Chap 8:
Emma watched through the window trying to make sense of where she was. They had left the Atlanta airport but had turned so many times, by so many empty back roads that it was impossible to even guess about where they were. If they even were still in the same state. She had no idea what time it was or how long they had been driving. No sense of time, no sense of location. The only thing she knew for sure was that each second was a fight against a panic attack and that the burning in her shoulder was getting worse and almost unbearable.
She tried to readjust her arms again, but the handcuffs were holding her arms back at such an odd angle for too long. No matter how she shifted she couldn't find a comfortable position to relive the pain. Emma struggled more with frustration but it only seemed to get worse. She tried to bite her lip but a sharp gasp of pain escaped despite herself. Her eyes grew wide in terror as Dom shifted in his seat to turn towards her. She meant to stay quiet and not disturb him, but it just hurt.
"You alright back there?" Dom asked glancing up at the rearview mirror. Emma could see his eyes looking back at her through the reflection. She nodded a little too eagerly and glanced away avoiding the eye contact. Dom let out a frustrated sigh.
"Vin, pull over when you get the chance."
"Everything alright?" Vin asked darting a glance over at him quickly.
"Ya, just need a stretch. And I'm tired of your driving, you're slower than an old woman." Vin smirked and chuckled slightly.
"Don't make me kick your ass." Vin said with laughter as he slowed the car down and maneuvered it off the road.
"Like you could" Dom said with a giant grin.
"I guess we'll see later tomorrow night."
"It would be a week with your driving." The two kept laughing as they opened their doors and exited the vehicle. Emma couldn't believe it. Here the two were kidnapping two women in a police car, and yet they were laughing like it was full of enjoyment and fun. The two acted like best friends, maybe even brothers. Vin leaned against the side of the car just out of Emma's sight, and Dom began to open the door to the backseat.
Emma tried to back up against the closed door, but the seatbelt across her chest and lap kept her in place.
"Enjoying the ride?" Dom asked pulling the door open and leaning in to talk to her. Emma didn't know what to say, and chose to just keep her mouth shut. Dom reached forward and Emma recoiled even more into the seat.
"Relax," he said rolling his eyes as he leaned across her. Emma's heart was racing as she tried to relax, but she was finding it impossible. Dom lingered for a moment and she wondered if he could hear or feel her heartbeat. She was afraid of what he might do, but he did nothing. Instead he grabbed the buckle of her seat belt and released it easing it off her shoulder as he pulled back.
"Well, what's the problem?" he asked when she didn't move. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just thought you'd like to stretch a bit." Emma considered it for a bit before nodding her head. She didn't trust being with him out in the opening, there was nowhere to run, no one to help and he could kill her in a heartbeat. Then again, he could kill her in the car just as easily.
"Good. Let me help you." Dom grabbed her arm and she had to fight the urge to wince from the stiffness in her arms as he pulled her from the car carefully.
"Now, are you going to be honest Emma, and tell me what the issue is? You're clearly in pain." Emma started at him quietly considering all the possibilities, and thinking over her response carefully, as Dom pushed her back against the car.
"My shoulders," she said trying to move the stiffness out of them. "Sir." She added, planning every word carefully.
"Promise to behave and not run off?" Emma nodded carefully.
"Alright, turn around, and we'll get those cuffs of you." Emma did as she was told, standing quietly facing the car. Where are we? She thought to herself again scanning her surroundings. Dom removed the handcuffs and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you." She said turning back around rotating her shoulders and stretching her arms trying to remove the stiffness.
"You should have spoken up. I didn't intend to leave them on that long." Emma stood silently rubbing her wrists, watching Dom's body movements but not his eyes.
"Christ. I told you, I'm not going to hurt you if I don't have to. That's not how I work."
"What about Lisa?" she asked trying to make her voice sound confident.
"First off." Dom said stepping back to give her a little bit more space. "That was Vin, not me. And she didn't behave, Second of all, she's fine."
