Before she could finish her sentence, someone from behind covered her mouth and swiftly subdued her. The men exchanged glances and moved her to the back seat.
Josieâs head throbbed with excruciating pain, as if it were about to split open. Her hands and feet were bound, and her eyes and mouth were covered. The vehicle traversed a bumpy road, enveloped in an eerie silence that could suffocate a person.
Josie was consumed by utter confusion. Who were these people? What did they want?
The only response she received was the sound of the vehicleâs jostling.
The profound darkness sent shivers down her spine, leaving her devoid of any sense of security. They were neither Morganâs nor Dexterâs people. There was no reason for them to treat her in such a manner. So, who could they beâ¦
Josie had made too many enemies. She didnât even know which faction was behind this. In this moment, she finally comprehended the significance of Dexterâs wordsâthings would become more perilous in the future.
Josie fought to maintain her composure. She didnât even have to wait for the future to unfold. As soon as she disembarked from the plane arranged by Dexter, she was kidnapped.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the vehicle finally came to a halt. The kidnappers forcefully pulled her out of the car. From the sounds of it, they traversed a gravel path.
The coldness that greeted her face was mingled with the scent of nature, indicating that this place must be quite remote.
âMmmâ¦â Once they arrived, Josie was roughly thrown to the ground, emitting a stifled groan.
The kidnapper showed no mercy, as the hemp rope cut into her wrists and ankles, leaving them raw and red. It was a pitiful sight to behold.
She heard the kidnapperâs voice inquire, âWhat do we do now?â
âGo and inform everyone. Itâs about time.â
âHow long are we supposed to keep an eye on her?â
âMake the call first.â
The sounds echoed, suggesting to Josie that this must be an abandoned construction site. They walked away, and the sounds faded.
She struggled for a moment, but couldnât free herself. Eventually, she gave up and lay on the ground, panting heavily.
After a while, the kidnapper returned and tied Josie to a chair. He removed the cloth that had covered her eyes and mouth. Blinded by the intense light, she instinctively squinted.
âSweetie, stay right here. Weâre not after your life!â
Leading the group was a bald man who exuded fierceness and intimidation. He gently ran the tip of his knife across Josieâs cheek, remarking, âYou truly are quite attractive.â
Josie glared at him. âWhoâs pulling your strings?â
The bald man, Johnny, chuckled, tilting his head back to glance at the sky. âHmm, it seems like a storm is brewing.â
This place truly was an abandoned construction site. Without a roof, the icy rain pelted her face, sobering her.
âArnold? Was it Arnold who ordered you to do this!?â she exclaimed in disbelief.
Johnny, the bald man, displayed impatience.
Upon assessing the situation, Josie quickly dismissed the idea. It canât be. Arnold is currently in a precarious position, wanted everywhere. Itâs impossible for him to return to Wavery and carry out such a conspicuous actâ¦
Then who could it be?
The kidnappers paid her no mind. They simply went to a corner with a roof overhang and sat down to play cards.
After a while, a torrential downpour arrived, accompanied by a cold wind that drenched Josie, who was exposed. She had nowhere to seek shelter, and she couldnât stop herself from shivering uncontrollably, her face turning pale.
The rain had been falling for two hours, and Josie had nearly fainted several times. Each time, she would pinch her own thigh to force herself to stay awake. She had been too confident, not anticipating that a third party was observing her.
Once the rain had subsided slightly, Johnny approached with an umbrella to check on her. The young lad asked, âBoss, what if she dies from exposure?â
Johnny reprimanded, âIs she dead yet?â
Once again, he used the tip of his knife to lift Josieâs chin, observing her barely hanging on. âYouâre quite resilient.â
Josie took a deep breath and spat at him.
âFuck you!â