Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“And where is that? Get to the fucking point,” Theo snaps.
“Your closed listings. Houses that’ve sold. He’s using one of those.”
“Now, why would he do that? With someone living in there?”
“I don’t fucking know. But we’re looking in all the wrong places. Search all closed listings from the last year—”
“There’re hundreds.”
I slam my fists on the table. “And an innocent woman’s life is in jeopardy.”
An officer enters the room, holding a stack of papers. “Sir, we have Vince Tillman's credit card records.”
Rochel grabs the stack and flips through the pages. “Mr. Tillman, does your son have access to any of the credit cards in your name?”
“Just one. For emergencies.”
He flips another page. “Any reason your son would be purchasing a significant amount of décor?”
Vince shakes his head. “I’m not sure. I don’t know.”
“Give me that.” I snatch the papers, scanning the list. Women’s clothing, furniture, glassware… “Look.” I stop at a pending charge. “Right here—it looks like the bank flagged this transaction.” Rochel leans in.
“Normally, that entails possible fraud.” He waves Miller over. “Call the creditor and ask about this charge. They’re all recent enough. See exactly what he bought and if he got it delivered. If so, find the address.”
He grabs the attention of another officer. “I want all closed listings within the last year. We’ll start there.” Turning to me, he says, “Let’s hope this isn’t another dead end.”
He doesn’t have to say it because the grim look on his face tells me exactly what I’ve been feeling. Time is not on Mindy’s side. And we’re running out of it.
Chapter twenty-five
Mindy
“Wake up, love.” I blink through the haziness and open my eyes. Vince leans over me. He’s in a different set of clothes. Sitting up, I look around. The dimmed light peeking through the closed shades tells me it’s morning. The vase and flowers have been cleaned up. “How are you feeling? I bet you’re hungry.”
“Thirsty,” I whisper, my throat dry.
“I bet. Be good for me, and I’ll reward you with water.”
I wipe the loose strands of hair away from my face and sit up straighter. “And exactly what does that entail?”
“It’s simple. Get dressed. Have breakfast with me. I’d like to discuss our arrangement. I have some things I would like to share with you. Life can be very pleasant for you if you behave. You want me. I saw it in your eyes. We can be great together, but you must follow the rules.”
Jesus, he’s insane. “What rules? Vince, you have me here against my will. And there is no us. Someone will be looking for me, and when they find me, you’re as good as dead.”
His hand thrusts forward, wrapping around my throat. His thumb digs into my pulse. I reach up, trying to tear it away, but he’s surprisingly strong. “Stop, you’re choking me,” I gurgle through struggling breaths. “Vince, stop!”
“You will learn to obey me. Respect goes a long way, Mindy. You can have it all. Once you accept this as your life.”
My nails scratch down his arm. He releases me, and I fall forward, grasping for air. “Such a shame. You’ve ruined my appetite. We’ll try again later.”
He walks away, and I grab him. “Please, wait. I need water.”
“See you soon.”
“Vince, no!” I scream as the door locks behind him.
***
“If you made it the right way, it wouldn’t be so messy.”
I admire the chocolate dripping down my finger and stick my tongue out to catch it. “What fun is that?”
He shakes his head. “You’re good at that.”
“At what, exactly?” I suck the whole thing into my mouth and bob up and down for effect.
Snaking his arm around my waist, he presses me to him, and I squeal. “You know what.”
“You’re getting your shirt all dirty.”
“Looks like I’m going to have to get in the lake and wash up.”
“Oh, no. Don’t you even—Tate!” I yell as he scoops me up and walks me down to the lake. “Tate, the s’more! You’re going to waste the s’more!”
He snatches it and shoves the whole thing into his mouth. “Tasty. Just like your cunt after I clean us up. Hold your breath, baby. Time to get wet.”
***
The grumbling of my stomach pulls me from the memory. I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. Actually, it was the night before because we never got to eat the last s’mores for breakfast. What I wouldn’t do for a gooey marshmallow and chocolate sandwich right now. Burned and messy. Chocolate oozing out the side, making my fingers messy.
My stomach lets out another growl. “I know, I know. A s’more would be great right about now.” So would the warmth of Tate’s arms. The rumble of his laughter against my chest. What I wouldn’t do to rewind time and not turn on that stupid phone.
He was right. I was a liability. If I’d just listened to him, I wouldn’t be in this position. Does he know I’m missing? That I never made it home? Does he care? Or was he told I was having wild sex with Vince and now hates me even more?