I finally figured it out. I know where she is.
Damn! He desperately wanted to call Chloe, but everyone had agreed to give her as much time away with Gabe as possible, all of them hoping her and Gabe wouldn’t see the US news.
Despite his worry, he smiled, recalling how happy and carefree Chloe and Gabe had looked when they’d Skyped a few times. He forced himself to relax, knowing that if Gabe had his way, now that the two of them had seen the sights in Thailand, they wouldn’t even surface again any time soon, and would be unlikely to catch the news. Zane was relieved to see his sister finally looking like the cheerful, sweet sister he’d known when they’d been growing up. And she was happy. For that matter, so was Gabe. They sent plenty of photos, many of them Zane now had stored on his cell phone, of the silly things they were doing just because…they could. The contentment, the ecstatic glow on his sister’s face was one of the best things he’d ever seen. He cherished those photos, and he looked forward to seeing more of them in the future. Chloe needed this trip, and she needed to finally have this kind of happiness with Gabe in her life. Hopefully, his sister would have no interest in the US news, especially local news.
Yeah, he was pretty sure they wouldn’t find out what had happened just a few days ago. Or he hoped they wouldn’t. Not for a while.
He glanced at the Rocky Springs newspaper, which was right beside his workstation. In Rocky Springs, the incident and the note had been big news. Still was. Everybody was talking about it, and the case had now drawn national attention.
He glanced at the headline:
“Physician Commits Suicide. Admits Responsibility for Missing Woman in Rocky Springs.”
Thank God that Chloe and Gabe had been long gone when James’s death had occurred.
“Fucking coward,” Zane spat out with disgust, irritated that James had taken the easy way out. The bastard had killed himself while he was still in the hospital, but the asshole couldn’t just die. He had to leave that damn note.
I win! You’ll never find Ellie before she dies.
Bullshit. That jackass wasn’t going to win…ever. He was just going to be dead, and good riddance to a psychopath like him.
Zane had actually been happy when he’d heard that James had offed himself. Chloe would never have to see his face again when she came back home to Rocky Springs with Gabe. It meant that his baby sister could completely free herself of any reminders of her past.
Except…the asshole had left that one-line note, the one about not finding Ellie in time.
Gossip and rumors had floated around this part of the state since the incident had occurred a few days ago. The police had searched James’s house, but they weren’t saying what they’d discovered.
For Zane, they’d been too damn slow. Ellie’s life was hanging in the balance somewhere, and he was pretty sure their theory was that she was already dead.
She’s not dead.
Zane wondered if he should approach the police with his analysis, but he wasn’t sure they’d move fast enough to help save Ellie. If his theory was correct, she was imprisoned, probably already dying because James was no longer alive to keep her hydrated and fed. It was also getting cold, and she could be freezing.
“Fuck it. They had their chance,” he said angrily to himself. He’d found the soil samples himself on James’s tires, and he’d found the key.
He knew the general area where she was being held captive, and he had the key to free her. Now all he needed was her exact location.
There was no question in Zane’s mind that he was going after her himself. The question had been whether or not to notify the police of his findings. More than likely, they’d try to keep him from interfering with their investigation. The problem was, he doubted they had a clue where she was or any faith that she was still alive. They’d move too damn slow for his liking, and not quickly enough to save her life. Hell, Zane was already worried that he was going to be too late.
Fortunately, he was familiar with the locality, and he could find her himself.
I just need to get to her in time.
Deciding in favor of going it alone, Zane raced downstairs and grabbed the keys to his four-wheel-drive.
He needed to find Ellie fast, or she wasn’t going to make it. He had no idea how long it had been since she’d been left food and water. Obviously awhile since James had been laid up in the hospital after Gabe had kicked his ass.
He sprinted to his vehicle, oblivious of the cold wind that was buffeting his body or the fact that he hadn’t slept in days.
Nothing mattered except Ellie.
Zane decided that he’d come back with Ellie, or he’d die trying.
