Smith - Healing Her Heart

Healing Her Heart 2019 Kimberly Renee Smith

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced or transmitted in any capacity without written permission by the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

This is a work of fiction, Names characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual persons living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This adult contemporary romance is recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content.

February 2019 Edition

Prologue

As Denise came to consciousness, someone in front of her said, Shes waking up. The voice was deep and the person speaking sounded strange and garbled to Denise. Opening her eyes, she tried to lift her head. It felt as if it were expanding slowly and steadily and there was a deep bass drum pounding in her ears. The pain was excruciating.

Someone had hit her in the head as she was getting into her car after leaving work. Whoever had hit her, had caught her by surprise. She hadnt seen anyone in the employee parking area. They must have been hiding behind another car or something. She had her hand in her bag feeling around for her keys when she heard a noise behind her. Before she could turn to see what had made the sound, she was struck in the back of the head, and everything went dark.

Now, she was sitting in a chair, hands tied behind her back, trapping her against the chair. Her feet were tied down too. Denise brought her head up so that she could see past the curtain of hair blocking her view. Her eyes squeezed into thin slits against the bright light shining in her face. She swung her head from side to side trying to see where she was.

A man was standing in front of her, behind the light overhead. He was in the shadows. She tilted her head back, squinting her eyes, trying to see his face. He stepped forward a bit, allowing Denise to look at him openly. It was one of the men that had been following Felicia. Someone moved from behind him. It was the other man, the guy with the glasses and bald head. He could see the recognition in her eyes. Well now, I think she remembers us Tony.

She had seen their faces, and now she had a name. That meant they had no intention of letting her live. What do you want with me? Denise asked trying to focus and clear her vision. They must have hit her pretty hard. She glanced around trying to figure out where she was, and to see what she might be able to use as a weapon. She didnt see anything but a thick layer of dirt on the wooden floor and a folding table. Denise guessed that she was in some abandoned building.

There was a door behind the bald man. If she could get her hands and legs free, she might be able to use the chair as a weapon and incapacitate the men long enough to get outside and get away. She realized they hadnt covered her mouth with a gag or tape, which probably meant that there werent people nearby that they would have to worry about hearing her if she screamed.

We want you to tell us where your friend is.

Denise knew that they were talking about Felicia and she didnt say anything. The guy closest to her, the one the bald man called Tony, came closer to her. He grabbed her by the hair and jerked her head back, looking into her eyes. You know where she is dont you? Denise still didnt say anything. Tony smiled down at her before he let her head go.

Denise felt the ring on his left-hand slice her cheek as he backhanded her. Denises head lolled to one side. Where is she?

I dont know! Denise thundered raising her head. Tony punched her this time using his other hand. It didnt matter what he did to her. She would never tell him. He continued to punch and slap her until his partner stopped him.

Enough. The bald man said as he came over to her. Using a handkerchief from his pocket, he put his hand under her chin and lifted Denises head. Denise could feel the blood running out of her nose, and she tasted it in her mouth. Tony is a bit anxious about finding your friend. He doesnt understand the bonds of friendship. Probably because hes never had one himself.

Fuck you Ford, Tony said from behind him with a chuckle.

I know you want to protect your friend, but she has something that I want. It doesnt belong to her, and I want it back. All I want you to do is to ask her to bring it to me. Can you do that for me?

Denise was breathing hard, her face hurt, and she was hanging on to consciousness by a thread, but shed never do what they wanted. Denise looked him in the eye, Obviously you dont have any friends either. I agree with Tony, fuck you, Denise said with venom as she fought for breath. Ford let her head go and punched her so hard the chair tipped over.

Give me her phone and sit her up, Ford said moving away from her towards the table.

Her chair was set upright. There was another person there. She couldnt see who had carried out the mans order. Ford spoke as he wiped his hand with the handkerchief, You were right. Shes got an attitude and a big mouth. He was talking to the person behind her. She watched as Ford took her purse and dumped its contents onto the table. He fished through the items, grabbing her phone, throwing the purse down to the floor. Well see what kind of friend Felicia is. Somehow, I bet she will do what I ask.

Ford used Denises phone to dial the programmed number for Felicia. Denise listened as the man spoke into the phone. They didnt know who she really was. They hadnt found out that her real name was Denise Samuels, that Keisha Daniels didnt exist. Keishas tied up at the moment. You have something that I want. If you want to save your friends life, you will do what I tell you.

Felicia said something to him, and he responded, Right here. He had moved the phone away from his mouth coming towards her. Say hello to your friend, Keisha. Denise bit his hand as he held the phone close to her mouth. He punched her again, Fucking bitch. Your gonna pay for that. Before Denise could recover from the sting of his fist in her face, she felt a sharp pain in her thigh. She screamed, looking down to see blood filling the cut hed made.

Shut the fuck up, he said, then he was back on the phone, Your friends a fighter. I like that, but make no mistake, I will kill her. Youve got one hour to bring me the drive, or Ill spend some time marking up that pretty face of hers before I cut her throat. Oh, and Felicia, when Im done with Keisha, Ill kill everyone who means anything to you, including your kids. He gave her the address of the house they were using. One hour. Come alone. He ended the call.

Denise tried to calm herself as she watched the blood seeping from the wound on her leg. It wasnt deep, but she needed to stop the blood loss. Denise had to find a way out of this chair and this house. Denise felt light-headed, and she knew that she was fading into unconsciousness. She hoped that Felicia would be too smart to come for her, but she knew that her friend would do what she could to save her life.

Tyrone listened as Ford threatened to kill his children. Tyrone pulled his Glock from his waistband and fired two shots, hitting both men in the chest. He moved around Keisha and fired another round into each of their heads. Tyrone replaced his gun in his waistband. He turned and checked Keisha, she had been hit in the face several times, and her leg was bleeding where Ford had cut her with a switchblade to make her scream for Felicia. She was unconscious, but she was alive. He looked at the cut on her leg. The bleeding had slowed, and she would be alright when Felicia arrived, Tyrone thought, moving to Tony and pulled the contents of his pockets out. He found what he wanted. Tyrone grabbed the keys to the car outside and left.