“That was a bit painful, Rebecca.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it nasty. I just think that, maybe, it’s time to get back to a normal routine and see how things go.”
“I’m not comfortable with that. Are you sure you won’t go stay with your mom?”
“And hear about – never mind.”
“Hear about what?”
“Nothing,” she said firmly, feeling her cheeks redden. There was no way she’d ever tell him that her mother wanted some pretty grandbabies. The man needed little encouragement as it was when it came to her.
“Fine, I will let it drop.”
“Another first,” she teased, remembering how he had mentioned that they needed to share a few first moments together as a couple. “I won an argument.”
“That wasn’t an argument and it’s your turn.”
She picked up the dice and dropped them on the board one at a time deliberately. The hollow plunk as each one hit the cardboard echoed in the silence. Moving her piece, she landed on her property and winked. He rolled his eyes at her and picked up the dice.
“Is someone a sore loser?”
“Is someone a sore winner?” he mocked.
“There is no such thing. If you don’t like to lose, why do we play so many games?”
“Baby, I play to win,” he grinned. “I am just giving you a moment in the sun right now, so you feel better when I take all your property.”
“Bring it, big man!”
“Are we betting?”
“Maybe.”
“What’s the prize?”
“You tell me. I don’t plan on losing.”
Gabriel’s phone rang at that moment. He answered it quickly and frowned. After a moment, he hung up and got to his feet. “I am going to have to take a raincheck. There is a hostage situation and they need a sharpshooter. Higgins is out on maternity leave and I’m it. Want to come with me and wait at the station?”
“No, go. I will hide out here and be fine. When you come back, we’ll finish our game.”
He circled the table and cupped her face, looking down at her tenderly. “I love that smile,” he murmured, rubbing his thumb across her lips. “I will be back as quickly as I can.”
“I know. Be safe.”
“Always.”
He gathered up his things and headed out the door, she followed and threw the deadbolt behind him. She sat down in the recliner and tucked her legs underneath her, waiting. After some time, her eyes began to drift shut. Groggily, she propped her head on her hand as she struggled to stay awake waiting for Gabriel’s return. She’d set the deadbolt as instructed and knew he couldn’t enter without her opening it. She must have fallen completely asleep in the recliner because the sound of her phone ringing woke her. Dazed, she tried three times to swipe the bar to open the phone.
“Mmhello?”
“Ma’am, this is the complex calling. We are sending maintenance up, there is a water leak reported nearby.”
Rebecca heard the knock at the door and stumbled over to open it. Her foot was fast asleep. The sharp pain of pins and needles was making her hobble around. As soon as she unlocked the door, it flew back against her, slamming her head into the nearby wall. Muttering a curse word aloud, she held her head for a moment and prayed for the ringing to stop. A wave of dizziness washed over her. She sunk down to the carpeted floor beneath her unconscious.
Eight
Sunlight was stabbing through her eyes and she tried to roll away from the glare coming through her bedroom window. And she wondered why her bed was so uncomfortable. A harsh slap of awareness hit her, causing her eyes to fly wide open and then shut again against the pain it caused. She wasn’t in her bed and that was not the maintenance man coming to her apartment. She felt so stupid! Gabriel had told her to stay locked inside and the moment he left, she’d opened the door without looking.
Cracking open an eye, she looked carefully around to get a better glimpse of her surroundings. She was in what looked like a shack. Worn, wooden plank walls had cracks between them. She could hear a faint sound of water or waves nearby. A creek? A lake? She saw several old, dusty, fishing rods hanging on nails on the walls as she lay there. Her hands and feet were bound with duct tape that pulled at her skin painfully. Her mouth was bound as well, and she could only imagine the horrifying pain that pulling it off would involve on her tender skin.
She didn’t know how long she’d been out. And she hadn’t seen any faces. When she’d hit the wall, she was certain that her head had split open or she had a concussion. Gabriel would be so upset at her if he wasn’t worried to death! And her mother? She could only imagine the chastising she would get about “being raised right to not open the door to strangers”. It was incredibly stupid and naïve of her.
Rebecca played back in her mind over and over again what had happened, desperately searching for any clues as to who had taken her. Was it Brent? Someone else? It clicked in her mind that whoever it was called her cell phone. The only people that had her number were Gabriel and her mother. She’d not given it to anyone else. It couldn’t be Gabriel, this she knew in her heart. The way he was so kind to her and caring, he would never intentionally harm her. Maybe her number wasn’t put as unlisted. She didn’t know. And at this point, it didn’t matter. What mattered now was trying to figure out how to free herself and then decide where to go to hide. Whoever had brought her here was bound to return at some point and she had no intention of waiting around.
Slowly, she wormed her way towards the small table nearby. Maybe there’s a fishing knife on there or something sharp she thought. Rolling to her side, she was able to push herself up to her hands and knees, ignoring the throbbing in her head. She had to wait for several moments because of the nausea that suddenly flared. If she puked with duct tape on her mouth, there was nowhere for it to go and she did not relish that thought whatsoever! She breathed deeply, repeatedly, and slowly made her way upwards to peer over the edge.
