3

“Seriously, all summer and finally you dance with us,” I told Brian. Surprisingly, he was a very good dancer too. He wasn’t just swaying on the floor, he actually followed dance steps. And I would know, I danced professionally till I was ten-years-old.

“It’s the last dancing night on the agenda for the next three days,” he replied, chuckling, and twirled me into a circle. “Couldn’t pass on the chance.”

His hand came around my waist and I burst out laughing. “Brian, are you flirting?”

Amusement sparkled in his eyes. “Is it working?”

“Maybe.” I playfully hit him on the arm and shifted my eyes to check on Olivia and Scarlett. They danced together and would keep on going until early morning hours. I was getting tired. While they slept in this morning, I woke up with the sunrise and went for a five mile run.

“Will you dance with Olivia next?” I asked him, changing the subject from our flirtatiousness.

He followed my gaze. “She seems to like dancing with Scarlett.”

“Yeah, but she kind of likes you and it would make her summer.”

His eyes snapped to me in surprise. “You ladies have been discussing me?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “You are the youngest of our security guards so yes, we have.”

“Okay, I’ll ask her for a dance,” he retorted smiling. “If you tell me what you said during the discussion.”

“Ouch,” I cackled. “That is a tough negotiation.”

He pulled me closer to him, and although I didn’t mind it, I felt nothing. No fireworks, no somersaults in my stomach, no racing heart. Damn it, would it ever come?

There were several beautiful women throwing glances at him. He was a good looking guy, his military blonde haircut and eyes the color of the bluest sky. Brian was a good man, very handsome but he was like a brother. He saw me through my teenage years, my rebellious years, and all my hormones. And now we were dancing like a couple. Life was strange.

He waited, and I finally answered smiling. “I said that you are hot but it felt weird to think of you as a sexy guy since you saw me through my teenage hormones.”

“Ouch,” he repeated my earlier comment but amusement still sparkled in his eyes.

The music stopped. Scarlett strolled towards us so I nudged him to Olivia. As soon as he was out of earshot, I muttered to Scarlett, “I’m going to sneak out and get back to the hotel.”

“Oh, no,” she protested. “Not yet. My mystery man hasn’t come yet.”

It was past midnight. I was starting to doubt he would show up but I kept the comment to myself. I didn’t want to upset Scarlett. She had been through enough and I’d never seen her as happy as this past week.

“You two stay with Brian,” I told her. “I’m ready to fall off my feet. When he shows up, convince him to have lunch with us tomorrow.”

“It’s because you have to do that stupid running,” she complained.

She was right; I had to do it. It was one of the stress relievers that worked for me; necessary therapy to clear my mind from all the chaos of the world. When my feet hit the pavement in that constant rhythm, I could focus, and with one foot in front of the other, my determination of my own path and future was easier to see. I even got Olivia into it and it helped her with her constant worries over her impending engagement.

“It helps me keep my sanity,” I confessed. “Just slip me the keys and let’s pretend we are walking to the ladies’ room.” Thank God Scarlett insisted on driving today.

We’ve done this plenty of times. I would never purposely endanger myself. I knew it was safer to take the car rather than a cab. Brian could stay with them and make sure nothing happened to Olivia and Scarlett. I’d just lock myself into my hotel room. Win-win. Leaving Olivia and Scarlett behind at the Russian Orchid, I had to laugh to myself, knowing they’d dance Brian to his last breath.

Within five minutes, I was outside, the fresh air cooling my heated skin. Digging through my purse for my phone, the hair on the back of my neck prickled. My steps slowed down, and I glanced around but couldn't see anything in the dark parking lot.

We had been on the road for the past sixty days, trekking all across Europe. We wanted to have a summer to remember before we had to go back to reality. Reality was far crueler for Scarlett and Olivia than me. I was rather excited to start my job after an intense few years of medical school. Russia was our last destination.

I heard a shuffle and my head whipped left and right, eyes darting around me.

I’m just being paranoid.

It was all my father’s fault. He called me earlier, ordering me to come home immediately. He was always paranoid about something, worrying for our safety. Taking a deep breath, then another, I turned back and zoomed in on our rental car. I was barely ten feet away from it.

I moved quickly towards it, clicking the unlock door button before I even made it there. My hand reached for the door, when I heard it.

“Don’t move. I have a gun pointed at your head.”

What?

On instinct, I went to turn around when a piece of cloth covered my head, removing my sight. Shocked by what was happening, he took advantage of my delayed reaction, lifting me up and throwing me across his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

The initial shock wore off quickly, and I started screaming and kicking, pounding with my fists against his back. I couldn’t see anything but I knew that the first five minutes were crucial in escaping your kidnappers.

“Let go of me right now, you asshole,” I yelled while punching his back.

“Stop it, princess.” He didn’t even sound worried, then added, “Or I’ll have to knock you out.” I didn’t stop, instead I kicked and hit harder, then screamed at the top of my lungs.

I didn’t feel him hit me or hurt me. But whatever he did made my body go lax, and darkness came over me.