by Dee Palmer
“Why would I want to know that? It’s you I need. I have no use for a little girl. Not when my boss wants a woman.” He starts to laugh but stops when I spit right in his face. My face snaps round and I sink my teeth hard into the soft flesh in the inside of his wrist–not hard enough to pierce the skin but hard enough for him to curse and punch me in the cheek.
My left eye pulses and my face feels like it is going to burst with heat and pain. I turn and pull manically on the door handle, pressing the window to open but it too is locked. I feel his thick hand snatch the back of my hair. He pulls back sharply and I cry out at the sudden inverted angle my neck is forced into, and the harsh grip he has of my hair. I can feel the individual hairs being torn from their anchor; my scalp is tender and on fire. His breath is like a toxic mist against my exposed throat. “You shouldn’t have done that.” A sharp pull back and a sudden forceful slam forward my head is crushed against the hard unforgiving console in the center of the car. My eyes throb with intense pain, sparks and darkness float across my peripheral vision. I am pulled back one more time, I cry out and try to pull at his iron hard hold, his demonic laugh is the last thing I hear, before everything is bloody and black.
My body is shaking with a deep rumble and my bones feel heavier because of the drag and pull. My eyes flutter open but immediately squeeze shut with the shooting pain of light and noise–so much noise. The rumble I feel soars to a volume so loud I actually want to cover my ears, but then I open my eyes wide with understanding. I’m on a plane, the rumble is the engines, and the angle and pressure I feel pushing me into my seat is the take off. I try to move, utter panic gripping me. My arms are tied around the back of the chair I was slumped in, but am now bolt upright. I twist and pull at the restraints, which only slice into my skin. Regardless, I still struggle, the trickle of blood I hope will lubricate and help me slip out of the binding but it’s useless. My shoulders throb and ache. My fingers tingle with numbness as the constant fight cuts off the circulation. I drop my head with a frustrated push of angry breath.
There is blood stained down the front of Ethan’s sweater and I can feel that my mouth and chin are caked dry with it. We couldn’t have gone through airport security with me looking like this. The set of international clocks above the cockpit door have London time only a few hours from when I got in Cal’s car. I rack my brains to think of an airport that’s near…maybe Newquay but it’s a small plane so maybe a private airstrip. Shit! My breathing starts to increase in pace and I struggle to get enough oxygen in to stop the pure panic from rising. I jump and bite back a cry of terror when a door behind me opens. I hear the clink of ice in liquid before I see Cal appear beside me. He drops down onto his haunches and grabs my chin to make me look at him.
“You look like shit, Arti. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?” His salacious grin makes my mouth fill with bile and I wish I had eaten because I know he would be wearing that right now, if I had.
“You can fuck off and die a slow painful death…That would be just about perfect.” My eyes narrow and I brace myself for his wrath. He doesn’t disappoint, his backhand is swift and hard like granite. My head flies back, I momentarily see bright white spots and instantly feel a fresh pool of blood on my top lip.
He stands and smooths his dark suit trousers, removing imaginary creases before taking the seat opposite. His pristine white button-down shirt is now peppered with tiny spots of my blood. He leans forward, elbows resting on his knees, his eyes are dark, brow furrowed with a look of confusion. His cropped back hair frames his face with hard angles and his thick lashes, chiseled jaw, and full lips don’t look so sexy anymore. How can someone so handsome look so ugly? He sits back and sighs, taking a long pull of his iced drink, black vodka…I remember it was his favourite.
“You are going to save my life, young Lady.” He sneers the last word then chuckles to himself. “Yes, you are… but you are going to need to watch that mouth.”
“Fuck you. You total fucking bastard! This is kidnapping…you are so going to jail for this!” I scream at him. He lurches forward and I flinch and try to evade his grasp but his hands slap the side of my face, both hands pinning me hard against the seat.
“If I’m going to jail, sweetheart, it won’t be for kidnapping. It will be for murder.” His eyes are dead, soulless, and I can’t look away at the certainty of his threat. My mouth is dry but I manage to whisper.
“Why?”
