“Victoria, I didn’t do those things to you. I just saw you and I wanted to know you.” He hoped that she would forgive him as he continued. “I would never hurt you, baby.”
“I know. Amy and your mother already explained everything to me.” She hiccupped through tears.
Jack asked hopefully, “They did? You believe them?”
Victoria pulled away and wiped her face. “Yes. And I also believe you,” she said with confidence.
Jack pulled Victoria back into his arms. He just wanted to feel her body close to his. “We’re having a baby,” he stated without question. Victoria looked up at Jack and he could tell that her confidence was gone.
“You’re not upset?”
Jack shook his head. “No. I’m not upset. Victoria, I have missed you so much. My life has been a mess without you.”
Victoria cried some more and whispered, “Me too, Jack. I’ve been a total mess.”
They held each other, and Jack thought of how grateful that he was for his mother and sister. They’d put his life back together.
“Have dinner with me,” he seemed to beg.
Victoria regretfully shook her head. “I can’t tonight. I have dinner plans with Tracy.”
Jack loosened his grip on her and said, “Vic, we need to talk.”
Victoria nodded and said, “I know, but she said that she needs me. She’s my best friend.”
Jack nodded his agreement and stepped back. “You don’t look so well. Are you okay?”
Victoria chuckled. “It’s nothing that dry crackers can’t fix. I’ll be fine.”
Jack figured that she was referring to morning sickness. The thought of Victoria having his baby warmed his heart. He needed time with her so that he could confess his true feelings.
“Well, can we have dinner tomorrow night?”
“Yes,” Victoria said with a smile.
He missed her smile so much. He wanted so badly for her to understand what she meant to him. Jack reached down and touched her stomach. “You’re having my baby,” he said through a proud smile. The pride that he felt that Victoria was carrying his child could not be matched.
Victoria nodded and smiled up at him and he couldn’t resist her mouth. He kissed her for the first time in a month. He tried to make her feel how much he loved and missed her. Victoria melted in his arms, and he instantly got hard. He desperately wanted to fuck his pregnant woman, but she pulled away.
“Jack, I gotta go. I’m on a lunch break. I have to go back to work.”
Jack grabbed his rock hard package and said, “Okay. Give me a few seconds and I’ll walk you out.”
Victoria laughed and agreed.
About two minutes later, they exited his office. Jack looked over at Mary, who was trying very hard not to acknowledge them. He smirked at her and walked with Victoria to the elevator. They rode down the elevator to the lobby without releasing their hold on each other. Jack walked Victoria through the lobby and out the doors. They stood on the sidewalk and Jack kissed her.
“I’ll miss you,” he said between kisses.
“I’m gonna miss you too,” she said before she turned and walked to a waiting car that was being driven by her partner. Steve waved, and Jack returned his wave. Jack watched lovingly as Victoria got into the passenger seat and they drove away. As he walked back into the building, Jack realized that he needed to reach out to his sisters. Jack had every intention of showing Victoria just how much he loved her when they met for dinner the following night.
VICTORIA
Victoria sashayed over to the curbed black Escalade. She was sure that she had seen the truck before. She already knew that the driver wanted her. After all, she was wearing a tiny little pink tennis skirt that barely landed over her ass cheeks and a white t-shirt that was cut to show her impressive midsection.
The six-inch pink and blue stilettos were going to seal the deal.
“Hey, baby,” Victoria whispered as she leaned into the driver’s side window.
He’s cute, she thought to herself.
Actually, he was too good looking to be trolling Madison Avenue for a street whore. Victoria took a closer look at the handsome man. He had the most intense grey eyes, a strong jaw line, and sandy blonde hair.
He actually looked familiar.
Leaning further into the window seal, exposing her large breasts, she asked, “Do we know each other?”
“No.”
His response was too quick for Victoria, so she narrowed her eyes in response. She wasn’t convinced. Yet, she knew that Steve was nearby and he wouldn’t be happy if she had a long conversation with a John without sealing the deal. So, she got on with it.
“You lookin’ to party, Handsome?”
“Get in,” the John ordered. He was cold and barely looked at her as he spoke.
“Hold on, baby. We haven’t made a deal yet.”
His irate attitude was now exasperating silence, so Victoria attempted to turn and walk away. Before she could escape, the John reached out of the window and grabbed her by the arm. She turned around, ready to unleash her wrath. Victoria didn’t like being manhandled.
However, before she could get a word out, he snatched half of her body through the driver’s side window and hit the gas. Victoria was filled with terror as her body was dragged along the burning hot asphalt.
She struggled to get free as her feet hit the street so violently that her stilettos were knocked off. She really didn’t care if she fell from the speeding vehicle because at that very moment she realized that she was being abducted by the infamous prostitute serial killer that the police had been hunting diligently.
She heard the screeching tires of a vehicle in pursuit that was coming to her rescue. She became thankful that Steve was nearby. Yet, as soon as the relief came, it left her body when she felt a needle pierce her soft brown skin.
Instantly, everything went black.
