Maze (The Ballerina Series #2) (15 page)

I
looked him right in the eyes. “Get your fucking hand off me.”

He
shook his head but kept his eyes on mine. “Where are you going? We need to call
the cops.”

“Only
if you want Ivy dead. Now get your fucking hand off me. I’m not going to tell
you again.”

He
let go slowly, letting me know he wasn’t scared of me, and I saw the message in
his gaze. If he could he’d kick my ass. In truth, I couldn’t blame him for
thinking it.

“Do
you know where she is?” he asked.

“I…I
think I know who did it.”

Dante
raked his fingers through his locks. “Can you get her back?”

“You’ll
know if I fail. I’ll be dead.”

“Fuck,
man.”

I
continued to head toward the door. My hand rested on the knob when his voice
gave me pause.

“I’m
coming with you.”

I
turned back. “Thanks, but for Ivy to stand a chance, I have to do this alone.”

I
shut the door behind me and returned to the limo.

“Take
me back to the apartment, Will.” There were things there I’d need if Liu held
Ivy. She could be anywhere. But I knew where Liu would be or at least who could
find him if he wasn’t home. I called Tsang. “Where’s Liu?”

“Maze,
I still have people out looking for Ivy. Forget about Liu for now.”

“I
know. But it might already be too late. Is Liu at his home?”

“Not
that I know of, why?”

“Because
we both know the son of a bitch took her.”

“Even
if he did, he’s not stupid enough to keep her at his home. Let me find her,
Maze. I swear to you I will. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Thank
you, Uncle Tsang.”

“I’ve
sent people out to the places Liu owns.”

“Good.”

“And,
Maze, stay away from Liu. His place is going to be crawling with his security.
Wait for my call.”

“I
know, but...”

“You
know she’s not at his house. Let me handle this.”

“I
know.”

“Don’t
worry, Maze, we’ll find her.”

I
hung up the phone after that. I knew what he was thinking. Find Ivy first then
go after Liu. We’d find her one way or another. But in the depths of my soul I
knew she was alive. And I could see only one way out of all of this.

Chapter Fifteen

Ivy

The
walking cast made it so much easier to move around. And I felt really good
after my meeting with Davis. As long as I was ready for the fall performance
I’d still be their featured artist, and he knew about the piece Dante and I
choreographed for his old dance studio. Davis was very supportive and seemed
sure it would be chosen for the festival. In fact, he planned on flying down
for the performance nights, and he wanted Dante and me to create a special
featured piece. My future loomed brighter, at least my professional future. I’d
come to terms with the time I wouldn’t be able to dance. And I had Maze to
thank for that. Maze. I hurt just thinking about us. I saw him almost every day
at the gym, so close and yet so far. Since that first time Dante and I went
there and he’d shut the door and taken me into his arms, I thought everything
would be fine. He’d let me move back in. We’d be together again, but he hadn’t
touched me that way since then. The only thing he did was work with me by doing
the exercises together. Even though his touch was professional it still sent
jolts through me. It was both frustrating and fun to work with him. My ankle
felt better but I still had a long way to go before I could even attempt to put
on pointe shoes.

I
walked outside to a pleasant evening, enjoying the fact most of the theatres
weren’t out yet, so not much foot traffic. I moved toward the edge of the
sidewalk to flag down the next cab. One pulled over almost immediately. Another
car drew up behind it. I didn’t pay much attention to it. I stepped off the
sidewalk, and had my hand on the door handle of the cab. Suddenly, someone
grabbed me around my waist from behind. Literally picked me up, then walked a
few steps and threw me face first in the backseat of the car stopped behind the
cab.

I
tried to turn over and kick out, to push the person back who got into the car
behind me, but he shifted and punched me in the face, snapping my face to the
side.

The
pain rattled through my brain. Momentarily stunning me. He used the opportunity
to twist me back onto my stomach, grab my legs, and sit on them immobilizing
me. My cheek where his fist connected stung. I must have bitten my lip because
I tasted the metallic tang of blood on my tongue. My breaths came in gulps and
I fought not to cry.