“Well since we have a little time until we land in Prague and since barring an act of God there is fuck all you can do about it…sure I’ll tell you why.” His smug smile of satisfaction makes me pray to a God I don’t believe in–not anymore. “I seem to have made a few poor choices and I need to make it up to my uncle. He is not a forgiving man, but I think if I can offer him you it will buy me enough time to make things right. You wouldn’t think he would notice a little skimming; actually thought the old man would give me credit for being entrepreneurial.” I snort at this and he narrows his eyes. “Anyway, he did notice and he’s given me until tonight to make good the shortfall. I have a deal set up but I need more time. Do you know how hard it is to find a buyer for these types of weapons on such short notice? You can’t just sell these things on eBay!” His righteous tirade is almost comical, but his stupidity is phenomenal. What fucking idiot steals from an arms dealer? He starts to look agitated, riffling in his pocket for something. He relaxes when he drops the little clear bag of white powder on the arm rest.
I watch as he scoops out a tiny mound with his fingernail and roughly sniffs it into the back of his brain. He lets out a huge sigh and refocuses his attention on me. His eyes are wide and his smile is wider. “I wasn’t lying when I said my boss took an interest in you, more so, when I told him who you were. He likes the idea of having a ‘real lady’ as a slave. The fact that you can’t ever get pregnant, well that’s just a fucking bonus all around.” He barks out an evil laugh.
“No…not that…I don’t care what happens to me. I want to know why you did what you did? If you didn’t want us, why didn’t you just leave?” My voice catches and he takes a moment to look at me. His features soften then he closes his eyes.
“I did want you. I wanted everything and I would’ve waited to save to buy into the business. But then everything went to shit.” His voice hardens and his anger is rife with venom and unjustifiable hatred. “You couldn’t have any more children…you had a girl for fuck’s sake! It might’ve worked, only one child, if you had a boy maybe, but not with a girl.” His face is red with rage and his hands are clenched ready to punch something–me by the look in is heavily dilated pupils. “I knew your father would pay and clear everything up. I just didn’t care how. You ruined everything!” He is in my face shaking, high on whatever, with an unhealthy mix of adrenaline and fury.
“And giving me to your Uncle makes everything all right?” My pitched voice is distorted by the grip he has on my face. “You loved me, Cal, remember that? How can you do this to someone you once loved?”
“Love is a luxury I can’t afford, princess.” His contempt and distain obliterates any hope I have of kindling his memory of what we had. “Your sweet body will save my ass. You ruined everything back then, but now you get to make it right. You owe me.” He snarls, spit covering my face. He pinches my face and covers my mouth with his. My jaw drops slack and I squeeze my eyes tight. His psychotic delusions would sear my heart but I am dull to pain. How is it possible you can truly love someone and not know them at all? I feel my body shutting down, nerve by nerve, pulse beats and sensory preceptors, all slow and numb.
His tongue delves into my open mouth, growls with frustration, pulling my head this way and that, squeezing my jaw, painfully trying to get me to respond.
Finally, he pulls back with a dark scowl fixed on his face. “We have plenty of time to play before I hand you over, princess. If you try and hold back on me, like you just did, I will just have to give you something to make sure you can’t.” His ey
es flick to the discarded plastic bag, still plump with powder. There is a crackle of sound and then a man’s voice over the speaker.
“I am sorry, Mr. Krasnov but I have to inform you we need to return to Newquay.” The line clicks and Cal storms to the small door at the front of the plane and he swings it wide. My whole body tenses. Please don’t kill the pilot, Cal…that would be really stupid. Then again I think, what would be worse, dying quickly and taking Cal with me, or being a sex slave to some arms dealer. I let out a stifled laugh tinged with hysteria. I’m going to die either way.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Cal is shouting. The pilot lifts his earphone off one ear but remains calm despite the intrusion.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Krasnov, but there is an issue with one of the fuel lines. I am sure we can get it sorted in no time, but I have to return now.” His eyes widen when they catch mine and I get the impression he didn’t know I was on the plane or that I looked like I do, which must be shocking: bloody, beaten, and half naked.
“Gatwick, what about Gatwick?” Cal’s agitation is a mix of the drugs, I’m sure, but also he always did hate a change of plan, unless it was his change of plan
“I’m sorry, Sir, but I have to return to the nearest available airstrip.” With that he flicks the earphone back on his head and I feel the plane bank sharp right. Cal stumbles back to his seat. He looks really pissed.