"How do I know that. We've been in the car for hours, and I haven't talked to or seen her. You could be lying."
Dom watched her carefully with his intense eyes, as if he was reading her every thought and movement, and then simply nodded.
"Vin. Give me the keys." Emma couldn't see Vin on the otherside of the car, but Dom reached up and caught the keys without ever looking away.
"Wanna see Lisa? Fine." Dom turned away from her and headed towards the trunk. She wasn't sure if she should move or do anything, but she decided that she really needed to know if Lisa was safe. She stepped forward slowly and stood by Dom as he opened the trunk.
"Hello Lisa? How are you feeling?"
Lisa groaned as the light hit her eyes and Emma instantly felt bad about complaining of her own stiffness. Lisa's arms were tied behind her back, with a piece of duct tape over her mouth. Her ankles were bound and she was curled up into a weird position. Emma didn't even think about what she was doing before she reached towards Lisa to grab the duct tape around her mouth. Dom's hand was faster and grabbed her wrist before she could do anything. Her breath caught in her chest and she swallowed loudly.
"What are you doing?"
"I...We…I mean you, should let her out. We've traveled for hours, and your switching drivers, so I doubt we're close."
"And?"
"She could get hurt. If you're worried about the two of us together than we can switch places…it's not fair if..." Emma stopped instantly as Dom started laughing quietly.
"You would ride in the trunk? For this woman you have never met?' Emma didn't hesitate before nodding her head.
"You really are something…" Dom said staring at her. "Fine" he said letting go of her wrist.
"Lisa can ride in the backseat with Vin, you're up front with me."
"What?" Emma asked confused.
"I don't want you to be together, and I'm not putting you in the trunk." Dom reached forward pulling off the duct tape on Lisa's mouth. Emma waited for her to scream but she did nothing. In fact she had barely moved since they had opened the trunk.
"What's wrong with her?" Emma asked concerned.
"Vin," Dom asked as if he was talking to a little kid. "What did you give her?" Vin walked over taking a drag from his cigar. His hair was cut short like Dom's but a bit longer. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of polarized sunglasses. He was dressed in a black suit and Emma couldn't help but think about how much he looked like a chauffeur.
"Just a mild sedative. She'll be fine." Dom rubbed his temples. "You and drugs" he mumbled. Help me put her into the back seat. The dirt roads ahead are going to be too rough to keep her back there. You can sit with her."
"Why do I have to babysit?"
"Cause I said so. Now let's go."
Vin and Dom helped Lisa into the backseat carefully, untying her ankles but keeping her arms bound. Lisa barley moved, struggling so weakly that it didn't even bother them. Emma just stood by and watched with concern in her eyes.
"I swear." Vin started "She's fine. I know what I'm doing."
"Seriously, Em. This guy is a genius when it comes to any type of drug, sedatives, addictive, venoms, you name it this guy knows it."
"Aww…you honor me Sir Domino." Vin said with a childish smirk. "But we should get moving."
"Right you are." Dom buckled Lisa in and leaned her against the door before Vin slid in next to her. He then moved to the front passenger door and pulled it open.
"After you." He said motioning to the seat. Emma hung her head sliding into the seat and buckling herself up.
"I don't need to tie your hands again do I?"
"No." Emma said. "Not as long as Maria's in danger."
"You're a good person Emma, don't forget that. " Dom said closing the door behind her and moving to the driver's seat.
Dom started the car, but she couldn't convince herself to talk. Instead she leaned her head against the door. "You'll get over it." Dom muttered. Emma didn't respond as Dom pulled back out onto the road. Dom tried to imitate conversation several times but Emma simply ignored him. She was frustrated with his belief that she would she do whatever he said whenever he said. She wasn't being complaint because she wanted to, but because she had to, not for her own sake, but Maria's. Emma tried to stay awake, watching as the scenery flew by, but after several more hours, and a sunset, she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore, and feel fast asleep on the car door.