“Trevor?” Lori said his name, and when he looked up, her eyebrows furrowed and her lips puckered up in such a cute, yet serious manner.
“Come here.” Immediately his body responded to her voice, her command, as he walked toward her.
“Hold me?” she asked, and he immediately embraced her, wedging his thigh between her thighs. She pulled him tight as she laid her cheek against his chest. He could feel her warm breath penetrate the material of his shirt.
“Everything will be okay. Gunner and J.R. will catch these men.”
He caressed her hair and then looked toward Dante and Charlie. Their expressions had to have mimicked his. They looked just as angry and unsure as Trevor felt.
God, help us keep Lori and the others safe. Please.
* * * *
A few days had passed and the judge issued a warrant for Connor’s arrest, but he evaded capture and was on the run. The stranger had indeed left prints at Sylvia’s crime scene. On top of that, Charlie told Lori that the detectives Gunner and the sheriff were working with linked the stranger to five other homicides. He apparently left some form of flowers and a note on the victims’ bodies. The notes said the words, “now you die.” Gunner also said that people the stranger threatened for business contracts for Connor also received notes. Theirs said, “today you live.”
Gunner was confident that they would find Connor and the stranger. But the men still took precautions.
Lori was feeling cooped up and as if her plans for the future were suddenly going to come to an end. She was warned about not going jogging and she wasn’t allowed to go to Carl’s to work. Now she was sitting around, making no money, and feeling lazy.
Maggie and Jasper went out for an early dinner and Lori’s parents headed to Casper’s to have lunch with the McCallister brothers and their wife Eve.
Lori looked at Ben who was completely bored.
She glanced at her watch.
Dante would be over in an hour.
“Aunt Lori, can’t we please go outside on the swing set? I’m bored,” he stated and she felt bad. He had asked her five times in the last hour. She was trying to spend extra time with Ben. He had been very upset about her car accident. She picked up her cell phone and called Dante. He didn’t answer his phone and it made that funny noise as if he were on another call so she hung up.
“Okay, how about we go outside for just a little bit and wait for Dante? We can go in the backyard.”
Ben jumped up and down then grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the back door.
* * * *
“So, what you’re saying is that guy ‘the stranger’ as he calls himself, is wanted for questioning in Dallas and Austin on three separate murder investigations?” Dante asked Gunner as he spoke on his cell phone to him. Charlie and Trevor were standing next to him in the sheriff’s office. They had come down to press charges against Connor officially for threatening them. The sheriff had suggested they do everything they could to document what happened and to protect them for when Connor was caught.
“Do they think that he actually committed the murders?” Dante asked as he placed the call on speaker. They all listened.
“It seems to me that he is their prime suspect. It gets worse, guys. The stranger worked for two businessmen. One in Austin and one in Dallas. Both men disappeared. Sandman calls me and tells me that through his connections in the government, he gets some extra information from a friend of his. This investigator who has been working the case for two years now believes that this guy, ‘the stranger,’ is not only responsible for the murders but also believes that he is linked to several missing women. He has signed statements from multiple civilians stating that the stranger was either seen with the missing women hours before their disappearance or in the vicinity of their workplace and home.”
“Shit, Gunner. What are we dealing with here, a sexual predator besides a killer?” the sheriff asked.
“It’s not looking good. I suggest you guys get back over to your place and keep all the women, especially Lori, under your constant protection. Even though a couple of weeks have passed, this is far from over. I don’t like it and I don’t like that this guy can evade even government agents,” Gunner said.
“I agree. Tell Sandman we said thank you. We’re going to head out right now,” Charlie stated.
Dante disconnected the call.
“Fuck, Lori called while we were on the phone.”
“Call her back, let her know that we’re on the way,” Trevor stated, and he looked antsy and nervous. “Come on.”
Dante felt his desperation to get to Lori. In their arms, she was the safest.
* * * *
Lori heard her cell phone ringing. She was about to go back to grab it as Ben headed outside and then she heard him yell.
Lori ran through the open back door and gasped as the forearm hit her throat. She fell onto her ass, gasping for air. As she tried to catch her breath, there was some big man holding Ben. Ben was crying and calling her name. She started coughing as she held her throat.
“I was going to keep you for myself, but it seems that the boss has other plans for you. Get up. We’re going for a ride.”
The man had dark, evil eyes and as Lori looked at Ben, she feared for his life.
“Leave him. Please, he’s just a baby.”
The guy looked at Ben then back at her.
“He dies with you. That will be the best revenge from Connor to your men. Get up.” Lori could hardly stand, her legs were shaking so much. The man gripped her by her hair and kept a tight hold on Ben’s shoulder.
“Where are you taking us? Please just leave the kid. He didn’t do anything.”
The man squeezed her hair harder.
He leaned closer to her and sniffed her hair. She felt the bile rise in her throat. This man was the one who tried to kill her. He killed Sylvia.
“Lori, I’m scared,” Ben said in between crying.
“Shut up. You and your aunt are going to die together.”
“Stop it. He’s just a kid.”
