Marina Inn. Pressing the gas pedal with a trembling leg, the eyes getting worse, she drove slowly, and struggled to stay calm. It was a nice hotel, had a pool and hot tub, and was close to the airport. Her stomach growled, yet as she drove, hands shaking and face pale, she knew that if she tried to eat anything it would come right back up.
In only thirty minutes, she had a room, her clothes for later spread out on the bed, and the shower running with room service on the way. Her heart was turning in her chest, matching the actions of her stomach, as she looked out of the shaded window. The room was adorned with creamy curtains to match the walls, a thick green bedspread with vector swirls rimming the bottom.
The kitchen was not as grand as it had been at Chris’s house, yet she doubted she was going to use it on her one night stay. She started taking off her clothes, trying not to look at the bruises covering her body, and entered the bathroom. Steam was rising from the large tub as hot water sprinkled from above.
A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips as she stepped inside. Before, at Chris’s house, she had taken less than five minute showers, afraid that he would try to take advantage of her. Now, though, she had a whole room to herself with a hot bath to top it off.
The water level had risen enough that it filled half the tub. Jamie sat down slowly, hating the tenderness in her back and shoulder. Refusing to look anywhere but the water, she settled on closing her eyes and relaxing. It felt so good, she thought, to be as free as she felt. She grabbed her shampoo from the side, the conditioner already set out from when she had started the water along with her favorite scented soap.
Jamie knew she wouldn’t be able to take her shampoo and conditioner with her, so she was going to relish her use of it right then. With the biggest smile she had given in a long time, she started lathering her hair. The hot water flowed around her slim legs, her long black hair washed in ten minutes. The conditioning took just as long, and she could have cared less.
Feeling rejuvenated, fresh, and finally like a woman, she stepped from the shower and began blow drying her hair. She might not have anyone to dress up for, Jamie thought as the brush slid through her long tresses, but she didn’t care. For once, it was just about her.
She glanced at the clock, flipping her hair over her shoulders as she started on the other side. In only a couple of minutes, room service would be there. She started smiling again, running her hand through her now fluffed hair. Wrapping the towel tighter around her body, she turned off the blow dryer and started getting dressed.
The tender bruises on her arms failed to bother her. If anything, they made her more aware that she was finally free. Exhaling excitedly as the doorbell rang, she practically skipped to the door. She had on sweatpants, the rest of her money shoved in the pockets so that she could pay the food upfront, and a soft short sleeve shirt with a Columbia jacket loose around her body. It had been forever since she had been able to dress so comfortably. Chris liked it when she looked at least neat, and sweat pants were an abomination to him.
She forgot to look out of the peephole. With her good mood came unawareness, her guard dropped completely. She opened the door quickly, excited for a burger and some freshly baked fries.
Except that wasn’t what she got. Two men stood on the other side, looking like convicts. Large hands wrapped around her upper arms, yanking. She cried out, shocked, feeling her shoulder wrench. A man came up behind the other two, a thinner, more frailer image. Feeling her face start to pale, she thought that maybe Chris was behind this.
At least, until, she saw the red eyes.
Then she started screaming.
Lyne waved his hand, signaling the man holding her to silence her. By the look on his face, the man could have cared less as his hand came down hard on the small woman’s head. In less than a second, the echoing scream ended and Lyne was making them haul her down the hall.