Chapter 5
I’d been rotting in this hellhole for three days.
My skin was covered in welts–there wasn’t an inch left that hadn’t been torn up by their whip.
The head kidnapper roared in furious. “Aren’t you a fucking Blackwood?! Where’s the goddamn ransom money? Three days and not a single cent! Are you even really their heiress?”
I let out a bitter laugh.
The Blackwood family only had one real heiress. And it sure as hell wasn’t me.
“Last chance.” The guy walked over with a syringe: “This stuff’s gonna make everything hurt like hell. Call your family, and if they agree to wire the cash right now, I’ll let you go. If not… well, let’s just say we’ll be sending your fingers home one by one.”
“What? No, please don’t–AHHH!”
The liquid burned as it hit my bloodstream. My heart started racing.
“Make the call!” They shoved the phone into
my
hands.
I scrolled through my contacts.
I tried Dad first. Voicemail. Then Marcus. Nothing. Madison wasn’t picking up either.
Ethan…
“Hello?”
“Ethan!” I heard his voice like finding a lifeline. “You need to bring money–now! They injected me with something, and they’re gonna cut off my fingers!”
The music on his end was deafening–like he was at some club. I was confused. “What… where are you?”
“Ava, it’s Madison’s birthday party. Can’t ruin it for her.”
My eyes widened. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Just hang tight. After the party’s over, I’ll come get you.”
“But if you don’t come now, they’re gonna-”
“Ava, it’s just one night. Don’t be dramatic, okay?”
The kidnapper snorted, clearly not impressed. My voice cracked. “But you promised you wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
Silence on the other end. Then: “Be patient, Ava. Just a little longer.”
The line went dead.
“Hello? HELLO! ETHAN!” I tried calling back.
But the phone powered off.
Chapter 3
The kidnapper clicked his tongue. “You sure you’re actually a Blackwood? Fuck, what a waste of time
I wiped away my tears and slowly straightened up. The grief faded, replaced by something ice–cold: “Cut the act. Untie me
The guys who’d been acting all tough immediately straightened up and started cutting my ropes: “Sorry for the inconvenience Miss Blackwood.”
I tossed the ropes aside and turned to leave. “Burn it down.”
Standing on the dock, I glanced back at the flames lighting up the sky.
I wiped off the fake whip marks from my skin. A man on the boat reached out his hand to help me up. His face was hidden in shadow, but I could see a scar running down his cheek.
From this moment on, there was no more Ava Blackwood.
Just a bitter rival gunning for the Blackwood Family!