“Not for long. He’s going to be dead and buried right on the construction site your men and the Cantrells are building. Perfect way to die. Slowly as the dirt caves in around you like quicksand.”
Lori wanted to fight the man and scream for help, but now they were in the wooded area between their house and land and the Cantrells’ and the Henleys’. Ben knew the way to the men’s house and to Tom Cantrell’s.
“Why are we headed toward the Cantrells’?” She looked down toward Ben. He locked gazes with her and she winked at him. He instantly stopped crying and put on a tough face. She knew that he expected her to save him, them, but she wasn’t certain how. All she knew was that she needed to get Ben to safety. Her life didn’t matter as much as his.
As they came to a rocky area before the clearing and where his car sat, she made her move and hoped that Ben had the quick thinking and fast legs he needed to get to help.
Using all of her momentum, she sidestepped in front of the man’s legs and shoved her hips sideways into him. As she tumbled to the rocks and the man released Ben so he wouldn’t fall, she yelled to Ben.
“Run, Ben, run and get help!” she screamed. As the man tried to grab Ben, Lori jumped up and hit him in the ribs and jumped onto his back. She wrapped her arm around his neck and squeezed as he coughed. She looked quickly to the right and saw Ben running, little arms pumping and heading toward the Cantrells’. That was her mistake. She was so focused on making sure that Ben got away that she must have loosened her hold because the man bent over and threw her from his back. He then proceeded to lift her up by her shirt, and struck her repeatedly. He was practically growling and she thought she saw stars as she tried covering her face. She rolled into the fetal position and he lifted her up by her belt buckle as if she weighed nothing at all and tossed her like a rag doll. Her already-bruised arm and shoulder hit the ground. She heard the crack and felt the pain in her forearm. He was going to break her
bones one by one and bury her alive. The fear, the recollection of her panic attack–induced nightmare was going to become a reality. She would never see Charlie, Trevor, and Dante again.
She screamed in pain and anger as she tried to crawl and stand up. He struck her again, punching her in the side of the head and causing her body to roll to her back. She couldn’t move her arm. She couldn’t even feel it.
He was over her, straddling her waist, crushing her with his weight.
“I knew that you would be a good fit for me. The others didn’t put up half the fight that you’re putting up.” He took uneasy breaths and stared down at her face then over her breasts. Her top was ripped and he stared at her cleavage. She couldn’t make a move. She was throbbing in pain.
She watched him control his breathing then trail a finger over her lips and chin then down her neck to her breasts. He licked his dirty, filthy lips then pulled his lower lip between his bottom teeth as his nostrils flared.
“I think I’m going to fuck you before I bury you alive.” He cupped her breast and squeezed it hard.
“You like sex. You’re doing three men at once, you little whore.”
The anger and hatred hit her hard and she didn’t think, didn’t care about her own life.
“Fuck you!” she yelled then hit him with her good arm.
He grabbed her throat, squeezing the air from her lungs. She kicked and struggled beneath him as she stared wide-eyed at the man who was going to end her life. This was it. She was going to die right here and never see Charlie, Ben, and Dante again, nor Ben, her parents, and Maggie.
She felt herself losing the fight as she closed her eyes and he released her throat with a thrust downward.
She tried to remain conscious but she could hardly breathe or swallow and then he was lifting her up, throwing her over his shoulder.
As her body bounced on top of his shoulder, she felt his hand on her ass as she stared at the ground. Her vision blurred, and with every blink of her eyes she felt herself losing consciousness. Everything hurt. She coughed and the sound, the movement from her body brought her mind back to focus again. This was it. Her life was going to end.
“What the hell took you so fucking long and who was the kid?”
She heard the voice but couldn’t look to see who it was. He had a partner. Who the hell is that? She thought the voice sounded familiar.
“The kid doesn’t matter. We’ll dump her like Connor wanted,” the big guy stated.
“She’s so sexy, it’s too bad really,” the other man said, and she felt the hand move up her thigh to her ass under her shorts and squeeze.
“Fuck, she’s got a nice ass.”
Who is that?
“If anyone is going to fuck her, it’s me, Henshaw. You’re just here to tie up loose ends.”
Henshaw? Don Henshaw from in town? The guy the men don’t like and nearly fought with at the ice cream place? Oh God. He’s involved, too?
As the big guy swung her forward, she lost her balance and was so weak she flew back hard against the car door.
“Fuck, what the hell did you do to her?” Henshaw asked. “She’s all fucked up.”
“She’s a wildcat,” he said then grabbed her chin and face, leaned forward, and kissed her. Lori struggled to get free but she couldn’t move her broken arm. He plunged his tongue deeply into her mouth, making her gag, and as she tilted her head back her throat ached something terrible. She couldn’t breathe or swallow or do anything to defend herself. Her body was breaking down as the tears flowed.
“Let me taste her. Just feel her a little,” Henshaw said as the big guy released her mouth. He ran his hands down her shirt and cupped her breast.
He shook his head.
“It’s too bad. I would have kept you around a lot longer than the others.”