It feels like no time at all when the plane starts its steady decline and finally screeches to a halt on a darkened tarmac. The plane taxies toward the main building that is only illuminated by a few lights. I can’t see that anyone would be working this late. It is a really small airport. Cal unclips his belt and mine, and pulls me up. My arms are still tied and he wrenches me free from the chair almost dislocating my shoulders with his brutal force. Before I can gain purchase on the floor, he drags me along the narrow aisle. The small door at the rear of the plane is locked and he fumbles with the key. Once the door is open he throws me inside. I land in an awkward heap against the small bed.
“Not a fucking sound!” He slams the door. The keys jangle and I hear the dead bolt lock fall into place.
Patrick, to his credit has floored the car and we are racing down the winding coastal roads, thankful there is little to no traffic.
“Fuck!” I drop my phone in frustration. No fucking signal. The car phone rings and I look over to Patrick with curiosity and relief.
“Satellite phone.” Patrick hands me the handset from the centre console. “That will be Daniel.”
“You better have a good fucking excuse for leaving my wife alone in your apartment.” Daniel’s gruff voice is clipped with aggression.
“They’ve got Ada and she won’t answer my call. I fucked up, Daniel. I can’t lose her.” I swallow the lump and can feel my very real panic start to rise and claw at my chest.
“Who’s got Ada?” His voice has switched from angry to calm concern.
“Patrick says the licence plates were Czech, so I’m assuming it has something to do with that piece of shit you didn’t let me finish off the other night or his uncle.” We take a sharp turn off the main road and follow a sign posted to the airport. The red blinking dot has stopped. I assume it is Ada although how she has a tracker I don’t know…wait yes I do, she borrowed Bethany’s clutch.
“It’s unlikely it’s his uncle. He flew out of the City this morning, which also means Cal doesn’t have the family plane. Are they headed for the airport or are they heading inland? I can call ahead and get a road block set up if they are heading back to London by car.” Daniel offers. Never again will I mock his overprotective, borderline stalker nature.
“No, they are at the airport now. Shit…faster Patrick, I can’t lose her.” The car swerves and the pressure of the G-force on the turns is evidence enough that Patrick is doing everything in his power to get us there before that plane takes off. We screech into the almost empty car park. The airport is deserted and I think my heart just stops beating. I leap from the car and run to the main entrance.
It is a small airport which completely shuts down at night and now it looks like everyone has left; no lights, no plane, and no Ada. The blacked out Range Rover has been abandoned by the side of the main doors and I guess that is where Bethany’s clutch is, as the tracker dot is still blinking away on the screen in Daniel’s car. Patrick stands back as I let out an almighty roar of utter pain and devastation. No…no….no! Fuck no! I run my hands through my hair and try to think. Daniel has a plane but how do I know where they are heading? I need details, I need flight plans, and I need them now. I turn when I hear some keys jangle.
“Hey, Ethan, what are you doing here?” Clinton Woods is standing by the exit, locking up for the evening, dressed in his air traffic controller outfit. I’m used to seeing him in a wetsuit. I let out an incredulous breath and stilted laugh. I am so fucking happy to see him, I shock the shit out of him by pulling him into a manly hug.
“So fucking happy to see you, man.” Clinton stiffens and furrows his brow with confusion. “That plane that just took off. I need you to get it back.” He sniffs out a laugh but stops when he sees my expression darken with deadly seriousness. “The man on board has kidnapped my girlfriend and is very likely going to kill her, or worse. So unlock the fucking door and call that plane back!” He swallows thickly and starts to fumble with the keys. “Please.” I add and he nods sharply. Clinton moves with impressive efficiency and only moments later he is calling up the pilot. He grins at me when he shows me the name on his flight docket information sheet. Small fucking world, another surf buddy, Jim-Bob, or James Robertson, charter pilot, and now life saver. For the first time in the longest night of my life, I take my first real breath. I close my eyes and picture my world…crystal blue eyes searing my soul. Tonight I’m getting my girl back and tonight is the start of forever.
