CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 19: STRUGGLE

"Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead! We're here."

I opened my eyes, but it was dark and muggy. The bag was back on my head. I stood up but fell over because my front legs were still tied together. My face hit the hard floor and then I was pulled back up and dragged out of the car onto the asphalt.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"If we wanted you to know, we wouldn't have put that bag over your head," Rockie said.

I was taken through a door and the floor inside was carpeted, but not the kind of plush carpet you would have in a home. It felt like industrial carpet.

"Cam, get the lights."

It got a little brighter, but I still couldn't see much through the bag. Only shapes. I was surprised I could see anything at all, but I guess that explained how I was still able to breathe.

"Let's take him upstairs. You know Mariah doesn't like cleaning blood out of the carpet."

I struggled to get free once again, but it was no use with three big guys holding onto me. They forced me up the stairs.

"Cam, get up here and hold the door for us, would ya?"

"Why do I gotta do everything?"

"I'm sorry. Would you rather be pushing this guy's fat butt up the stairs?"

"I'm not fat," I said.

"Your butt is."

"Is not!"

"Then why are you so heavy?"

"Maybe you're just weak."

"Oh yeah? Well, maybe-"

"Stop arguing with him, Duke," Rockie said. "He's just trying to distract you."

"It's a good thing I can double task then," Duke said. "Right, buddy?" He slapped my butt.

I kicked him and heard him fall down the steps. "That's what you get, you-"

Before I could finish, one of the guys shoved me to the floor.

"You okay, Duke?" Cam asked.

He growled. "You're gonna pay for that!"

"Pay for what?" I asked. "Your medical bills?"

Duke snarled.

"Hold it together, Duke," Rockie said. "Boss says he needs him alive."

"Yeah, but he didn't say how alive he needs him to be," he said.

"Hopefully more alive than you will be after this," I said.

"You're a funny guy," Rockie said.

"Let's push him down the stairs," Duke said. "See how he likes it."

"Not tonight, Duke," Rockie said. "Maybe next time."

I was pulled and pushed farther as I continued to resist. Finally, they stopped and put a chain around my neck. They took the bag off my head and forced a muzzle onto my face.

"Now for the fun part," Rockie said.