The
car lurched forward and stopped abruptly. I rolled onto the floor into an
awkward position. We continued driving again. Fast. I had to get out of there.
But I feared I wouldn’t be able to. Still I had to fight. I pushed myself up,
trying to sit up and get back on the seat. Strong hands grabbed me around the
waist and hauled be back on the seat.

“Get
the hell off me!” I screamed.

“Shut
the fuck up, bitch.” He managed to hold me face down.

He
yanked my hair hard and raised my chin off the seat. I thought he might have
pulled out a few strands. I caught a glimpse of a blue denim sleeve before he
wrapped a bandanna or something over my eyes, then he tied my hands behind my
back. I managed to flip onto my side and tried to kick him with the boot, but
he pushed my legs down, turned me on my stomach again, and placed his hand on
the flat of my back. He sat against my thighs, using his bulk to keep me pinned
down.

Terror
infused my veins, giving me strength but no matter how much I bucked against
him I couldn’t budge him off me. Breathing hard, I quieted. I gave my brain a
chance to run through possible solutions, but came up empty. Maze had been
right to want to keep me away from any violence, but he’d been wrong, too. He
should never have sent me away. But I knew he would find me. I just had to hold
on until he did.

I love you, Maze.

I
just hoped he wouldn’t be too late.

The
captor in the back with me began to cup my ass and feel between my legs. I
whimpered, and when he tried to pull my yoga pants down I shifted and tried to
fight him in earnest. Sharp words spoken by the driver had them yelling at each
other but at least he stopped. They spoke what sounded like Chinese to me. When
I’d been pushed into the car everything happened quickly, but I thought the
driver at least was Chinese. They had to be Triad.

I
don’t know how long we drove. I lost track of time. Eventually, we came to a
stop and I heard the front passenger’s side door open. Then the door near my
head opened. Someone grabbed my shoulders and pulled me out of the car. As soon
as my feet hit the graveled ground, I stumbled but rough hands held me steady.
One muscular arm wrapped around my waist. The other held onto my arm and forced
me to walk forward.

I
walked. I had no choice. I went up two steps and then the ground changed. It
felt like I walked on a carpeted floor. Then I took a few steps before I was
turned, walked some more then pushed. I would have fallen if I didn’t find my
balance. I wasn’t a ballerina for nothing. Whoever came in behind me grabbed my
arm, pulling me, and then shoved my shoulder against what felt like a wall. He
pushed me down until I landed on the floor.

I
scooted backward, away from him. I kept the wall against me until I backed into
a corner. I remained blindfolded, my hands still tied behind my back. Really,
where was I going? My captors knew that would be nowhere, so I stopped and
tried to calm myself. I stuck my legs straight out and rested my head against
the wall. I thought perhaps I was in an empty room with only my assailants for
company.

I
heard someone else enter the room and he spoke to whoever stood over me in
Chinese. Suddenly, the bandanna was yanked from around my eyes. I blinked to
adjust to the dim light and tried to get my bearings. The first thing I noticed
was there were two men in the room, and another who remained near the door, but
he didn’t come into the room. All of the men seemed about the same height. Two
were slender, and one appeared a little overweight. They all wore black hooded
sweatshirts, the hoods drawn up over their heads. Only one wore a blue denim
jacket over the sweatshirt. The same one who’d been in the backseat with me.
They also wore bandannas that covered them from the nose down. All I could see
were the slants of their dark eyes. Triad. I stifled the cry of fear
threatening to emerge.

“Who…who
are you? Why am I here?” Didn’t come out as strong as I wanted.

The
one at the door said something to the others. They stared at me then turned and
left the room. The slightly pudgy guy at the door remained behind.

“Do
you need to use the bathroom?” he asked.

His
voice was heavily accented, but I don’t know if it was because that’s the way
he spoke or if he did it on purpose. I thought perhaps the latter to cover the
sound of his voice. I started to say no, but decided to ask a question instead.
Not that my first couple were answered. “Do you plan on keeping me here long?”

