Underground Secrets (The Underground #1) (35 page)

We get out and walk hastily towards the front door of the store. I hate to admit it, but I am extremely paranoid and can’t help but feel like I am being watched and not by the men who are actually here to watch us. Ever since Carter told me he kept tabs on me, I never truly feel alone. And all those other times I’ve thought I’ve saw someone or felt it, makes sense now.

My breathing starts to pick up and my hands slightly tremble as I unlock the door. I have to stomp down this feeling in order to open the door. I instantly feel better once I am inside, but the fear is still hanging around. I think it forever will be.

Alex and Henry show up about minutes later and we get started on the day. There is a reason we don’t do meetings and deal with clients on Mondays. We are way too busy dealing with the demands of paperwork and all that other fun stuff that comes with owning a business.

I spend most of the morning working in my work room going over things and it’s around one o’clock when Gemma and Alex knock on my door. “Hey, we’re all going to go grab lunch at Bello’s, you coming?”

I give Gemma the dirtiest look I can muster up. The last thing she should be doing is walking down the streets of Denver when she’s a target!

She just shrugs at me.

“No, I’m good. Be careful.” I say, irritated.

They start to walk away when I call Gemma back in. She tells Henry and Alex to hold on and she closes my door. “I know what you are going to say, but I already called Jesse and told him and he said one of the guys will discretely follow us.”

Alex and Henry obviously have no clue about my past or what is going on and I’d like it to stay that way. “What if something goes wrong, Gemma? Alex and Henry could be put in the middle of it and I’d hate to…”I trail off not wanting to finish my disturbing thought. Right now, I can only think of the worst possible situation that could happen.

“I know, Marlie, but I refuse to live being paranoid. I just can’t do that.”

“Do you at least have your gun?” I ask in a hushed tone.

“Yes.”

I sigh, because she’s going to do whatever she wants. “Just please be careful and keep an eye out also. Don’t just depend on the eyes of someone we don’t even know and probably doesn’t fully understand our situation.”

“Yes, mother,” and with that she leaves.

Ten minutes go by and I give up trying to be productive. I have a bad feeling, my stomach is in twisted knots and I don’t think it will go away until I know Gemma, Alex and Henry, are all back here happy and safe.

I sit and wait for the next hour staring at the door waiting for them to get back. When we go, we are there for over an hour, since Bello’s is always busy. So they should be walking back soon.

I am so much on edge that when my phone beeps, indicating at text, I practically jump out of the chair I am sitting on. I swipe the lock screen on my phone and see I have a video message from an unknown number.

I open the message and watch the video.

My heart stops.

My breath hitches as I watch a video of Gemma being grabbed in the bathroom stall at Bello’s and dragged out the back by a man I don’t recognize. She is fighting with all that she can, when he knocks her out cold and drags her limp body away.

No, no, no.

This can’t be happening.

My phone beeps again. This time with a picture message. I quickly download the message with shaky hands. My hands are shaking so bad, I have to set the phone down, or I’ll drop it.

It downloads and it’s a picture of Alex and Henry sitting at the table of Bello’s eating. Under the picture it says.

If you want her back in one piece and

If you don’t want them harmed,

Then you better think twice about not coming.

My phone starts to ring before I can even process what’s happening. It’s Wes. I answer and just lose it.

“He took her, Wes! He took Gemma! They are going to kill her if I don’t go!” I cry, barely able to string the words together.”

“I know, Marlie. Listen, you need to get out of there now! I am on my way, but you need to go. Run!”

I get up, grab my purse and run out the door. Not bothering to lock up. The panic and urgency in Wes’ voice is enough for me to know not to fuck around.

I still have Wes on the phone as I make it across the road and into the truck. I barely get pulled out on to the street and start driving away when I look back in my review mirror and see, in what feels like slow motion, an explosion start to take over my home and business.

I press hard on the accelerator and speed up trying to get away, but it’s too late. The force of the blast has me lose control, forcing the front end of the truck to hit a pole. Hard. My body comes up from the seat and my head hits the windshield, causing it to shatter and sending me head first through it. My body lands on the hood and I momentarily lose my vision. I try to pick myself up, but I can’t. I can’t move at all. I lay here completely immobile and realize that the last two years of my life is burning to the ground.

I am so tired.

I don’t know how long time passes as I lay here feeling the heat from the flames coming from my building when Wes comes up to me, pulls me from the hood and carries me to his truck. He’s talking to me, I know this. I can see his lips moving and I can see the panic written all over his face, but I can’t hear a damn thing, besides the ringing that hasn’t stopped since my shop and home blew up.

I am so tired.

I just want to sleep, but I know that wouldn’t be good. I try and force myself to stay awake, but I thinks it’s a losing battle.

He lays me down on his seats and I can see the terror in his eyes. I want to reach up and touch him and tell him it’s okay, but my body won’t let me.

I close my eyes for just a moment. I just need to rest them for just a second and I’ll be better. But I don’t get that long to rest them. I open them back up when I feel Wes shaking me a little.

I look at him and try to read his lips. I can tell he’s repeating the same thing over and over again, I am having a hard time focusing long enough to make it out. I try it one more time and use all the effort I have in me to figure out what he trying to say.

Gemma
, is all I can really make out and in one sudden rush, I remember the video and text Carter had sent me about Gemma.

I gather all the energy I can and utter, “Gemma. I have to save her.” And that’s the last thing I remember before I give up and let the sleep take over me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S
.
A
.
S
PROSTON
loves to write dark romantic suspense, fantasy, thrillers, and contemporary romance. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading. During the summers, she spends her free time on the Muddy Mississippi River boating with friends and family and enjoying life. She has been married for seven years and has three young children who are her world: Maddison, Noah, and Hadley. Sarah also has four fur babies and two scales babies. Two dogs: Twinkle Toes and Frank Wimbledon. Two cats: Pippy Paws and Mitter Fitter. Two fish: Elephant and Goldie. Sarah hopes to one day open a book and coffee store that she can spend her days in writing her newest novels.

You can find out what she’s up to through her Facebook and Twitter accounts:

twitter.com/SA_Sproston

facebook.com/undergroundtrilogy/

Or you can contact her by email at [email protected]

COMING SOON

Book 2
— Underground Race

Book 3
— Underground Revenge

Book 4
— Underground Finish

Table of Contents

Prologue