There was an old pocket knife on the far side of the table! She’d have to get to a standing position and lean over in order to reach it, but that knife meant freedom! It also meant she’d have a weapon if Brent or whoever returned! Slowly, she pulled herself up and wanted to shout with happiness! She was up, and it was within reach!
Hearing a pop just outside of the door, she froze and stared at the wooden door across the room warily. Her captor was returning. She could see a shadow through the planks as he fumbled with a key. Tears of fear and desperation rolled down her cheeks as she struggled frantically to lean across the table for the knife. Touching it with her fingertips, it nudged just out of reach as the door opened.
“Hey there, Becks. Miss me?”
Brent! She tried to yell all sorts of obscenities and angry things at him, but it all came out as muffled and garbled. He walked inside and took a hard look at her, seeing the knife.
“You wouldn’t be wanting this, would you?”
Angrily, she nodded as she glared at him.
“I might not be the smartest man, but I am your man and I know better than to give you a knife.”
She tried to yell at him that he was incorrect about that and so many other things, but it was indistinguishable. Her body seethed with anger towards him and if she could just get her hands on him, she was certain that she’d happily pummel him! She’d not kill him and have that stain on her soul, but it might feel good to get a few hard whacks in.
Brent flipped open the knife and smiled at her. She froze immediately and stopped any movement as she stared at him. Was this it? Did he plan on killing her with a filthy, rusted knife?
“I bet that tape is bothering you, isn’t it, Becks?” She really hated that he called her that! He sounded so smug and possessive, it grated on her nerves. She’d never tried to give him any reason to be interested in her nor had she encouraged his attention. Standing completely still, she stretched her neck as far away as possible as he got the knife close to her cheek. Tears rolled down her face u
nabashedly as terror seeped through her.
“I’d never mar that pretty face. I just thought I’d make you comfortable, so we can talk.”
She shook her head negatively and held up her wrists, instead, indicating that she wanted him to cut the tape there first. If he cut the tape on her hands, she could eventually free herself if he left her alone. Her mouth being covered would only prevent her from yelling, nothing more.
“I’m not going to free you. I want to talk with you, to understand things between us and how much I am the man you need.” He pressed the knife at the corner of the tape where it lay against her cheek. “Now, stay still, Becks.”
She felt an unbearable ripping sensation as the duct tape was pulled from her skin ever so slowly as a form of torture. She was nearly panting to keep from screaming out at the pain he was deliberately causing. Then he stopped.
“Actually, I think I might leave that,” he said aloud. “I think this is the nicest you’ve ever been around me and I like it.” He then leaned forward and kissed her directly on the duct tape just over her mouth. “I prefer you quiet a lot a lot more than when you are carrying on. You always talked too much and probably still do.”
Angrily, she shoved her bound wrists at him in order to push him away from her. He had the nerve to laugh at her and dart aside, catching her and standing her upright again. “This is where you are supposed to be, Becks. In my arms, in my life. Forget Gabriel James and let’s start over. I can tell you that line of crap he was spouting, too. I’ve loved you since seventh grade and you are my angel,” he mocked.
“What? You think I’m dumb? I put a bug in the roses and heard every stupid word he told you. And you fell for it all. That’s okay. I get it, you made a mistake. You fell for a pretty face. But when I get through with him, you won’t want him. You’ll want me.”
Rebecca charged forward angrily. She was mad that he’d heard every tender word between them and was threating the safety of her Gabriel. The thought of him being hurt at this man’s hands made her see red. Brent must have known she’d react, because he grabbed her taped hands and flung her down forcefully. She saw the wooden floor just moments before she hit it full on with no way to protect herself. Bracing, she felt the burst of pain as her head struck the hard flooring and she collapsed again, unconscious.
When she came to, she was relieved to see that she was alone. Everything hurt, and she tasted blood in her mouth. She wanted to spit but the tape was still present and not budging. Reaching up her bound hands, she grasped the corner that had been lifted cruelly by Brent. She shut her eyes against the pain she knew was coming. She prayed for strength to pull it off. Giving a mighty yank, she shrieked at the ripping sensation across her lips and skin. Another hard yank and a muffled yelp removed the piece of duct tape completely.
She lay there on the ground, sniffling at the pain she’d inflicted on herself and relieved that it was finally off of her. Rolling over to her back, she stared up at the ceiling and listened for any sounds once again. All she could hear was the sound of water lapping against something. A boat? A pier? Looking around, she saw the filthy windows no longer had the sun shining through the hazy panes. No, it was nightfall. She had no idea what else was in the building with her that could be used for a weapon and assumed Brent had taken the knife with him.
She hoped he’d left and wasn’t hanging around. If he was, he was sure to come soon at her yelp of pain earlier when she removed the tape. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before she heard a car door shut. He was back, or at least someone was nearby. Rolling over slowly, she felt the room spin and tried desperately to curl into a ball on the ground. Just anything to protect her injured head from any more trauma. Hearing heavy, dull steps coming towards the shack made her almost nauseous with anxiety.
What now?
