Page 52 (1/2)

Do better, Gabi "Sorry At ed us We’re chained up" Gabi listened No traffic noises, no people shouting or laughing or talking

The chains jangled as Gabi rubbed her aching head "No one knohere we are--or even that he’s got us" The FBI thought they’d caught the perp How long before anyone called Gabi? Oh dear God Fear spiraled outward No rescue No hope Her hands closed into fists as she fought for control

"Easy, girlfriend, easy" Jessica slid closer

Not alone She had so on her I can’t lose it "Sorry," Gabi whispered Heart haed back froainst the wall of the van, facing the other woman "We’re kind of in trouble"

Hands clenched into fists, the blonde stared around the van, her face white Then her chin lifted "I reserve the right to yell about you and Z later For now, tellup her spine, Gabi alirlfriend "It’s like this…"

As Gabrielle talked, Jessica tried various ways to get out of the handcuffs No deal By the time Gabrielle finished the story, Jessica wanted to kill Z, dead as a doornail That’s why he’d coing her And why… "He tried to keep me out of the club completely," she said slowly

"I bet" Gabrielle shook her head "Anyway, the only thing he feels for rimaced "Marcus was furious when he found out"

"But if you’re with the FBI and a decoy, then someone will rescue us" Hope bubbled up She could alht now

"No God, this is so screwed up My backup, Dickhead, treated ht, soured the assignment was over and came on towas done Groping happened"

"And?"

"And I broke his nose He left"

Outrage burned through Jessica "Your protector abandoned you?"

Gabrielle shrugged "Well, supposedly they’d caught the bad guy Not"

"So no one knoe’ve even been kidnapped" Oh God Jessica’s fingernails dug holes in her palms "I don’t suppose you have any wonderful FBI skills?"

Gabrielle gave a bitter laugh "I’ent I volunteered because I’d played in BDSM clubs--years ago"

"You’re not an agent?"

"I’ot you too," Gabrielle whispered "He’ll s-sell us" Her face hite enough to match her scar, shivers shook her constantly, and she looked right on the edge

"You okay?"

"I’ve had so htmares of this And now it has happened" Gabrielle stared at her hands, breathing way too fast

Jessica rehed at the bratty trainee’s punishments Except she wasn’t a brat at all For ato be kidnapped Jessica shook her head, sy her fear Time for me to shoulder a little of the burden

She considered options, then slid as far as the chain would let her She buainst the woet out of this, who can?"

Gabrielle stiffened and stared at her in disbelief

Jessica gave her a level look and tilted her head in the way Z did when he challenged her to try sohtened "Oh Okay" Her eyes cleared "Get out of here? Sure We’ll just do that little thing"

"You bet"

"Thanks"

"My pleasure" Jessica waited a beat "Guess I won’t get to knock you on your ass when this is over, huh?"

This time Gabrielle actually chuckled "No wonder Z adores you"

Jessica stared

"Oh, please I’m not blind I’ve seen the way he looks at you, how he treats you" Gabrielle gave her a derisive sniff "Personally I thought you were a real bitch, but if you believed I’d poached on your ht have coet over it The man loves you"

A knot in the pit of Jessica’s stomach disappeared, and her eyes pooled "Thanks"