by Alana Jade
I contemplate walking over to Adam for a moment before changing my mind. I’m a big girl, I can deal with no power. Although I’m not exactly sure where the breaker box is located, I am going to give it a go. Walking through each of the rooms, I switch off as many power outlets as I can, in case something is faulty before trying to find a flashlight so I can go outside.
The sun has set at a very fast pace tonight, it’s now almost completely gone. The dark doesn’t bother me inside the house, but knowing I have no power and may have to head outside to check on the breaker box, is quite annoying and a little scary, especially after what happened a little while ago.
I don’t see any lights on in the main house either, but his car isn’t here, so he’s probably out.
Finally locating two flashlights, I turn them both on. Leaving one on in the kitchen, I take the other outside with me.
After checking one side of my house and not finding the box, I grip the flashlight as tight as I can before checking the other side, hoping it’s there. If it’s at the back, I’ll happily go without power for the night. I’m not going back there without proper lighting.
I don’t have any luck with the other side of the house either and assume it’s out the back, so looks like I’ll use the last of my cell battery to order in.
Walking back inside my house, I take the handset from the intercom off the cradle near the front door, on the off chance it’s still working, and I can ask John or whoever’s on duty to come and help me. To my surprise, it rings, but no one answers on the other end.
I furrow my brows in frustration. I thought Adam said we’d have extra security given what happened recently, but also what happened today with Zac. Even if John’s left for the day, Rico, Mac, or one of the other boys should be in the booth.
A sudden wave of panic hits me.
What if Zac has taken out the power, and he’s trying to mess with us?
What if that other person is back again?
Enough doubt is floating through my head right now that all sense has been pushed aside, and I grab my cell off the non-working charger and dial Adam’s number.
It rings twice before going dead.
“Shit,” I cry.
Taking the torch, I fumble through my kitchen drawers for the portable charger I purchased for my cell. Who knows if it has any power, but it’s worth a shot. After ransacking two drawers, I finally find it in the third and plug in my cell.
The cell lights up again, however, I know it won’t be for long, so I send Adam a text.
Me: Power out
I press send and begin to type the rest of the message, but the cell switches off again. I have no idea if the text message went through to Adam’s phone or not, and no way of contacting him to find out. I can only hope he comes home soon.
“Ahh,” I yell out in frustration.
Throwing myself on the couch, I put my elbows on my knees and rest my head in my hands, gently massaging my temples, hoping this headache is over with soon.
I try to talk reason to myself.
As if Zac would come here and take out the power? He’s not the brightest spark, and given how he looked this morning, he was too high or drunk or whatever to walk straight let alone do something like this. My guess is he went home to feed himself whatever drug makes him feel good.
Deciding to double-check the door is locked, I feel a little chilly, so I walk to my closet to grab a hoodie and pull on my favorite slippers. Pulling out my favorite one, I notice a metal looking box at the back. I pull out some of my hanging clothes to have a closer look. Sure enough, it’s the breaker box.
“What an idiot,” I say to myself.
Positioning the flashlight so I can see, I pull the door of the box open but notice all the switches are in what I think are the correct position, so it’s not only my place that’s out. For all I know, the whole neighborhood could be affected.
Fuck.
Deciding I should go check to see if anyone else has power, I grab both my flashlights, shoving one into the large pocket at the front of my hoodie and keeping a firm grasp on the second one.
I’m scared, so scared I’m shaking, and my eyes are darting from side to side. The whole area is pitch black, and even though we’re technically in suburbia, the size of Adam’s property scares me too because anyone could be lurking around.
First, I decide to walk to Adam’s door to check if he’s home. I see no sign of life through the window but still bang on the door a few times anyway. No response.
Wrapping one arm around my waist and pulling my hood over my head, I step down the side of the house toward the front gate.
The sound of my soft-soled shoes on the pavers reminds me of a bad horror movie I once saw. Of course, now I’m imagining some deranged idiot popping out from one of the bushes.
My heart beats faster as I hear rustling, and I scream when the next-door neighbor’s cat pops out and runs toward the gate with a screeching hiss.
I shine the light in the direction of the gate and realize it’s open. Not all the way, but enough for someone to get through.
“John? Security?” I yell, not remembering any of the other guys’ names.
No one’s in the booth, so I spin around, put my head down, and start walking fast back to the guesthouse. After a few steps, I’m grabbed from behind. I scream as they overpower and push me to the ground, facedown. The corner of a loose paver pushing into my face.
“I wanted him, but you’ll do,” the deep, gruff voice says into my ear.
I thrash about some more, but it’s pointless.
Whoever this is, he’s too strong for me. I’m assuming it’s a male given the strength and deep timbre of his voice. He grabs my forehead, pulling my head backward. I can’t see his face at all due to it being pitch black, the only light coming from my flashlight that’s been thrown in front of me when I was pushed to the ground. He places a piece of thick tape over my mouth.
“Now, you can’t scream. I’m going to get you up, and we’ll walk calmly to the guesthouse. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Guesthouse? He knows where to go. But the voice! It’s as though I’ve heard it before, but I can’t place where. My stomach feels like it’s bound in a tight knot with someone pulling on the ends tighter and tighter. I feel sick.
He grabs my arm before releasing the pressure from my body, but it doesn’t help the sick feeling.
What’s going to happen to me?
As I stand, the pressure on my cheek eases instantly, but something drops from my face. A slow trickle near my eye tells me something must have penetrated my skin.
“Move,” he growls. Every noise I hear, I hope it’s security.
I want to ask what do you want?
Why do you want Adam?
But with the tape over my mouth, the questions can’t be asked anyway.
