Keeping Hope (Broken Girl Series) by Rachael Tonks Read Free Book Online

this shit, or even where to start.
    “My girlfriend was kidnapped by some sick fuckers in a cult. She managed to escape a short while back now and ended up here in Newport. They tracked her down and took her. Now she’s missing. I managed to follow them from where they snatched her. We drove for fucking hours and ended up being run off the road, probably by one of those sick fucks. We crashed in the middle of fucking nowhere.” The emotion in my voice is heavy as I try and explain to this stranger what the hell happened.
    I turn my head in his direction, nervous for his reaction. I’m shocked to see him with his eyes tightly shut and a grimace across his face. He’s furiously rubbing his fingers across the tattooed knuckles. His hand is balled into a huge fist. His deep breathing turns into a low, guttural growl.
    I look at the guys not really knowing how to judge his reaction. Pete signals Lizzy over. “Get us another round, Liz, and whatever Chuck wants,” Pete yells, anxiously trying to dispel the awkwardness of the conversation.
    I hear a loud whistle from the corner of the bar. Chuck turns his head and signals to the guys he came with. He slowly nods, his reaction making me nervous. This guy is huge in size and intimidating in appearance. His long hair falls down and shields his eyes. He pushes back his hair, looking at me with a dark solitary gaze. His nose flares.
    “You okay, man?” I ask with a stutter.
    He straightens himself, slapping me heavily on the back, causing me to jolt forward.
    “You lost me in thought for a moment, son. I wasn’t expecting that at all. Those sick god damn motherfuckers,” he growls loudly. “You have to find her. The longer you wait the less chance you’ll find her. You follow me?”
    “I get ya, but I have no idea where she is.”
    “My guess, based on what you just told me, would be in Arizona. Probably not too far off from where you were crashed into. I know that place inside out.”
    “Oh yeah? I guess you guys do a lot of biking across that way?”
    “I used to live there.” His voice teeters off to a whisper.
    “Oh right.” My voice is awkward, not quite knowing where he’s going with this.
    “I searched every mile of that goddamn state looking for my daughter.” His fists are balled and he hits the top of the bar, making the three of us jump.
    “I never fucking found her. Left it in the hands of the fucking Feds who did jack shit to find her. By the time I started my search, it was too late. There was no sign of her anywhere. Time is of the essence, my man. Trust me, I speak from experience.”
    I point to his knuckles. “Your daughter’s Sara?”
    He nods slowly in response.
     
    Kennedy
     
    Today I finally received something to drink and eat. My lips are so dry they have started to crack. It hurts as I try and carefully sip from the glass tumbler. My hands shake from fatigue. I try to keep the cup steady, but I can’t. My cut is starting to heal, but is still incredibly sore where my tooth impaled my lip.
    I wolf down the food, still hungry when I’ve finished.
    This is the first meal I’ve had since arriving. I also haven’t seen anyone since my last encounter with Christopher, the food was left by someone who stood in the shadows.
    However, I have spoken to Hope several times each day. She’s such a sweet, innocent girl. I don’t know what I can do to help her. There’s no winning in her situation. I know because I’ve been there. If you conform the outcome is horrendous. If you fight back it can be even worse. There’s no way I can tell a little girl to accept whatever sick shit he wants to do to her, but advising her to fight back will only make things worse.
    I have no answers.
    I have no advice.
    I only have the memories.
    I’m isolated in this room. There is barely any light. I have no way of washing. I have to go to the bathroom in a god damn bucket which causes the room to stink vile. I need to think of some way out of here, but it