McCall answered and then clicked on speaker so everyone could hear. “What have you got, Angela?”
“Vincent’s family owns a vacation cabin.”
“Yes, close to Watertown,” McCall said. “We already knew that. The police already checked it out. It was empty.”
“No, not that one. He had a foster sister, at least for a short while. She said she hadn’t heard from him in years, but he called her out of the blue a few months back. He didn’t give her any details about himself but asked her a lot of questions. She remembers mentioning that she had a vacation home in Vermont, close to the New York state border, that she’d been trying to sell with no luck. She said the place is empty.”
Brennan met McCall’s dark eyes, questioning. Hell, it was better than anything else they had right now.
“Okay, Angela,” McCall said, “thanks. Send me the coordinates. But keep looking, just in case.”
“Will do, Noah. Everyone stay safe.”
McCall stood beside Brennan. “Kelly, you and Ingram get your gear and come with Sinclair and me. Thorne and Fox, find this lowlife, Carlton Lorrance, and grill his ass until he tells you something or admits he was lying and has nothing.”
Brennan pulled out the bag he’d stored beneath Kacie’s dining room table. It had been packed and ready to go for days. Even though he told himself it was useless, he once again found himself praying that he would need the contents of the bag, because they were going to save Kacie.
As he headed out the door, the television news blasted once more. “As we reported earlier, online journalist Carlton Lorrance had called a press conference to reveal what he said was pertinent information related to the disappearance of model Kacie Dane. However, we’ve just learned that Mr. Lorrance has been arrested on charges of money laundering and influence peddling, and therefore, his press conference has been canceled. More news as this story develops.
Eyes heavy with exhaustion, Kacie blinked to clear her vision. Vincent had put her to bed hours ago, but it was still dark outside. What had woken her? A noise, a voice? Was Vincent talking with someone, or was that the television?
This would be the fourth…or the fifth day of her captivity. She had lost count. Every day was the same. She woke and was allowed to go the bathroom. Most of the time, he made her walk, and she knew he did it only for his amusement and to reinforce her helplessness. By the time she got to the toilet, her need would be so bad, she’d almost collapse with relief.
After she finished in the bathroom, he would carry her into the bedroom and dress her for the day. Dresses, no underwear, no shoes. Then he would carry her into the kitchen, seat her at the counter, and prepare breakfast. All the while, he would talk to her as if they were just a regular couple. Politics, sports, where they might go on vacation, places he had visited. He rarely asked her questions, which was good, since if she opened her mouth at all, she figured it would be to scream or curse. But she did listen, hoping at some point he would share something of import.
After breakfast, she was allowed to go to the sofa and watch movies or read. Lunch would be a light meal, usually a salad. Dinner was more substantial. Her appetite wasn’t great, but when she had refused to eat the first dinner he’d prepared for her, he’d shoved her face into her food and told her she had no choice. She had obeyed simply because he was right. Until things changed, she had no choice but to do what he said.
Bedtime was the most frightening. She wasn’t quite sure why, since he could rape her anytime he liked. But bedtime was when he bathed her, and his eyes would roam over her in an oily, sick way that made her want to vomit.
That had been the routine since she’d been here, and he’d given no indication things would change any time soon. She wasn’t allowed to watch regular television, and she assumed it was because the news of her disappearance must be everywhere.
Brennan would be looking for her, as would Noah, Gabe, and several other LCR operatives. She knew they would do everything possible to rescue her. Again.
Skylar must be frantic with worry. She doubted that her mother would be too concerned, but it must be driving her crazy not to be able to admit that Kacie Dane was her daughter. Sonia did so love to play the martyr.
Kacie didn’t intend to wait around for rescue. Vincent had already threatened Brennan’s life. No way in hell did she intend to give him the chance. This time she would rescue herself, or die trying. Now if only he would give her an opportunity.
