The Murphy Princess

Chapter 17

Well, shit.

My vision felt blurred, but I realized that was only from the disorientation of being fucking drugged. My mouth was dry as hell.

I went against my first instinct, which was to be terrified, and went straight to anger. I was used to be afraid; I'd perfected the art of fear the last few years. But I'd come too far to let this ridiculous situation take me over.

Fear kills. If you give into it. If you don't look at it face-first.

My wrists were bound to an old mahogany chair and I sat in a room that looked like an old library. It sure smelled old. I examined my surroundings. A fire crackled behind me. I still had on my clothes from work, but it was dark out – moonlight streaming in through the window.

Unfortunately, my wrists were bound with cuffs, which meant I couldn't easily break them. My ankles were tied to the legs of the chairs. There wasn't anyone else in the room with me so I took the opportunity to attempt to shimmy out of the ankle bindings with no luck.

"Fuck," I all but screamed.

This could not be happening.

I knew something bad would happen. I could feel it. I knew someone was following me. Were they going to kill me?

No, probably not.

If so, they would've done it by now.

How had I been so stupid? I should've called Finn as soon as I felt weird after work. I should have let one of the guys come and walk me to my car. I should have done a lot of things. But how could I have predicted this?

A small wave of panic started rising to my head as my vision cleared, as I took in what was happening. Who were these people? Who was the figure who had captured me?

I didn't really have enemies. Unless you counted Brittany Calloway from high school who I once got into a fight with. But I figured she probably had forgotten about me by now. So who else?

The Murphy's had plenty of enemies. And now, I was entangled.

The Carmichaels?

Were they mad their daughter wasn't marrying the future boss, and instead the second son? It was a possibility.

My mind kept wandering back to the Russian guy from the club – the way he'd looked at Brenna, the way he looked at me, calling me 'princess' like he knew me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to think.

Finn would know something happened. He probably already knew.

My family might know, too.

I'd been so in an out lately though with staying at Finn's penthouse most nights, they might not have thought anything of it. Although I did tell Jade that morning before work that I'd be home for dinner.

Yes. They'd know I was gone.

But where the fuck was I even?

Thinking, I tried to remember what happened the moment before I was gagged and drugged. I'd been walking to my car. A tall figure. Strong arms. Pale skin.

Had there been another car near me?

Think, think, think.

Yes. A old black car. Did it have tinted windows?