Chapter 24
STORM
Jack stood in front the window in his conference room and stared out onto Michigan Avenue, while Amy was a few feet away heading a budget meeting with all of the department heads. Normally, Jack would lead the meetings, but since he’d lost Victoria, he’d lost all interest in his business. He was unable to concentrate. Amy stepped in and proved that she could efficiently represent his interests. Even though Jack was getting another chance with Victoria, he was still unable to concentrate. They were having a baby. Jack was in love with her, and they would forever be connected. He’d never even thought of being a father before he met her, but now he couldn’t wait to see Victoria growing with his child. He couldn’t wait to hold his baby in his arms.
Jack had never had much faith in women, but now when he thought of his mother and two wonderful sisters, he felt like a fool. He had treated Victoria badly when she declared her love for him. It wasn’t because he didn’t want or love her. Jack was simply afraid.
Since he’d become so rich, he’d never before encountered a woman that he thought was capable of pure love. But Victoria was different. She didn’t care about his money. Jack feared the vulnerability of love. He was just too much of a fool to see that it was too late and he had already fallen - hard.
His cellular buzzing in his pocket drew him from thoughts of Victoria. He reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone. It was John. Jack figured that he was calling with his daily reports on Victoria. He ignored the call and turned his phone off so that he could at least attempt to show interest in the meeting. Jack took his seat at the head of the table and did his best to think about business instead of Victoria and their baby.
A few minutes later, Mary hustled into the conference room and over to Jack. He was a little concerned because Mary normally didn’t interrupt meetings.
She leaned in and whispered, “Jack, John has called several times. And...” She hesitated. Jack looked up at Mary. Something was terribly wrong. She had never, ever, even called him by his first name.
“What is it, Mary?”
/> “There’s a police officer here to see you. His name is Steve…”
Jack didn’t even wait for Mary to finish. He jumped from the table, flipping his chair, and ran to his office. Amy flung her reports onto the conference table and ran after him. Jack busted through the doors of his office with Amy on his heels.
“Steve! What’s wrong?” Jack was out of breath with fear and anxiety.
Steve looked at Jack and Amy with tear-filled eyes and said, “I need your help.”
Jack stalked over to Steve. “Why do you need my help, Steve?” Jack’s voice was calm but deadly.
Steve looked at Jack and, at that very moment, the huge intimidating man looked small. Amy tugged at Jack’s arm and asked, “Jack, who is this?”
Jack ignored Amy and stared at Steve.
“He took her,” Steve answered in a small voice.
“Who took who, Steve?” Jack narrowed his eyes and waited for an answer. He tried to stay calm, but Amy wasn’t. She gripped his arm tighter.
“A killer. The killer that we’ve been hunting. He snatched her off the street.”
Jack lunged at Steve with the arm that Amy was holding.
“Oh my God. Vic,” Amy said in a whisper before Jack punched Steve in his jaw. Amy fell to the floor in tears as Steve fell back against Jack’s desk.
Jack grabbed Steve’s throat. “You were supposed to protect her! That’s your fucking job!” Jack screamed in his face.
“I... I know,” Steve choked.
Jack could feel fingers attempting to peel his hands away from Steve’s throat, and he heard Mary and Amy whispering calmly to him. Jack also noticed that Steve wasn’t fighting back. He was a soldier, a big one. He could’ve given Jack one hell of a workout. It was almost like Steve felt as if he deserved death. Jack released his hold and fell to his knees. He cried silently and rocked back and forth. Steve fell as well, struggling to catch his breath. Mary ran out of the room, and Amy dropped to the floor and crawled over to Jack. She put her arms around him and rocked with him as he sobbed.
“She’s pregnant, Amy. We’re having a baby,” Jack shared with his baby sister.
One of Amy’s tears fell on Jack’s forehead and snapped him into action. He stood and lifted his sister from the floor. There was no way that he was going to let anyone hurt Victoria or his unborn child. Mary busted into his office with three bottles of water. She sat them on the desk and hurried out of the room. Amy walked over to Jack’s desk and opened a bottle of water. She handed it to Steve.
Jack asked Steve, “You said that you needed my help. How can I help?”
Steve drank from the water and sucked in a deep breath. “I know that you had a tail on her. I’ve always known. I saw him the day that he started. I ran his plate and Deon, our co-worker, started tailing him. We traced him back to you.” Steve shook his head and looked at Jack. “I just figured it was a courtesy of fucking with a rich dude. You know? More protection.”
Jack tilted his head at the comment. “And?”
“We lost her because the team was too far away. My piece-of-shit vehicle died while in pursuit. Deon chased the truck until he crashed. He’s at Stroger Hospital in a coma. All I have left is your guy. He managed to stay with her.” Tears fell from Steve’s eyes as he continued. “The department is talking that protocol shit! They’re going to stand by and let her die. This man has killed over a dozen women.” Steve paused to take a breath. “Jack, we’re not just co-workers. I love her, man. She’s one of my best friends. I love her! I need your help!” The admission of his vulnerability brought more tears to his eyes.
Amy ran over to Steve to comfort him, while Jack reached in his pocket to retrieve his phone. He turned it on and called John. He didn’t get an answer so Jack left a message instructing John to call him back ASAP.