The End
Author’s Note
I think it’s common in our society for people to say “just leave” when it comes to domestic abuse. Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy or simple. Domestic violence is a complicated psychological, physical, and sexual problem that nearly thirty percent of women have experienced at some point in their life in the US today. When a person is battered, psychologically beaten down, and financially controlled, it’s difficult to get free. Abusers are manipulative, and the cycle of abuse is complicated. Unfortunately, many people can’t or don’t leave their abuser for various reasons, but it’s never the fault of the victim. Let’s put the blame where it belongs: on the abuser. Victims need a good support system in place, and they need to get to a safe place and get help. If you’re a victim, or you know somebody who is, please find help. You can search out various organizations to lend assistance, and there is hope. There are people who understand. Please seek out more information on the Internet simply by searching for “help for domestic violence.” You can find the resources available in your area by putting in your location, or you can start with a national hotline.
Don’t feel trapped by emotions. First and foremost, all that matters is your safety. Please stay safe!
Please continue reading for a sample of Billionaire Undaunted
Billionaire Undaunted
The Billionaire’s Obsession
Zane
J.S. Scott
Prologue
Seven months ago…
“Oh, dear God. This can’t be possible. Not my sweet Chloe,” Ellie Winters said to herself in a low, urgent whisper. She was alone in the doctor’s office where she worked, so not a single soul heard the torment in her raspy voice. She was horrified by the videos she’d just seen on James’s laptop computer—completely by accident—as she’d searched for a file her physician boss had requested.
It was a medical document she’d initially been searching for, something he’d asked her to print out for him. She’d gotten distracted when she saw an icon marked “Chloe’s Videos,” and she hadn’t been able to resist looking at what she’d assumed were cheerful images of her best friend, even though she knew she was clicking into something she probably shouldn’t.
She’d expected to see some happy snippets of her friend, a smiling Chloe that Ellie, quite frankly, hadn’t seen in a while. Her buddy had been distracted and uncommonly nervous lately, and Ellie wished she knew the reason why. Chloe Colter was one of those people who was naturally kind and sweet.
Unfortunately, the scenes hadn’t been joyous; the videos had been terrifying.
Ellie had only worked for Chloe’s physician fiancé for a week or so, and he was demanding, but what she’d just seen made her realize that James was so much more than just a jerk.
He was pure evil!
Tears poured down Ellie’s face as she signed out of the laptop and unplugged it, knowing she needed to get to Chloe as quickly as possible.
I have to talk to her. She can’t marry him. Why in the hell is she even still engaged to him? The bastard should be in jail!
Dammit! Ellie was angry with herself that she hadn’t dug deeper into why Chloe seemed so different since she’d returned to Rocky Springs. She’d assumed her friend was just distracted and adjusting to being home again after being awa
y for so long to become an equine veterinarian. Or maybe she was stressed about her upcoming marriage to James. Getting married and planning a wedding was stressful, right? Especially when Chloe was still trying to establish her career.
There’s a hell of a lot more to this story that I don’t understand. I have to talk to Chloe, find out why she’s hiding the fact that James is an abuser.
A fierce protectiveness fluttered in Ellie’s stomach, as she remembered all the times Chloe had jumped to her defense in their twenty-something years of friendship. How many times had Chloe offered to help her out of her impoverished situation when they were kids? Ellie had lost count; just like she couldn’t remember the number of times that Chloe’s family had fed her when her mom had to work, or gave her new shoes or clothes to wear, Chloe claiming they didn’t fit and wanted Ellie to have them.
So many sweet things Chloe and her mom have done for me over the years.
Choking back a sob of sadness, Ellie was determined to make sure her best friend didn’t end up with the devil himself for a husband. Chloe deserved the most amazing husband in existence.
Why? Why is she covering for what James is doing to her?
Ellie didn’t have the answers, but she was damn well going to find out. If need be, she’d drag Chloe out of the relationship kicking and screaming before she’d sit by and watch as the maid of honor while her friend got a life sentence with Satan.
Frantically, she gathered up her purse, ready to head out to Chloe’s place. Ellie considered calling her, but she needed to confront her in person. She had no doubt that Chloe knew nothing about the videos, and would probably be horrified when she saw them.
