Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“That’s what I’m fuckin’ worried about,” I say, running my hand down my face.
“Merleigh wouldn’t get into a car with a stranger,” Briella shakes her head. “No way.”
“How do you know?” I ask. “She was upset, stuck out in the rain, and her keys were locked in the car. She wouldn’t have had a great deal of choice.”
“He has a point,” Alarick agrees with a nod. “She might have had no option.”
“If that’s the case, she could be anywhere, with anyone,” Briella says, her face going a little pale. “How are we going to find her?”
I have no fucking idea, and it’s terrifying.
“Think in this case, we have to use the cops,” Alarick says, standing. “We don’t have the resources to look into this if that’s what has happened. They can check cameras, things like that ...”
“The fuckin’ cops?” I growl.
“We may have no other fuckin’ choice, Bohdi.”
I hesitate, because he’s right – there might be no other choice. If Merleigh isn’t found by morning, we’ll have no option but to go to the police because they have a far bigger chance of finding her than we do.
“I’m goin’ to search for her again,” I mutter, grabbing my keys and turning, walking out of the room.
“I’m coming with you!” Briella calls, coming after me.
I don’t say a word to her as we get in the truck and drive around town again, going all the way back out to Merleigh’s cabin that is still empty. We go around and around until the morning light settles on the earth and that’s when I know, I fucking know, that something has happened to her.
The fear in my chest makes me sick to my stomach.
If I lose her ...
God dammit, why was I such a fucking idiot?
If I lose her and the last thing that happened between us was a fight that caused her to run, I’ll never forgive myself.
Fuck.
Please.
Let her be okay.
20
NOW – MERLEIGH
I watch as the man moves into the room, his eyes on me. Thus far, he hasn’t done anything, but this morning he has come in and there is a look in his eyes that’s terrifying.
It’s time for me to make him question everything.
It’ll take every strength I have, but I’m determined to get out of here.
I will not be anyone’s captive.
Not ever.
Not in this life.
I calm my facial features and watch him with a curiosity that has him doing a double take. I tip my head to the side as he walks toward me, and I give him a cold smile that would put anyone on edge. “Have you done this many times before?” I ask in a sultry voice.
He blinks. “What the fuck happened to the scared girl I picked up yesterday?”
I give a huff and a smile. “You wouldn’t have taken me if I wasn’t screaming, right? I know how this goes. God, it’s my fantasy. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment?”
He stares at me with narrowed eyes. “You’re trying to trick me, it won’t work.”
I keep the smile.
He hesitates.
“You expect me to believe you want to be held captive?”
“Well, you’re here, stealing girls from the side of the road. I’m expected to believe you’re into that, why wouldn’t I be into something equally as sick? You don’t think girls have it in them to create fantasies?”
“You’re lying. You’re fucking lying. Shut up.”
“I’ve been in this situation before. If you don’t believe me, look at the scars on my body. They’ll tell you just how much I loved it.”
My voice is low, unwavering.
Inside, I’m terrified.
But, I have a feeling I’m on the right path. This man, he doesn’t look like he’s the smartest guy out there catching women. Instead, he seems to be just fulfilling some sick fetish that he has, and isn’t really thinking it through. I can tell by the way he hesitates.
I’ve dealt with some of the cruelest monsters in this world, and let me tell you, they do not hesitate.
Ever.
“Hurt me,” I whisper, my voice so low that it scares even me. “I’ll prove to you how much I want this. Please. Hurt me.”
He looks confused and a more than a little thrown off.
But he pulls himself together.
He pulls a knife out of his pants and walks over to me.
This is going to take every strength I have inside, but if I don’t prove myself, he’s going to rape, and likely kill me. This may very well be my only chance at getting away from here. Sure, he might not be the smartest man, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t killed people before.
It’s very likely he has.
He kneels on the bed and places the knife against my leg, his eyes flashing with a lust that makes me want to vomit.
“Do it,” I growl, my voice sultry.
He presses the knife into my skin and then drags it down. The pain is horrific, but I’ve dealt with so much worse. God, so much worse. Still, it makes my stomach twist and my body tense up. It takes every single strength I’ve built over the years not to scream, not to cry and not to show him any sort of fear. My god, it hurts. It hurts so fucking bad.