Yesterday, for the first time, Vincent had disappeared outside for a substantial amount of time. When he’d walked out the door, leaving her tethered to the chain beside the couch, he’d grinned at her and said, “Don’t go anywhere. Will be back in a bit.”
Kacie had waited five minutes. When he didn’t return, she’d gotten to work. Though it had taken her a while, she’d managed to make it to a long sideboard that was shoved up against a wall in the living room. She’d been eyeing it for days, wondering if she’d be able to find anything inside that she could use. It was the only furniture of significance that she could reach. When she’d opened the cupboards, she’d found a treasure trove of items.
Now she just needed the opportunity to use them.
The door opened, and Vincent came into the bedroom. She had stopped tensing up when he entered, no longer expecting an immediate attack, but she was still wary.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“After midnight.”
So he’d put her in bed only a few hours ago. What was he doing in here? He never woke her at this time of the night, never bothered her after her bath. Why…
Breath caught in her throat. She knew why. He was tired of waiting.
He came closer and then sat on the bed. Pushing the sheet aside, he rubbed his fingers lightly on her bare leg. Kacie couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. She had thought she would have more time, thought she would be given a chance to move around freely before he did anything more. Hadn’t he promised he would give her time?
“Vincent, please, I don’t feel as if we know each other well enough yet.”
His fingers stayed on her skin but stopped moving. “We’ve known each other almost two years, Kacie. Some people marry and divorce in that timeframe.”
“But you promised.”
“I’ve spent the last few days telling you about myself, my hopes and my dreams. You know me better than anybody.”
“But what about my hopes and dreams?”
“Oh, sweet Kacie, I know all about those hopes and dreams. Unfortunately, they aren’t consistent with the future I have planned for us. So you’ll just have to adjust.”
“What do you mean?”
“Simply that you can’t continue to model, be in the public’s eye like you have been. You’re exclusively mine from now on.” His hand went back to rubbing her leg. “No one gets to enjoy this body but me.”
Kacie worked to settle the terror rising inside her. Okay, this wasn’t a surprise. She had known where this was headed from the beginning and had given careful thought to what she would do when the time came. Even if he succeeded in raping her, she would never be the victim she had once been. Never be broken again. Those days were over. But she didn’t intend that to happen. She would get free of him. However, she would have to endure certain things to gain his trust. Could she get him to take off the cuffs at her ankles?
Kacie closed her eyes, willed herself courage that she knew she had within her, and said, “Maybe we could try kissing for a bit?”
Having his mouth touch hers might well backfire, as she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t throw up. However, if she just outright offered herself to him, he’d see right through her. Acting shy and hesitant went with the persona he’d built up in his mind about her.
“I would like that,” he whispered.
She prayed he kept the lights off, because if he saw her eyes, the revulsion on her face, there was no way in hell she would get him to believe she wanted this.
Leaning over her, he pressed a kiss
to her cheek, then her mouth. Her lips trembled under his, and she couldn’t breathe. Don’t panic!
“You taste good, sweet girl.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Open up, and let me in.”
She opened her mouth and had to swallow back bile. The strangled sound she made hopefully sounded like a gasp. She didn’t know. Blood was rushing in her ears, drowning out everything but the panic.
He pushed his tongue deep into her mouth, and tears swam in her eyes. Brennan was the last man she had kissed and the only man she wanted.
At last moving his mouth from hers, he licked down her chin, to her neck. One of his hands was wrapped in her hair, the other moving slowly down her stomach, toward the juncture of her thighs.
Shuddering, she managed what she hoped was a convincingly sexy laugh. “Don’t I get to touch you, too?”
He stiffened for a moment, and she figured she’d gone too far. Then he surprised her by saying, “You really want to touch me?”
“I think to enjoy lovemaking, we should be partners, don’t you?”
Without questioning her further, he reached up and unlocked the chain attached to her cuffs. “Let’s see how tonight goes, and then I’ll consider uncuffing your wrists tomorrow.”
