by Ivy Nelson
Fear bubbled in Darci’s stomach as he spoke. “Use what? Who’s your girl?” she whispered.
He pulled items out of the bag. Rope, a set of small knives, maybe scalpels. She couldn’t watch anymore, so she closed her eyes and tried to fight back the tears. She was going to die.
• • •
It felt like forever before Michael got a phone call, and Bradley was going crazy.
He packed his office up, turned in his keys, and waited. Finally, a call came in.
All he could hear was Michael’s side of the conversation.
“Jesus man. We’ve been worried sick. Where the fuck are you? Darci’s still missing but we know who has her.” It must be Peter. Bradley mouthed to Michael for him to put it on speaker.
“Some bitch came running up to my car screaming that she had lost her kid, so I jumped out to help her look. When we got behind a building, she busted me over the head. I woke up in the hospital. I’m pretty sure it was Tessa, or Theresa. Whatever the fuck her name is. I feel like an ass for not recognizing her. Find our girl damn it. I’ll be there as soon as the damn nurse comes back with discharge papers.”
Michael ended the call and the two men left the Hart building to head back to Michael’s place to wait for news. It came a half hour later.
“His truck has been spotted at a cabin. It’s secluded but we’re sending a team in. They’ll beat us there so come on you can ride with me,” Michael told Bradley when he got the update.
Five minutes later, they were in Michael’s SUV racing towards a cabin in Virginia. Bradley called Peter to update him while Michael drove.
When they got close to the cabin, they came across a tactical team setting up out of sight of the property. Michael pulled over, ordered Bradley to stay in the vehicle and hopped out to talk to the man in charge of the scene.
Bradley rolled the window down to listen.
“We sent one man in to scout the perimeter, detective. Your man is definitely in there with a woman matching your friend’s description. We’ll have to be careful going in. The plan right now is to surround the place with a few snipers before making contact to negotiate but there may not be time for that. He’s got her strapped to a chair in the main room and it looks like he’s planning harm for sure.”
Bradley felt sick. He knew he couldn’t rush in and rescue her. He had to just wait for them to do their jobs.
Michael spoke next. “Is there no way to just burst in and surprise him? He’s not a fan of confrontation and as long as we wait until he’s out of arms reach of Darci we could take him down.”
“It’s an option we’re considering. I’m waiting until my men are in place to make the call.”
Michael nodded but didn’t respond.
The cabin was located off a long gravel road. The team of men were making their way slowly through the woods on either side of the road to surround the cabin. It felt like it was taking forever. Bradley wanted them to run, but they had to be perfectly quiet, so they didn’t spook the lunatic inside the cabin.
He was angry with himself for not insisting that security keep watching her. He could have forced the issue, but he hadn’t wanted to be overbearing when she was upset with him. It didn’t seem like the right way to win her back. Now, he was just praying his mistake wouldn’t cost her life.
He couldn’t take it anymore, he had to get out of the car.
He opened the door and stepped out.
“Damn it, Bradley I told you to stay in the SUV,” Michael said in a tone just above a whisper.
“What’s going on?” he demanded.
“Nothing yet. We’re waiting for the men to get in position.”
The team leaders radio crackled, and a static laced voice said, “in position,” followed by a second voice repeating the same thing.
The leader spoke into his radio. “Do you have a visual on the suspect?”
“Team Alpha has a visual, but he’s too close to the hostage to take out safely. Looks like he’s got a knife.”
“Fuck.” Bradley swore and Michael sent him a glare.
“If you get a clean shot, you have permission to take it.” He received confirmation from both teams.
“Now we wait.” Bradley swallowed. It took all of his willpower not to race down the path to the house and bust down the door.
45
♥♥♥
Darci lost her battle not to cry, and the tears were flowing freely now.
Kaden was pacing back and forth in front of her. He had tied her to the chair but had yet to hurt her. She felt like that wasn’t going to last long.
Along with the scalpels he had laid out other scary looking tools and a hunting knife. He brandished that.
“I’ve been waiting for this for seven years,” he said as he stopped in front of her. He used the knife point to trace a line down her cheek.
“Don’t cry. I thought you liked it when men did mean things to you. Isn’t that why you write that disgusting blog and go to those parties with all the other whores?”
“That’s consensual and completely different,” she managed to get out through her tears.
The backhanded slap came from nowhere, landing forcefully on Darci’s cheek. Her head snapped back. She jerked her hand instinctively to cover her face, but the rope prevented her from doing so.
“Shut up. I’m going to do dirty things to you and you’re going to enjoy it. If I think you’re not enjoying it, I’m going to start cutting you.”
“Please don’t do this,” she begged.
The hand holding the knife flew towards her and a searing pain shot through her arm as the blade sliced across her shoulder.
“I said you better fucking enjoy it. If you want to die right now keep crying.”
He laid the knife on the table next to the chair and reached for the button on his jeans. “Let’s see how well you suck cock,” he sneered.
Darci shut her eyes, shaking her head as the pain grew worse, and blood flowed down her arm.
“No, no, no.” She was repeating it when the door flew open.