“Do
you need to use the bathroom or not?”

“Yes.”

He
came over to me and placed the bandanna that had been dropped to the floor back
around my eyes.

I
whimpered. “Please, don’t do that. I can’t identify you.”

Again,
he ignored me. He merely helped me stand and led me out of the room. We took a
left and seemed to head in a different direction from the way we entered. After
a few steps we went down another set of stairs, then we came to a stop. I heard
a door open and he shoved me through it. He pulled the bandanna off and untied
the binding around my wrists.

As
soon as my hands were released, I pulled them in front of me and massaged them.
The restraints weren’t really tight but having my hands tied like that was not
comfortable. I glanced around. I seemed to be in some sort of commercial
establishment. This was not the kind of bathroom you’d find in someone’s home.
It wasn’t that big, wide enough for a toilet, a sink, and a paper towel
dispenser and trashcan. Not a window in sight.

“You
have five minutes.” Then the man left.

I’d
been hoping there’d be a window, something I could use in there, but unlike the
movies there was nothing. No way out or to signal for help. They’d taken my
purse with my cell phone in it. I looked at my face in the mirror. I saw my
cheek was already turning a nice shade of purple. At least my lip from where I
bit it no longer bled. With nothing else to do, I took advantage of the
bathroom. When I finished, I washed my hands. My captor must have been standing
on the other side of the door listening for the water, because he opened the door
just as I reached for something to dry my hands with. He waited for me to
finish.

“Turn
around and put your hands behind your back.”

“Please,”
I said. “That’s not very comfortable. Especially if I’m going to be tied up for
awhile.”

“Hold
your hands out in front then.”

I
did and he replaced the restraints then retied the bandanna. We repeated in
reverse the way we’d come. Once we got back to the room, he removed the eye
covering and I took a spot against the wall of the empty place. There was
nothing in there but four walls, an air vent above my head, and a low wattage
light bulb in the center of the ceiling. The door was the only way in or out.
At least I wouldn’t be kept alone in a dark room. “How long do you plan on
keeping me here?”

“That
depends. I suggest you sit down and wait.” Then he turned around and walked out
the door, shutting it behind him.

I
waited a few minutes to make sure he’d left before going over to the door. I
put my ear against the center of it but couldn’t hear anything on the other side.
I took a deep breath and grabbed the handle. I turned the knob and tried to
push and then pull, but it was locked.

Sighing
in resignation, I moved away from the door and sat down, my back once again to
the wall. I stretched my legs straight out and did the only thing I could do. I
waited. Knowing in my heart, I was merely bait for Maze. On the one hand, I
knew he’d come for me. On the other, I hoped he wouldn’t. I saw the guns all
three men carried. While Maze might dodge or deflect a blow or even a sword he
couldn’t out maneuver a bullet.

I
must have dozed because the next thing I became aware of was the feel of
someone squeezing my breast. I opened my mouth to a live nightmare and
screamed.

The
man kneeling beside me slapped me across the face. I tried to scramble away. He
grabbed for my foot but I raised my encased foot and kicked him in the face. I
struggled to get to my feet, but he grabbed my arm and got me back down on the
ground.

“Bitch!”
he roared, blood dripping from his nose. His bandanna had fallen off and I saw
his face. He fell on top of me, holding me down. Suffocating me. I screamed. He
put his hand over my mouth and then suddenly his weight lifted off me.

I
raised my head. The one in a black hoodie with black jeans that had taken me to
the bathroom, stood in the room and spoke sharply to my attacker. Asshole
turned to look at me, wiped the blood from his nose with his sleeve and grinned
before walking out of the room. My savoir glanced back at me. I curled myself
up into a ball on the ground and turned away from him.

I
felt him kneel behind me and when he touched my arm I flinched. “Please. Leave
me alone. Let me go.”

“It
will be over soon.”

“Fuck
you,” I said.

“He
will not bother you again.”

Then
he left the room and all I could do was shut my eyes and think of Maze.