Chloe Colter had been her best friend since grade school, and Ellie knew Chloe’s terrified screams of pain and agony in the video weren’t some kind of kinky sex game. Chloe had been traumatized, frightened, and begging for James to stop.
But the asshole never had. What kind of sick games was he playing, and how had Chloe ever gotten involved? Why hadn’t she just walked away from him? After all, she was a Colter, and she didn’t need any man. Chloe was rich and highly educated enough to lead her own life, and she had four older brothers who would have kicked the shit out of James had they realized what he’d done to her. Then there was the biggest question: why hadn’t Chloe called the police on his ass? There had to be an explanation, but reason escaped Ellie in her rush to get out of the office.
The sound of someone jiggling the handle of the locked front door of the office made Ellie panic, and she gathered up the computer close to her body and sprinted from behind the desk, her heart racing as the door began to open.
She didn’t look to see who was coming in. There were only a few people with a key, and she was one of them. Even if it was the cleaning crew, she wasn’t about to chance waiting to find out. The only thing she could think of was sprinting for the back door, getting to her vehicle, and hightailing it straight to Chloe.
“Ellie!”
Hearing James’s bellow from the reception area tripled her heart rate, and she flat-out ran for the back exit.
I just need to get to my car. I just need to get to Chloe.
Ellie could hear James’s heavy steps pounding down the hallway behind her, but she kept on running, her breathing ragged from panic as she punched down the bar of the back exit and flew through the metal door without hesitation.
Hating herself for putting on heels that morning, she kept on sprinting as fast as her shoes would allow, clutching the laptop to her body like her life depended on it.
I have to get to Chloe. I have to get to Chloe. Please, just let me get to her place.
She’d almost made it to her beat-up little economy car—a vehicle she’d long ago dubbed the Blue Turtle because even though it was slow, it kept on moving—when James’s body collided with hers. They both went to the ground, but unfortunately his body had her pinned to the cold concrete.
“Get. Off. Me.” Her voice was a breathless hiss as she struggled to get out from under him.
“Is there some reason you’re running away with my laptop, Ms. Winters?” James asked as he wrapped an arm around her neck.
“I’m going to work from home tonight.” It was a lame excuse, but it was all Ellie could think of, and Chloe had always said she was a terrible liar. No matter what she claimed, she doubted James would believe it since she’d been running away from him, and he’d only asked her to find and print one document.
“You saw the videos,” he accused menacingly. “You were going straight to Chloe. Nosy bitch. I asked you to do one thing on the computer and you just had to look at things that weren’t intended to be seen by you or anyone else. Not now. You’ll ruin everything. I’m glad I came back when I realized you might not mind your own business.”
You shouldn’t leave stuff you don’t want seen on a computer that’s accessible to anyone except you, dumbass.
Ellie was a crime show addict, and it was obvious that James was either sloppy or psychotic enough to not think about the possibility of her seeing it earlier. Feeling his arm tightening around her neck, she was pretty sure it was mostly the latter.
“Why are you trying to hurt Chloe?” Ellie gave up her pretense in her quest for answers. “She’d never do something like that to you. She loves you.” The fact that Chloe had even cared about a monster like James made Ellie’s stomach heave. The bastard had never deserved to even be in the same room as Chloe.
“Of course she loves me,” James grunted. “We’re getting married, and nobody is going to stop me. I’ll finally get what I deserve.”
Ellie wished he’d get what he really deserved: handcuffs and a very uncomfortable jail cell for the rest of his life. It was obvious that James thought he was entitled to Chloe’s share of the Colter family fortune, a wealth that was almost unfathomable.
“You deserve to be in jail,” Ellie gasped out with what little air she could suck in.
“Shut the fuck up! We’re going to get up. I have a gun, and if you make a single noise, I’ll fucking kill you,” he rasped dangerously.
There was no question in Ellie’s mind that James would follow through with his threat. After seeing how he’d treated Chloe, she had no doubt he was capable of just about anything.