“What the...” Kaden began.
“Hands in the air!” shouted a man in tactical gear. He had a gun aimed at Kaden’s chest.
Kaden didn’t listen. Instead he lunged for the knife on the table.
The gunshot was the last thing Darci heard before her world plunged into darkness. She wasn’t sure how long she was out, but it couldn’t have been long.
Strong arms lifted her from the chair. They must have cut the rope off her.
“Bradley?” she whispered.
A low voice chuckled.
“I knew you were in love with him.” She opened one eye, and it was Michael’s face staring down at her.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. Close your eyes. An ambulance is here and so are Bradley and Peter.”
“He was going to kill me,” she murmured.
“I would never let that happen. Hush now. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
He carried her out of the house where lights were flashing. The world was getting blurry fast, and Michael placed her on a stretcher. She tried to fight the blackness, but it was swallowing her. Just before things went dark again, she saw Bradley standing over her.
• • •
The next time Darci opened her eyes, she was in a hospital room. Bradley was sitting next to her. “Bradley?” she said. It came out a hoarse whisper. Her throat was dry.
“Darci. You’re awake. Thank god.” He scooted his chair closer to her and picked up her hand.
“What are you doing here?”
“Where else would I be. I didn’t stop loving you just because you left.”
She closed her eyes. Her head hurt too much for this conversation.
“What do you need, baby?”
“Water,” she whispered.
“Of course.” He stood and walked to the door. “I’m going to find a nurse, be back in a second.”
When he left, Darci started to assess her injuries.
Her face felt bruised and her left shoulder was stinging. It was wrapped in a thick gauze. The memories of Kaden waving the knife came flooding back, and a tear slid down her cheek. Bradley came in with a cup of water.
“Oh, baby. Please don’t cry. You’re going to be OK, and the bastard is dead.” The tears flowed freely now. “Here, drink some water. Don’t cry,” he said again.
“I was so scared,” she sobbed.
“Me too, baby.” He held the straw in front of her mouth. “Drink.”
The command calmed her. She took a ragged breath.
“Still bossy as ever,” she teased before taking a sip.
“I have a good memory, Darci. Give me any lip and I won’t hesitate to take you over my knee once you’re healed.”
“I’m not sure you get to do that anymore,” she said, taking the glass from him.
“I know you’re angry with me, Darci, but it’s Sean Atleigh you need to be pissed at. I need to explain everything to you, but I don’t want to overwhelm you right now, so I need you to promise that you’ll hear me out when you’ve gotten your strength back.”
“I guess I can do that,” Darci said.
The door opened a few seconds later, and a nurse came in.
“Miss Sanders. It’s good to see you’re awake. I’m going to check your vitals. We want to keep you for observation overnight, but you should be good to go home tomorrow.”
Darci smiled weakly. “Home sounds nice.” Her heart ached watching Bradley sit next to her. She was still in love with him, but how could she trust him? The nurse wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her uninjured arm, stuck a thermometer under her tongue, and noted the numbers. Finally, she left them alone after pushing pain medication into Darci’s IV.
“I should let you sleep, baby. But I need to say something before you do.” He held her hand and waited for her to look at him. She drew in a deep breath and met his eyes with her own. “I left the senator’s office. I had nothing to do with his statement last week. I didn’t even know he was planning to speak to the press.” Darci’s eyes drifted shut as the pain medication took its toll.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “Getting sleepy. I’m glad you told me.”
“Sleep, baby. I’ll be here when you wake up.” True to his word, Bradley stayed by her side. She drifted in and out of sleep over the course of the day and evening. Visitors flowed in and out, but she barely recalled who they were. Peter stopped by long enough to make sure she was OK. He had to get back to Carrie in California, but he promised to send her back to D.C. soon. Before he left, he kissed her cheek and whispered, “Give him a chance, Kitten.”
Bradley helped her sip water, fed her when dinner arrived, and made sure she was comfortable, but he didn’t push her to talk about their relationship. Darci was grateful.
At noon the next day, the doctor released Darci. Bradley had stepped out to take a phone call when Michael walked in. “Hey, sweetheart. I hear they’re letting you out of here. Want me to take you back to my house, or are you going home with Bradley?”
“I’m not sure. Can’t I just go to my place?”
Michael hesitated. “What is it?” she asked.
“It’s just, well your apartment isn’t exactly ready. You know, since the break-in and Elise.” She closed her eyes, fighting back tears at the memory of her friend.
“Then I guess you can take me to your house.”
“Bullshit. You’re coming home with me.” Bradley’s voice came from just inside her door.
“I think that’s up to her, man,” Michael said in an even tone.
“Bradley please. I promise I heard what you told me, and I promise we’ll talk. Just give me some time.”
He sighed heavily. “I guess that’s fair, but if I think you’re ignoring me I’m going to come get you.”
“I won’t, I swear. Just let me have a couple of days please. I need to sleep, and I need to think.”
A hospital volunteer arrived with a wheelchair. “Ready to go, Miss Sanders?”
She smiled fondly at him. “Yes, please.”