Did he intend to hurt her? Rebecca shut her eyes and began to pray feverishly, asking for strength to get through whatever was coming next. She whispered aloud her most feverish prayer and hoped it was heard above.
“Lord, if this is it, please make sure Gabriel is taken care of. He always watched out for me and I never realized it when I was younger. I was too immature. But if I am with you, I plan on watching out for him with your guidance.” Her bound hands were clenched tightly together, her fingers laced as she prayed and repeated it in her mind over and over again.
Take care of him, he needs to be okay when I am gone.
Watch over him because he won’t know how to handle this.
Guide him through what comes next.
Protect him and his heart – because I love him.
With that thought, she sniffled loudly as she began to cry. Great, sopping, ugly weeping that was sure to make her eyes puffy and her face red. Why in the world would she be tormented this way? To have an incredible man, a beyond patient man, wait for her to know what is in her heart… only to lose him? Tears openly rolled down her face onto her sore skin, making it sting. She watched numbly as the door opened and Brent walked in. He looked a bit surprised to see her watching him with her mouth freed.
“Round two?” she asked thickly, barely restraining her anger at the threat Brent posed to her and her happiness.
“You’d think that you would be glad to see me after being alone for a while.”
“I did a lot of sleeping, no thanks to you.”
“You fell on your own.”
“No, you threw me down.”
“I don’t plan on arguing with you, Becks. I came to see if you were ready to discuss our future.”
“There isn’t one and never will be.”
“Sure, there is. I don’t plan on killing you or anything stupid like that. I was thinking that maybe we should have children right away after we are married. Maybe two or three little ones will calm down that sassy attitude?”
“You, sir, can go to sit on a tack. Preferably a very sharp tack.”
“I think I need to duct tape that mouth shut again. You’ve not learned who’s in charge here,” he said threateningly as he loomed over where she lay. He pulled a roll of tape off a table nearby and yanked off a long piece. If he put that on her, it was sure to be across both cheeks and into her hair. There would be no pulling it off without scalping herself or removing skin. She began to inch away from him as fast as possible. He quickly straddled her as she bucked, trying to throw him off.
She heard a loud pop and the sound of breaking glass behind him. A single pane of glass was broken, and something had come flying through the window. Terrified, she saw smoke curling around Brent’s nightmarish form as he got precariously close to her face with the tape. It was only a split second before she began to cough and moments before he was coughing, too. Her eyes were watering, and she was choking as the strong gas filled the room. Every breath she tried to take burned fiercely.
Horrified, she felt Brett get off of her as he ran from the cabin, leaving her there. She heard yelling from outside and then a single gunshot, followed by a splash. Gasping, she felt her vision blackening as she knew in her mind she was about to pass out again, this time from lack of oxygen. She faintly heard several people rush into the room and cracked open an eye. In the dim light and smoke, she saw men wearing gas masks rush into the room. Blinking through watery eyes, she watched as one man removed his mask and put it over her face.
Gabriel.
He stooped down and picked her up, pulling her out of the cabin into the night air. Exiting the cabin, she heard him gasp for breath as he carried her to the waiting ambulance. She was beyond exhausted and everything hurt but it would be okay. Gabriel was here, and she would be safe.
All the trauma of the day, the terror and pain seemed to sap every bit of energy from her. He set her down gingerly on a stretcher and it was loaded into the ambulance. She opened her eyes momentarily and saw him climb in beside her.
“You okay, baby?”
Nodding, she felt the paramedic pull the mask from her face and put a small clear cord just under her nose to give her life-sav
ing oxygen. Her throat burned and ached from the gas. Silently, she reached forward with her bound hands and grabbed his hand. Holding it tightly, she shut her eyes and gave in to the waves of fatigue that beat at her.
The next several hours were a blur of faces and bright lights. They arrived at the hospital emergency room and she was separated from Gabriel almost immediately. She felt like a pin cushion as they poked and prodded almost everywhere on her body. A CT scan revealed that she had, indeed, fractured her skull when she’d fallen or hit the wall. This brought on a flurry of tests to make sure there was no damage to her brain or internal bleeding caused from impact.
A loud commotion from outside of her room made the nurse and doctor that were checking her, turn and start towards the door. “Sir! Sir! You can’t go in there!” she heard from the hallway and, at once, she knew who it was. Her hero, her avenging warrior.
“Gabriel?” she called out loudly from behind the curtain, so he could find her. He came around the corner of the curtain and her heart clenched. He’d never looked as good as he did right now. His smile didn’t reach his stricken, caring eyes. She knew that he was trying to put on a brave face and failing miserably.
“Right here, baby,” he said, pushing away an orderly that was trying to lead him back out of the room. She could see that it would take more than the thin man standing there a foot shorter than her Gabriel to get him to move. It would take an army if his face was any indication.
“He’s to stay here, please,” she told the man in scrubs. Turning to the doctor and nurse, she asked for a few moments alone. They left, and Gabriel sat down next to the bed in a chair.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I had a really bad glycolic peel around most of my face and an awful hangover.”
“That good, huh?”
“Duct tape is rough. The nurses tried their best not to hurt me, but… yeah. It hurt removing the stuff. I bet I look pretty awful.”
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