He yanked her to her feet, and it didn’t take long for her to see the glint of steel in the dim lights of the empty parking lot. He definitely had a weapon, and was prepared to use it. She considered screeching as loudly as possible, but she doubted it would do anything except get her silenced permanently. The office sat off by itself, down a dead end side street. It was after dark, and it was cold. The possibility of anybody hearing her was pretty slim. She decided if she didn’t want to end up dead, she needed to wait until she could make her escape.
What happened next screwed up her plan.
“I told Chloe you were worthless. You have no value to her. Your family is poor, and you’re poor. I only hired you to shut her up!” James exclaimed dangerously, right before he brought back his arm and punched her in the face.
Pain shot through Ellie’s head as she absorbed the hit. Dazed from the brutal blow, she was incapable of resisting as he led her to his car parked on the other side of the parking lot.
As he slammed her against his vehicle, she finally spoke, desperately wondering if he was going to kill her even though she hadn’t screamed. “James, you don’t want to do this. What about Chloe? What about your career? Stop this now and I won’t say anything. Just let me go home.” She began to lie her ass off to get him to let her go.
“You think I’m stupid enough to believe that?” James asked in a voice that was growing high in pitch, a crazy voice that was beginning to scare Ellie half to death.
He’s going to kill me.
Ellie recognized the loss of sanity in his tone.
He yanked the computer and her purse away from her and tossed both in the back seat of his vehicle before shoving her toward the trunk. The minute she heard the latch pop open, Elli
e started to fight for her life.
No more trying to reason with James.
No more begging him to let her go.
She fought him with everything she had, trying to scratch at his eyes, kicking her leg up to catch him in the groin. He overpowered her, and she finally began to scream, knowing if he succeeded in getting her into the trunk of his vehicle, she was going to be a dead woman.
“Shut the fuck up,” he growled menacingly, grasping her long blonde ponytail and yanking it so hard Ellie’s eyes teared.
She didn’t stop fighting even as he lifted her up and bodily tried to toss her into the confined space.
I’ll be damned if I’ll make this easy for him.
Her ass landed on the hard trunk surface, but she threw her arms out, trying to keep him from closing the lid, confining her in a makeshift coffin.
He’ll never let me live.
“Nooooo! Somebody help! Please!” Ellie kept screaming, not caring anymore about James’s warning, but nobody came to her rescue.
One more vicious slam to her head from his fist silenced her, made her world go dark.
With Ellie unconscious and incapable of fighting anymore, James closed the trunk and got into his vehicle, driving away into the night with her now-limp body hidden and confined in darkness.
Chapter 1
The Present…
“Where in the hell is she?” Zane Colter mumbled angrily as he drove his Bentley SUV up another steep, off-road track of dirt that would lead to yet another cabin in the desolate mountains.
How many days had he been searching? One day had rolled into the next, but Zane had been so laser-focused on his mission that he really hadn’t bothered to do much else except stay hydrated.
He was grateful that he’d bought the new SUV just a month or two earlier. It was snowing hard here at high altitude, and his speed had been beyond reckless on the slick mountain roads. He knew he was driving too fast for the rapidly worsening weather conditions. Problem was, he was getting desperate. He knew which area Ellie was in because of the soil samples he’d taken from an old pair of James’s shoes, and then from the tire treads from a late-model truck in his garage. After he’d found a tiny piece of a wilted, rare flower in the asshole’s house, on a hunch, he’d taken those dirt samples, an intuition that had paid off after some intense analysis, pinpointing the only areas where that type of flower could grow and the soil it needed to thrive. The dirt he’d gathered had confirmed his suspicions. He was doubtful that James drove that older truck for anything other than mountain travel. The shoes were old and tattered, and a superficial asshole like James wouldn’t wear them except in muddy areas where he wouldn’t be seen. After matching the soil to the wilted flower, Zane had a very good idea of the area Ellie could be hidden. But a search of cabins and properties in the vicinity had brought up nothing that James owned, so Zane had to assume it was a place that wasn’t titled under his real name.
More Than Love (The Barrington Billionaires Book 5) Page 37