Michael told him where he was parked, and Bradley followed them out. When she climbed into Michaels SUV, Bradley came to the door and gently touched her face. “I love you. Remember that. I’ll be waiting for you.” He leaned in and gently kissed her cheek and shut the door.
46
♥♥♥
It had been two days since Bradley kissed her cheek and let Michael drive her away. He knew she needed space. He understood she had been through yet another traumatic ordeal, but he hated not being able to see her. Michael was good about sending him text updates to let him know how she was doing, but he didn’t tell him if she was any closer to wanting to talk to him. He was going out of his mind with no work to do.
Kaden Larimore’s D.C. apartment had been searched and solid evidence that he was the killer was found. Tessa Heath, AKA Theresa Holden had also been found in the apartment and was arrested as an accomplice. The two had been living together, plotting revenge against Darci for the last two years. The day the woman had called Darci, posing as a rape victim, she had made sure she got alone time in Darci’s office. She managed to grant herself access to Darci’s calendar and make a copy of her apartment key. Why she wanted to be with a man like Kaden was anybody’s guess. Bradley just hoped Darci wasn’t feeling too betrayed by the fake rape report. She was so passionate about what she did at work. He would hate for this to dampen her fire.
News that Senator Sean Atleigh’s nephew was a serial killer was not doing good things for his campaign numbers. Bradley’s own association with the whole thing kept him from getting any solid job offers. His dad still told him he was welcome to come work for him, but he didn’t want to bring his dad’s campaign down before it even got started.
No, he needed to figure out something else to do. But first, he had to figure out how to get Darci to talk to him. He considered giving some sort of statement to the press, but he wasn’t sure what to say, so he kept his head down and waited for word from Darci.
At ten o’clock at night, on day two of not seeing Darci, his e-mail alert sounded on his phone. It was from Adara.
Hey Boss,
If you don’t have anything to do for breakfast tomorrow
would you mind having breakfast with me at the Blue Duck? Let me know.
Thanks,
Adara
Odd. Why wouldn’t she just call me? He thought to himself. Maybe she was worried he would be sleeping. He fired back that he would love to have breakfast with her and how did eight in the morning work. The next morning, he had a town car take him to the Blue Duck. On his way, he thought back to his accidental first date with Darci there. It made him smile. He was lost in thought as he stepped out of the car and walked toward the restaurant.
“You really should watch where you’re going, Sir.”
The voice jerked him out of his thoughts, and he looked down in the direction it came from.
“Darci? What are you doing here?”
She giggled. “Haven’t we had this conversation before?”
“I don’t understand. I got an e-mail from Adara asking me...” his voice trailed off as realization dawned on his face. “Please tell me this isn’t a breakup breakfast, Darci.”
She just smiled. “Our table is ready.”
• • •
The look on Bradley’s face was priceless when he realized he had been set up. It was worth the favor Darci was going to owe Adara for sending the e-mail. Bradley followed her and the hostess to the same table they sat at weeks ago and a server was there to take their order almost immediately. When he left, Bradley spoke. “You’re killing me, Darci. I’ve been dying to talk to you, hold you, just be in the same room with you, but I’ve been trying to give you some space. Now you’ve got me here so talk.”
“No, this isn’t a breakup breakfast. I’m still confused about some things, but one thing I’m not confused about is that I love you.”
“Oh, Darci. I lov
e you so fucking much, baby. I’ve been dying without you. Where do we start? How do I make sure we’re OK?”
Bradley was, as always, ready to dive into the heavy stuff that she wasn’t ready for yet. She would be by the end of breakfast, she assured herself. But not quite yet.
“Can we just talk for now? Not about us? Just talk, catch up, enjoy breakfast.”
Bradley smiled tenderly at her. “Of course, we can. Tell me everything about Michael and Adara. How did you get her to write me that e-mail?”
Darci giggled, grateful that Bradley knew exactly what she needed. “That was pretty clever of me, you have to admit.”
“You’re very clever indeed, baby.”
For a few minutes they carried on comparing notes about their two friends and whether they thought the relationship between Michael and Adara would work out. Soon however, the conversation turned to Tessa and Kaden.
“It’s hard to believe they went to all that trouble just to torment me. All because I had the balls to name him as my rapist. It’s scary how easy it was for them though. They both worked for the same temp agency. After Tessa got into my calendar, all she had to do was make sure she or Kaden was assigned to work at whatever event I was going to.” Bradley picked up her hand while she rambled.
“Don’t blame yourself for this, baby.”
A tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek.
“I know deep down it’s not my fault, but three people are dead and parts of me can’t help but think I’m to blame.”
“Baby, no.” He squeezed her hand tighter and handed her a napkin.
“It’s going to take time for me to get that idea out of my head.”
“I’m here to help, baby. You know that.”
Darci did know that. Time to have the serious talk. She dabbed her eyes and set the napkin aside.
“I’m broken, Bradley. But...” she paused and took a deep breath, “I think you can help me put myself back together. Kaden said some really awful things while he held me captive and along with all the guilt over Marlie, Peggy, and Elise, I can’t get them out of my head.”