Ruin Me (Savage Bosses)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

K ent

“Hey, Kent. If you need nothing else, I’m headed out,” Omar said from the door.

I checked the time. “Have you heard from Madison since she went to meet Carol?”

Although Madison said she would return before I left, she hadn’t. Neither had she called to let me know she would be late. The sense of unease I had when she spoke to Carol on the phone earlier doubled.

“No, I haven’t spoken to her since after lunch. Is there a problem?” Omar entered the office, concern writ on his face to mirror mine.

“She should have returned by now.” I pulled up the app for the tracker Madison always wore. A steady light showed her at a railroad crossing.

No movement could have meant a freight train was passing, but if she went out for drinks, why was she in that area of Douglas? It was known for high crime, and I couldn’t imagine a bar Madison or Carol would know being there.

I dialed Madison’s number, but it went to voicemail without ringing. Already on edge, her lack of response drove me to act. “Omar, cancel my meeting and call the police. Tell them to meet me at the train tracks by Henderson Crossing. Madison’s in danger.”

I rushed to the elevator; the phone pressed to my ear as I tried Madison’s number repeatedly. Although I raised the alarm, I couldn’t contemplate her being in a serial killer’s clutches. She had to be okay.

We were such a new couple, and I hadn’t had enough opportunities to spoil her or prove to her I could be the man she needed by her side. I had yet to proclaim to the world that we were together. Then there was gaining her parents’ acceptance, telling Ife, and so many more things on the list of things we had to do before we could truly enjoy each other.

Now was not the time to imagine Madison scared or worse. I would find her, and she would be safe. Despite my vehement hope, despair batted at me every second of the ride to the railroad crossing. The light telling me Madison’s location hadn’t budged, but I didn’t know if that was a blessing or a cruel joke.

I broke every speed limit to make it to my little bunny. I needed to see her in her velour sweatsuit again. When I got to her, she was never leaving my arms, even if it meant I carried her wherever she needed to go.

I almost missed the turnoff. The car fishtailed before I corrected the course and drove down the street leading to Henderson Crossing. The map showing Madison’s location was more detailed as I approached her.

When I arrived at the crossing, a black Chevy Suburban that didn’t belong to Madison sat on the tracks. The car was bigger than my S-Class Benz. I didn’t care that what I saw contradicted the app on my phone. The signal said she was in front of me.

In the distance, a horn shattered the quiet panic I’d been existing in. A train was approaching, and I had no way of knowing how far away it was. I ran out of my car to the silhouette on the driver’s side of the SUV on the tracks. My heart stopped at what I saw.

Madison slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious. Her hands were duct-taped together and zip-tied to the steering wheel.

“Madison!” I tugged the door handle, but it was locked. Next, I banged against the window while yelling for her to wake up, but she didn’t move.

I couldn’t lose another woman in a car accident. I couldn’t.

Frantic, I looked around for something big and sharp to break the window, but there were no rocks or sticks up to the job. The train tooted again, the sound closer than the last time. As I punched the window in earnest, the gate arm to warn oncoming vehicles that a train was approaching descended.

With time slipping fast, I doubled my efforts until the window shattered into pebbled glass. The sound must have jolted her awake. She groggily blinked, while I pulled at the zip tie holding her hostage in the car. No matter how much I tugged, I couldn’t create a gap between the tie and the wheel.

“Kent?” her voice lacked the vitality I was used to.

“Hey, little bunny.” I tried to inject a note of calm in my voice I didn’t feel.

“What… where am I? Why does my body feel so sore?” She raised her head, but it fell backward against the headrest.

“Don’t freak out, but you’re trapped on some train tracks, but I’m going to get you out.”

As the seconds passed, Madison became more alert. “Train tracks? Where’s Carol?”

“No offense, but I don’t give a shit about her right now. You’re my priority. A train is coming and I need to get you out of here.” As soon as I mentioned the train, another horn blew.

Now that Madison was becoming more coherent, her sense of alarm rose. She tugged her hands. “Oh my God, get me out! Get me out!”

“I’m trying, little bunny. I’m trying.”

Broken sobs ripped from her chest as distraught pleas fell from her lips. A sense of helplessness tore through me with my lack of progress.

Madison turned her teary face to me. “Kent, the train is coming. You can’t stay here. Save yourself.”

“Don’t say that. I’ll free you. No matter what, I won’t leave you.” I looked down the train tracks. The sound was closer, and I could see the light as it traveled through the trees. Behind me, sirens wailed in the distance, but they were too far away to be of any help.

“I have an idea. Wait for me.” I ran to my car as she screamed for me to leave.

With time flitting through my fingers, I crashed through the gate arm and used my car to push the one holding Madison captive. The wheels on my car spun, causing smoke to billow from under the tires. I depressed the pedal to the floor, but her car wouldn’t budge.

The light grew closer and closer, shining brightly on us and halfway blinding me. Finally, her car moved. When she was free of the track, I glanced at the glaring light to my left, praying I’d have time to meet Madison on the other side.