No way in hell would there be a tomorrow night. Even if she had to die, there would be no repeat performance.
As if she was thrilled to have the freedom to touch him, she caressed his hair and squirmed slightly as if she were getting excited.
His hand covered her mound, and it took every bit of her willpower not to scream at him. Fortunately, he realized that to be able to penetrate her, he would have to unlock her ankles. It would be the first time her legs had been free since he’d brought her here, and her heartbeat went wild with anticipation.
“Let’s get those legs free, so I can get in between them and show you what a real man can do.”
And I’ll show you what a real woman can do.
The instant the lock clicked and her ankles were at last separated, Kacie bent her knees and, with a quick jerk, slammed them into Vincent’s face. She felt the give of bone and cartilage, knew she’d broken his nose. She didn’t wait around to see if he was unconscious. Springing from the bed, she wasted no time in running from the room. She stopped briefly for the small arsenal of supplies she’d hidden, and then she opened the front door. The furious shouting behind her told her she had only seconds before it would be too late.
With death breathing down her neck, Kacie ran into the night.
Chapter Forty-two
Dawn broke over the trees, giving just enough light to reveal the small cabin nestled beneath tall pines and giant oaks. A light blazed in a small front window, giving Brennan hope that they’d at last found Vincent’s hiding place.
They’d parked the SUVs several yards down the road and off to the side, hidden behind bushes. McCall stood beside Brennan. Justin, Riley, and Gabe Maddox were just a few feet behind them.
McCall hadn’t wanted Maddox to come, claiming Gabe’s affection for Kacie might cause problems. With a raised brow, Maddox had glanced over at Brennan. “More problems than taking along the man who’s in love with her?”
All eyes had been on Brennan as the other LCR operatives waited for him to refute that claim. He didn’t bother. What was the point of denying something he knew to be true?
After a long, quiet pause, McCall had nodded and said, “Good point.” And that had been that.
When they’d been in the air, Angela had sent them schematics of the house and a detailed map. Other than the occasional campground and US Forest Services outpost, miles of dense forest covered the area.
The cabin was small, with only a large great room-kitchen combination and just one bedroom. There were three porches—front, back, and a small side porch, meaning three exits to cover.
“Ingram and Kelly,” McCall said, “take the back. Maddox, you take the side. Sinclair and I will take the front.” After a pause, “Go,” McCall said softly.
Softly, stealthily, the five of them moved as one. A few yards from the cabin, Brennan felt rather than saw Riley and Justin veer right to go around the house. Maddox went the other direction to the side porch.
McCall nodded at Brennan, giving him the okay to go first. Gun at the ready, silent and quick, Brennan ran to the front, took the five steps in two, and eased onto the porch. McCall was a couple of feet behind, to his right.
Though it was daylight, the trees obscured the light. The flashlight attachment on his Glock revealed two disturbing things. The front door was open, and a dark-looking substance trailed from the front door and down the steps. Even without bending to check, Brennan knew it was blood.
Pushing the door open farther, he stepped inside, going in high. McCall came in low behind him. The room, Spartan in both décor and furniture, was empty. A noise to his right had him turning. Maddox stood in the kitchen and gave a shake of his head. Seconds later, Riley and Justin appeared from the back door and gave the same news. Nothing.
Worry clawing at his insides, Brennan followed the trail of blood to the bedroom. Stopping at the door, he swept his flashlight over the empty room. Swift steps took him across the floor, and he quickly checked the bathroom. The small room consisted of a sink, a toilet in the corner, and a large tub. His gut clenched as he noted the chain attached to the floor beside the tub. His mind refused to envision their purpose.
Turning back to the bedroom, he called out, “Clear.”
McCall stood at the doorway and flipped on the light switch.
His jaw clenched, rage and sorrow swirled like bitter acid through his veins. The chain in the bathroom took on greater significance as he took in the chain that hung from the headboard.
