“That the right numbers?” Henry asked, a smirk placed on his mouth, using the gun once more to scratch at his arm.

“Yes.” I nodded.

He handed the gun off to one of the others and stepped closer. “Is that the right numbers?”

“Yes, why the fuck would I lie? I just want you gone.” Not that they would leave, not after what I saw. Why Henry shot her in the fucking house in front of me in the first place, I didn’t have a clue…. Unless he expected I wouldn’t be alive to say anything to anyone.

Fuck.

Really, I’d already suspected even before he’d shot Samantha, but I’d hoped. Now hope was running out.

Henry pulled back his fist and threw it forward toward my face, but I caught it. Henry’s upper lip pulled back in a snarl. He pulled his hand free. “Hold him,” he ordered. The guy without the gun dragged me in front of him, pinning my arms behind my back. I struggled, but I was already sore and weakened by the hit to the head and gut. As soon as I stilled, Henry punched me in the face, the gut, and then my face again. My lip split, my eye stung like hell, and I wanted to throw up, but I breathed through it.

“Are those the right numbers?” Henry asked again.

“Yes,” I ground out.

“You’d better be right.” He shifted away. “I’ll let you two know when to leave as soon as I get the money. You know what to do.”

They didn’t answer, but they must have done something because Henry walked from the room to the front door. “Have fun,” he called with a chuckle before walking out and closing the door behind him.

Pain erupted in my side when one stabbed me, more pain fired through me at my face, my ribs, my leg, my gut. Over and over, they pummeled me. Some were stinging like the sharp blade slicing into my skin. I dropped to the floor and curled into myself. Still, more pain came with hits and kicks. I hated I didn’t have the energy to fight back. Hated feeling exposed and vulnerable. Fucking hated it.

All while I prayed someone would come, anyone other than Zion.

“Stop, he still needs to be alive until we get the go-ahead.”

Agony radiated throughout me; it was hard to stay focused, awake. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and let sleep take me away. I coughed, and blood dripped from my mouth. I didn’t move to wipe it away though, not only because I didn’t want to get their attention again, but I wasn’t sure I could move at that point. I kept my eyes closed, feeling every throb, every ache as I stayed as still as I could.

“Did you hear that?” Thing One said.

“What?”

“Shhh.” I listened to their footsteps move away from me.

Wood splintered, glass shattered, screams, and yells rose, all in seconds.