I try to shuffle to stand but the space and angle I am lying in makes it really difficult. I can hear voices, quiet at first then all Hell breaks loose. Bright blue flashing lights, sirens, and shouting. I can feel movement and the door handle shakes aggressively. My heart is racing and I can’t breathe. I know what’s coming through that door couldn’t possibly be as bad as the monster who just left, but it could be someone just as bad. The door bursts open, shrapnel from the broken lock flies across the small room but I can’t look, I have my head tucked to my chest curled up as much as my tied arms will allow.
“Fuck!” Ethan’s voice, then his hands rapidly covering my body, his arms embracing me. He cuts my ties, pulls the cover off the bed, and wraps it around my trembling body. He scoops me in his arms and holds me so tight, not moving, just holding me. His lips kiss my hair. “Angel, I’ve got you…Shhh.” He draws in a deep breath and lifts me up a little higher, grips a little tighter.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything.” He looks devastated at my apology.
“Fuck, angel…I’m sorry I didn’t give you the time to. I just wanted everything from you…wanted you to be mine completely…I didn’t trust myself to give you time. I never believed the things Guy told me, I just saw that you still didn’t trust me. I’m sorry I pushed…you take all the time you need. I’m going nowhere and neither are you.” He tucks me against his chest and backs out of the doorway.
There are police in the main part of the plane, an array of weapons from some large carry-on case, and a springer spaniel sniffer dog going mental. Ethan strides past them, down the stairs, and carries me straight into the back of Daniel’s town car. Patrick is talking to the police. Cal is bent double over the back of an unmarked car, his face distorted with pain as he fights the tight plastic restraints securing his arms behind his back. Not quite the payback he deserves, but it’s a start. Kidnapping, drugs, illegal fire arms, and pissing off his uncle will finish that particular debt.
We arrive home and I realise I slept the entire way, only an hour but I was dead to the world, wrapped in Ethan’s protective arms. He carries me up th
e stairs and leaves me only for a short time to sit on his bed while he runs a deep bubble bath. He uses a soft hand towel to wash the blood away from my face, neck, and breasts, before he picks me up and lowers us both into the heavenly water. Oh, God, that feels good. His strong hands reverently skim my skin, moving silky bubbles as they go.
“How did you find me?” I rest my head back. I feel exhausted but I have so much to say, I know I won’t rest until it is all out.
“Daniel.” Ethan chuckles. I tilt my head and frown. “Daniel has trackers in quite a few of Bethany’s things…one of which was the clutch she lent you. I never thought I would be so fucking grateful he is OCD when it comes to Bethany’s safety.” He scoops some water into my hair and continues until it is completely soaked. Taking the shampoo he starts to massage my scalp with soapy suds. I wince at the firmness of his touch, he freezes and adjusts the pressure. “The tracker stopped moving at the airport and I called in some favours. I happen to know the air traffic controller and the charter pilot–both are surfing buddies. He happened to take this last minute job. If Cal had used his Uncle’s plane and pilot I would never have…” I hear is voice hitch and his struggle to swallow. I shift around and cup is stubbled jaw. His eyes hold mine, warm with relief and shared understanding. Yeah, there’re a lot of if paths I don’t want to go down.
“Don’t.” I tell him softly, but his jaw is tight and I can feel the tension in his body.
“If I hadn’t said those things…if you… you hadn’t heard–”
“–If I’d told you the truth.” I interrupt and try to sit up, equally agitated.
“You have your reasons, Ada, and I didn’t respect that.” He draws in a deep breath and I curl back into his hold. He carefully rinses the soap from my hair and after a short time I agree.
“I did.” We are silent for long minutes where his fingers continue to soothe my skin and his presence soothes my soul. I’m ready to give him the last puzzle piece. “I told you everything except the one thing that has had me living in fear since I… escaped.” I let out a breath. “You see that’s the thing when you are locked away in a mental hospital. Despite your reaction being totally normal…you are crazy, so no one believes you. I would challenge a single mother on the planet not to react the way I did when her baby was stolen from her. To react differently would’ve made me crazy! But it didn’t matter, my father did what he did and he’d do it again. I think he would’ve kept me sedated my entire life if Joan hadn’t stepped in. Even she didn’t believe me at first and when she finally did…she just disappeared. I was supposed to spend the day with her, try and work out a programme for release, and talk about getting Pip back. She didn’t turn up for breakfast but the doctor was there, the same one who was there on that first day with my father. He stood at the edge of the dining room with a cold clinical look in his eyes.