McCall turned to Riley, who stood at the doorway behind him. “Ingram, go outside and make a thorough search of the perimeter.”
When Riley’s eyes spotted the chain hanging from the bed, her face went a sickly white and a small moan left her mouth.
“Now, Ingram,” McCall barked.
Riley turned away, and Brennan heard her run through the cabin and out the door.
Giving McCall an odd look, Justin came inside the bedroom and let out a low curse. “Son of a bitch.”
Maddox and McCall stood at the bed. There was no need for Brennan to get any closer. He could see the horror from here. The entire bed was splattered with fresh blood.
McCall leaned in closer and then gave Brennan a grim nod. “Yeah, there’s a lot of it, but not enough to cause death. Whoever it belongs to is injured, not dead. And it’s still wet, so we may have missed them only by a few minutes.”
Damn sucky timing, but he’d take what he could get. She was alive, that was what mattered.
“There’s a car in a shed out back,” Justin said. “Unless he’s got other transportation, they’re on foot.”
Hope rose higher. “She hurt him somehow and got away,” Brennan said. “He’s gone after her.”
McCall took one more look around the room. “I agree. Let’s go.”
Feeling a small percentage better, Brennan stalked out the door of the cabin. He stopped at the bottom of the front porch steps. Which direction would she have headed? Since the sun had just risen, it would’ve been dark when she took off. Had she managed to grab a flashlight, or was she running blind? Did she have any kind of weapons?
He was aware that McCall was on his cellphone behind him, talking to local authorities. It would be an hour or more before additional help could arrive. No way could they wait.
A minute later, the LCR leader joined everyone in the middle of the yard. “An official search party is being formed. They’ll have dogs, helicopters, equipment. If we don’t find her, there will be plenty of people here in a couple of hours.
“Let’s split up. With five of us covering the area, there are damn good odds one of us will find Kacie. Stay in radio contact. You see the remotest sign of either of them, call it in.”
With a nod and goo
d wishes, they separated. Brennan plunged into the dense, thick foliage with only one thing on his mind. Kacie was running for her life, and no matter what he had to do, he would save her.
Breath rasped from her lungs as Kacie leaned back against a giant tree and gave herself a few seconds to rest. She’d been running for at least a couple of hours, maybe more. Though she still had no idea where she was or where she was headed, she had eluded the maniac, and she was calling that a win.
Her tender feet were a mess—bruised, scratched and bleeding. Since there was nothing to be done for them until she got some help, she chose to ignore the throbbing pain.
Her small bag of supplies had been of little use yet. However, if Vincent caught her, she knew she’d be glad to have them.
When she’d opened the sideboard yesterday, she’d had no idea she would find a hoarders paradise. Apparently, whoever owned the cabin had used the sideboard as storage for everything from fishing gear to old dinnerware and everything in between. If someone else saw her pillage, maybe they wouldn’t be too impressed, but thanks to Brennan, she saw a weapon in more than half the items she’d found in the sideboard. He had taught her that…and so much more.
So she had gathered her small treasure of unlikely weapons, found a small pouch-like bag to store them in, and then hid it out of sight but within easy access until the time was right.
Though it was probably well past dawn, the thick foliage from the giant trees made it seem like almost nighttime. The small flashlight she’d found was no real help, but it was just as well. She couldn’t risk Vincent seeing the light.
He was out there somewhere, no doubt about that. Unless he was an expert tracker, he probably wouldn’t be able to follow her tracks. So unless he saw which direction she had taken, he might be in a completely different part of the woods.
She could take no chances, though. She needed to get going. Her goal was to find either a road or another house. Either one could lead her to safety.
Her breathing now at a manageable level, she pushed off from the tree and took a step. Then went still. For the last hour, the only noises had been chirping birds and squirrels scampering through the ground cover. A noise to her left sounded like neither of these creatures. Breathing halted, she tilted her head to listen intently. Yes, there it was again. Definitely larger and moving fairly rapidly.
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