“Did Victoria have her phone on her?” Jack had an idea. He planned to have his tech department track her through her phone.
“No. It was in her purse. Her purse was in the car with me,” Steve answered reluctantly.
Jack was livid. “Fuck!”
He dialed John again.
No answer.
He checked his text messages.
Nothing.
Jack walked around his desk and hit the intercom. Instead of answering the intercom, Mary came running back into his office. “Yes?”
“Get the entire tech team up here. Now,” he demanded.
“Yes, Mr. Storm,” Mary said and ran out of his office.
Not two minutes after Mary left, Tracy busted into Jack’s office. She charged at Steve swinging. “You were supposed to protect her!”
Steve drew into a ball and endured her strikes. “I know, baby. I’m sorry.”
Jack actually felt sorry for him, and he did his best to peel Tracy off Steve.
Jack held Tracy in his arms and spoke in a calm voice. “Tracy, we’re going to get her back. I promise.”
She looked up at Jack with tears in her eyes. “You swear?”
“I swear,” Jack answered confidently.
Tracy nodded and pulled away from Jack. She ran into Steve’s arms and sobbed. He held her tightly, as tears silently ran down his cheek. There was a soft knock at the door before Mary entered with the entire tech team. Jack and Amy switched to business mode, while Steve turned all cop. He summoned what was left of his team to Jack’s office.
Victoria
Victoria slowly opened her eyes and woke to darkness. Her head was pounding as if it was going to explode in any minute. She tried to rise, but she was restrained to a bed. Her hands were cuffed to a headboard. Her feet were spread apart and cuffed to opposite ends of a footboard. She struggled to pull free, but her restraints held her captive.
“What happened? What happened? What happened?” Victoria repeated herself, trying to jog her memory. A face appeared over her, and it all came back. Victoria recognized the man that stood over her. She had been snatched off of the street. Victoria had a strong suspicion that this was the serial killer that she’d been hunting for months. He had piercing gray eyes and sandy blonde hair. He would’ve actually been a very attractive man if he wasn’t a lunatic.
“We met at the Taste,” she said more to herself than her captor.
“Yes,” he answered as he climbed into the bed and lay on top of Victoria. She could feel his erection pressing against her. Victoria was deathly afraid. If he had an erection, he’d want to satisfy it.
Her abductor seemed to have read her mind. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t take you until it’s time.”
Victoria didn’t know what he meant by that, but she was reassured nonetheless. At least she had a little time before he tried to rape her.
“I told you that you were mine and we’d be together soon, but you wouldn’t listen and you took up with another man. Didn’t you get my notes? Do you have any idea how hard it was getting past that nosy old bitch that lives across from you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “It’s your fault those whores had to die so violently. I loved you and you chose another.” As he whispered in her ear, he ground his penis into her. He tried to kiss her lips, but she turned her face to avoid his kiss. This must have angered him, because he punched Victoria’s face so hard that she almost blacked out. Luckily, she stayed conscious. She replayed the last couple of months and realized that she was in the custody of a man that brutally tortured and killed at least a dozen women and he’d been stalking her for months.
As she cried at the thought, he wiped the tears from her face.
Victoria cleared her throat and said, “I didn’t choose him. He won me in a charity auction. I sponsor a charity.” Victoria wanted to show the killer that she was a good person.
“I know about your charity. I was at the benefit. I was the one that bid fifty thousand dollars for you! Fifty thousand fucking dollars!” He screamed into Victoria’s face. She jumped with fear and he rubbed her face to calm her and said, “That asshole rich boyfriend of yours outbid me. I guess you’re just lik
e the rest. You just go for the money. I see you walking the streets dressed like those fucking whores. You think you’re pretending, but you’re not. You’re a dirty whore, just like the rest.” He paused his rant and looked at Victoria like she disgusted him.
Victoria quickly shook her head and answered. “I don’t care about the money. I heard your bid, and I looked around the room for you. I couldn’t find you.” She raised her head toward him. “Do you remember when we met at the Taste?” He nodded, so she attempted to console him. “I wanted your phone number so that we could have dinner, but you were gone.”
Her captor smiled and leaned in to kiss Victoria again. This time she returned his kiss with shaky lips.
“I imagined making love to you when I was in your bed.”
Victoria was disgusted, but she managed to smile. He seemed satisfied because he stood and walked out of the room without harming Victoria. She struggled to get her hands free, but she was tightly cuffed to an iron bedrail. Victoria struggled to rip the bed frame apart until she exhausted herself. She cried until her body fell unconscious from the exhaustion.
* * * *
Victoria was suddenly snatched from the bed. She opened her eyes and remembered where she was. She was instantly filled with terror all over again. Her captor was dragging her by one cuff from the dark room where she was being held. Victoria winced from the pain to her wrist.
“Do you know what I did for you?!”
Victoria frantically shook her head. “No, I don’t know!”
Her captor stopped dragging her and dropped something wet on her stomach. Victoria looked down and screamed.
She was looking at the severed head of Dante.
Beautiful Prey: The Storm Series Page 15