Meanwhile, you banged about memory lane with this dirty little whore.”
Annoyance sliced through Miranda's thoughts. The stranger was a windbag and what he said only further disconcerted her already frazzled thoughts. Through all the shaking and squeezing, her captor had slightly shifted her in front of him. It was probably a subconscious movement. She was nothing more than a human shield to keep Tyler at bay.
No one told him Miranda didn't agree. She kicked her right foot back and her heel caught the man in the groin. He hissed in air, sounding like a boiling teakettle. Almost instantly, his grip on her elbow released as he went to cradle his damaged goods. She jerked her arm back, and slammed her knuckles against his jaw. Despite her skewed aim, Baldie's injury played in her favor. He toppled under the sudden force she had slammed against his face. Miranda turned and raced toward Tyler. A grin cocked at his lips as if to say 'that's my girl.'
As soon as her leg swung over the chopper, Tyler revved the engine. He peeled out of the parking lot, leaving behind the gasping would-be captor sprawled on the sidewalk. He screamed curses and obscenities after them as he staggered to his feet.
Whatever he said didn't matter. The growl of the motorcycle drowned him out. Miranda's shoulders eased, safety coaxing her to relax.
She hugged herself closer to Tyler. His palm pressed against her hands in a comforting gesture. Relief flooded his thoughts and body. But, he couldn't risk letting his guard down. Baldie would pursue and there were few places they could run. He couldn't go back to Naomi's place. As long as she remained insignificant, she was safe. It was too late for Miranda.
Her thoughts tripped and tangled over themselves as Tyler weaved through the town. She had no clue where he was going. Brief recollections played through her mind's eye and words tickled her thoughts. What was going on with Tyler? Who was Pete? Why was she in danger now?
Her heart shivered at the sudden realization. Whatever Tyler had done, she was now tangled up in it. Her fingers crooked against his shirt, pulling herself closer to his back. Shock and relief numbed her. Coupled with the excitement of the day, exhausted clawed at her eyes. Whatever the case, she decided as she closed her eyes, she was happy Tyler came after her.