Let’s face it staying unharmed needs to be my top priority right now.
Is this guy Zac?
Is it Alfred?
I have a million questions I want to ask but can’t. I need to concentrate on breathing through my nose, which is something I’ve never been good at. As we walk, I trip over multiple times causing him to become angrier. His aggression is scary. It feels like I’m his worst enemy.
We finally reach the door of the guesthouse, and he opens it. It’s as though he’s been here before. He seems to know his way around.
Could he have been the one who broke in a few weeks ago?
Has he been planning this for weeks?
My captor throws me onto the couch, telling me not to move while he walks around and closes all of the curtains. He’s using his cell as a flashlight, but deliberately not shining it on himself or at me, so I have no idea who he is.
While he’s busy, I reach for the tape and attempt to loosen it, so I can talk or at least breathe a little easier. But he must be closer than I thought, and he hears my whimper when I rip a small section off my skin.
“No. It stays on.” He pushes it ba
ck down over my mouth, shining the cell flashlight in my eyes.
In the dark, I sit on the couch watching for movement, which isn’t so easy. I try and dig the flashlight out of my hoodie pocket at the front, but he catches me and snatches it from my grasp.
The quietness is making the situation even more terrifying.
I don’t think it’s ever been this quiet.
Even the trees are still.
This guy is so stealthy, I can’t tell where he is right now, that is until I feel the couch dip beside me.
Shuffling over in the other direction to try and get as far away from him as possible, I start thinking of what he has planned for me, and my heart begins to race. I’ll fight if he tries to have his way with me.
“You’re safe, girl, I’m not into pussy,” he growls, before standing again. “I want Adam. Well, not even him. I want his money and some of his damn luck.”
What a weird thing to say.
“Where’s your cell?” he asks, and I try to tell him, but the tape muffles my voice. “Fuck it, I’ll find it.”
I hear footsteps outside and pray it’s Adam, that he’s come to check if I’m all right. But I only see a flashlight beam move around through the frosted glass at the top of my front door, and then it disappears.
It may be security.
I can only hope.
The next time I hear someone, I’m going to make a run for it. I need to get away. I don’t know what this guy has planned for me, but I sure as hell don’t want to hang around to find out.
I hear the footsteps again and pull in as much courage as I can muster.
Quickly, I stand and make a run for the door, completely forgetting about the small coffee table in front of the couch and fall face-first onto the tiled floor. Luckily, my hand breaks my fall, but my wrist throbs in pain.
The guy grabs the back of my hoodie, and lifts me, pinning me face-first into the wall.
“Dumb move, girlie. I didn’t want to have to do this,” he whispers in my ear.
I’m frozen in fear.
The thought of what he’s fumbling for in his pocket makes me shiver. The sound of something small dropping on the floor makes me suck in a deep breath. I try and wriggle to get out of his grasp, but he has full control.
A few droplets of water hit my face, and I flinch at the sensation before I feel a sharp sting in my neck. He lets me go, and I grab at my neck.
The flashlight he’s holding drops to the tiles, the light hitting the roof which breaks the darkness.
I remove my hand from my neck, there’s a small patch of blood, and then the world starts spinning. I look at this man, who removes his hood then picks up a cap from the floor before replacing it on the syringe.
My eyes bulge when I see his face.
“Blaze?” I mutter as I drop to my knees and lean to the side, my arm breaking my fall again.
“Fuck… Georgia…” is all I hear him say.
My eyes fall closed, and the world around me stops.
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The moment Grace and Tyler saw each other in science class, there was a spark. A mutual attraction.
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Can their love be strong enough to handle everything that’s thrown at them?
This story is a student/teacher relationship.
All characters are over the legal age when conducting a sexual relationship.
Story has a guaranteed HEA.
There is no cheating in this story.
This book is a work of fiction, but some situations discussed are of a sensitive nature.
If you or anyone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress or has been a victim of assault, please seek help or assist them to obtain help. Reporting the crime could possibly prevent another incident.
Crisis hotlines exist everywhere, so please don’t hesitate.
If you live in:
USA call RAINN - 1-800-656-HOPE
Canada call 1.888.407.4747 for help
UK call The Samaritans 116 123
Australia call Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
Letting Go
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Life has been in slow motion since Mieke Harley lost two of her loved ones in a very short space of time. Her method for dealing with her loss has been rather unorthodox.
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To my husband and children - love you all. Thank you for your help and allowing me to bounce ideas off you, and for telling me to get into the study and work. It’s the push I need.
To all my family and friends - thank you for putting up with the questions, research, and for suggesting names. I wouldn’t be able to do it without your help.
My amazing editor and friend, Kay - thank you for always being there and for your help and support.
To Kat - thank you for your friendship. Thank you for encouraging me, helping me when I get stuck, and giving me hints and tips. And for all the bread.
To Jessica - thank you for all your help, beta reading, advice, and all our chats. I’m so glad to have found a friend in you.
To Sarah - for making my gorgeous covers on such a short time frame. It’s really appreciated.
To Swish Design and Editing - thank you for all your help again.
To all of my other author friends - your support and help is so appreciated. It’s amazing to find such fantastic people within the industry.
To my Beta readers - thank you for your help and comments on the book. I hope you enjoy the final book.
Thank you to my readers - I hope you enjoy The Right Place and The Wrong Time duet.
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Born and bred in Sydney, Australia. Alana Jade has loved writing since she was a child. She stopped for a while, marrying her Prince Charming and devoting her time to nurturing their six children. She has recently reconnected with her writing and loves to write romance. She loves writing about couples, who may have their troubles, but they get their happily ever after.
Her name is pronounced a little unusually... Ah-lan-nah.