Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 333

“Stop asking questions. Try not to talk—you’ll suffer less that way.”

Ruby pressed her lips together and fell silent.

The car rattled along a desolate stretch of road, bumping and swaying over potholes and gravel. Outside, there was nothing but wild, tangled trees—no other vehicles, not a soul in sight.

She had no idea how long they drove like that, bouncing over rough ground, until finally the car shuddered to a halt.

“Let’s get out and have a smoke,” the driver muttered.

Both the driver and the man in the mask stepped outside, making sure to lock every door behind them.

Ruby peered through the grimy window. The two men leaned against the car: one lit a cigarette, the other pulled out his phone and made a call.

The masked man finished his call and took the driver’s pack of cigarettes. “This kid’s really well-behaved. If I hadn’t already taken the money, I’d almost feel bad letting her go.”

The driver snorted. “Getting sentimental over a kid now? Don’t forget why we’re here. We don’t work for free.”

They finished their cigarettes, stubbed them out on the dusty ground, and got back inside. The journey continued, bumping along a narrow path until the car drew up in front of a crumbling brick shack. The masked man climbed out and went inside, leaving the driver behind to keep watch over Ruby.

Inside, the shack was just one bare room. A battered wooden table held a laptop and a wireless receiver. Mogan sat there, dressed in black from head to toe, turning a small black box over and over in his hands.

“They’re here. What’s next?” the masked man asked.

Mogan tossed the box to him. “Clip this to her collar and take her into the woods. Your ride’s waiting three miles south—stay out of sight, then come back when it’s safe.”

The masked man hesitated, a frown creasing his brow. “It’s rough country out there. Anything could be lurking in those woods. She’s just a kid…”

They walked for what felt like forever. By the time they stopped, night was closing in—she could barely make out the shapes of trees just a few feet away. The masked man set her down on a flat boulder.

Ruby realized what was happening. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she bit her lip, refusing to make a sound.

With a heavy sigh, the masked man pressed half a bottle of water, a lighter, and a small flashlight into her hands. Then he clipped the black box—some sort of camera—onto her collar.

He didn’t know what that man in the shack was planning. He didn’t care. He was just a hired hand, and in his world, mercy was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

“If you want to stay alive, don’t take off the camera,” he said quietly.

He switched on the device, then turned and disappeared into the shadows.