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“How h clenched teeth

He looked up at the ceiling, as if doings sums in his head “Oh, double should cover it That includes the ht hundred for my trouble”

Ginger so on her face “Fine, drive me to the bank” She didn’t have that much cash in her account, but she’d have a better chance of escaping in public

Haywood laughed as if delighted with her “I like you But I also know you don’t have that kind of money Otherwise, you wouldn’t have needed to steal s o”

She backed away as Winston started co toward her “No I have the money You know if you leave it up to her, you’ll never see it”

He shrugged “I’ll take ht prove interesting And if your mother can’t come up with the money, you can always strip in one of my clubs to earn the money”

Disgusted, she spat on his shiny black wing-tip shoe “Never”

All traces of huht hand reared back and slapped Ginger across the face with such stunning force, she stu of a cut on her cheek fro had connected with her face

He signaled his henchman “Winston?”

Ginger turned and ran She made it halfway out her bedroombefore Winston wrapped a beefy ared her back inside No led, she couldn’t break his hold as he dragged her back through the house and out the front door On the porch, she ed to stomp on his foot with the heel of her boot, but heher head back until tears forainst a black sedan, holding her there as he pulled a plastic tie out of his pocket and bound her wrists

“What are you doing? Untieeyes to Haywood, who stood on the porch, arms clasped behind his back Valerie stood in the doorway behind hiet you your !”

A foul-ser off Winston stuffed it in her htly at the back of her head Then he dragged her toward the trunk When Ginger saw his intentions, she renewed her struggles, but she wasn’t a antic trunk Without her hands to break her fall, the air whooshed fro to sit up, but he sla her in darkness

This can’t be happening No one knew she’d come to Nashville, so she could rule out the possibility of Willa or Derek co to her aid Furthermore, there would be a snowstorer to help her It appeared she’d well and truly screwed herself Ginger pulled her knees up to her chest, atte to reevaluate They had to let her out of this trunk at some point There would be et to a phone—

Tires screeched outside Several doors slammed Then she heard the familiar deep pitch of Derek’s voice, reinforced by a collection of others Ginger sprang up, slaainst the roof of the trunk How did he find her? Who else ith hi with the obstruction in her mouth, her eyes filled with tears

Derek, no! They have guns! God, I’m so sorry…

As her voice faded into a dry screech, Ginger fell silent so she could hear as being said

“Drop your gun Now There’s ten of us and two of you We’ll put a bullet in both of you before you get a shot off,” Derek said

Ginger heard the faint sound of soh the dirt driveay froun, maybe?

“Well, I certainly recognize our localunhappy about the situation “But who the hell are you?”

“Chicago PD You don’t need to know my name”

Haywood scoffed “We’re a nize quite a few of you as patrons of my various establishments Why don’t we sit down and discuss this without the weapons?”