She was losing focus again as he shoved her into the backseat and Henshaw joined her there. She wondered who he meant by the others. Her mind was so fuzzy now, she didn’t even know if she should fight or just allow the comfort of unconsciousness to free her from the pain.
“You’re beautiful, even battered and weak,” Henshaw told her.
She stared at him as the tears rolled down her cheeks and he pushed her shirt aside and began touching her. She thought about Trevor, Charlie, and Dante.
“And you’re going to die,” she whispered then closed her eyes, unable to focus anymore.
* * * *
“Sheriff, it’s Tom Cantrell. We’ve got a big problem here. Jesus, Sheriff, the guys took Lori. Ben is here, crying and scared out of his mind. He ran here from the fields behind Lou and Diana’s house.”
“We’re on our way. We’ll be there in two minutes.”
Tom disconnected the call as he watched his wife Lynn rock Ben on her lap. He was crying and pleading for them to hurry up and help his aunt.
“The sheriff is on his way, so are the Henleys, son. It’s going to be okay. They’ll help Lori. They’ll find her.”
A few minutes later Tom could hear the cars and trucks arrive. He opened the front door and saw the Texas Ranger vehicle and other patrol officers heading toward the Shays’ house.
Maggie and Jasper pulled up in his truck and looked as if they didn’t know anything was happening.
Tom waved them in, and Charlie, Trevor, and Dante asked Ben what happened.
Tom felt the tears reach his eyes as the little boy explained what happened and where they were taking his aunt and what they planned on doing.
“Ben, honey, oh my God, baby.” Maggie came in crying and ran to Ben. He hugged his mom and cried as Jasper knelt down and caressed Ben’s back.
“Mommy, Lori saved me again. She fought the bad man. He was going to bury us alive to hurt Mr. Cantrell, Charlie, Ben, and Dante. He’s crazy, Mommy, and big and ugly. We have to help her, Mommy.” Ben pulled from her arms and took her hand and Jasper’s hand to lead them from the house.
“Hold on, buddy. We’ve got this. You stay here with your mom,” the sheriff stated.
“No! Aunt Lori needs us. She needs us to save her this time. She’s hurt.”
“What do you mean hurt?” Trevor asked.
“The bad man beat her up. He hit her throat and I looked back and he was choking her.”
“Oh, Jesus, no. Please, God, protect Lori,” Lynn stated aloud, crying with her hands clasped together.
“We have to find her fast,” Charlie stated.
“The construction site. He said he was going to bury us there,” Ben said.
“Let’s move. Call Gunner and have them meet us there pronto.”
Tom watched as everyone ran from the house, jumped into their cars, and headed up the road a mile to the construction site.
“We need to go, too, Mommy. Aunt Lori needs us there,” Ben insisted.
“I’ll drive,” Jasper said, and Tom and Lynn left with them.
* * * *
Lori couldn’t walk, which earned her another smack and a kick to her thigh. She fell to the ground only for him to lift her up and carry her to a large dirt pile area near a very large hole. She saw Henshaw running toward the bulldozer. He was climbing in and as he started the loud engine she could have sworn she heard sirens in the distance.
As hope of being rescued filled her heart, the big man shoved her into the hole. She screamed as she felt the long fall then slammed onto her broken arm, her head hitting something hard.
Dirt began to fall on top of her. She sensed the crumbled bits of dirt, the intense smell of earth filled her nostrils, initiating panic and fear like nothing she ever felt before consume her. This was it, she was going to be buried alive.
The sound of the engine from the bulldozer above whined high as the first bit of dirt fell from the bucket and slid down the sides. She rolled to her right and tried to get up, but as she lifted her head, it throbbed, filling her gut with nausea as something thick and warm oozed from her head and went into her eye. She couldn’t move to stand up. Her mind fought over her body’s ability
to just get up, stand up, and fight. The sounds of the engine revving, sirens blaring and people yelling sounded muffled in the back of her mind. Was she hallucinating? Was she already dying? She thought she heard gunshots, something as the bulldozer stopped, more dirt came down upon her and she lost her focus and rolled into the fetal position. She reached out with her good hand and grabbed a hold of the dirt wall. The dirt and rock scraped under her fingernails then crumbled. There was no way to climb out, to get free.
I’m going to die.
* * * *
“Fuck, he’s right there and, look, someone is on the bulldozer dropping dirt. Fuck, hurry!” Trevor yelled as Charlie skidded out near the bulldozer.
Trevor and Dante jumped out as Gunner and the sheriff exchanged gunfire with some big dude Trevor thought was the stranger.
Dante climbed the bulldozer and threw someone out of it then pulled the bulldozer back and turned it off.
As Trevor reached the side, he saw Henshaw, lifted him by the collar, and punched him straight into the face. He fell to the ground as one of the deputies handcuffed him.
Charlie was yelling down into the hole.
“Oh God, no. No, please be alive. Lori!” Charlie yelled down. Trevor and Dante joined him by the side.
“Wait, let’s get some rope or something. It might cave in,” the sheriff yelled as he and Gunner joined them.
“No, she needs us,” Trevor said then jumped down into the hole, rolled and landed a foot away from Lori.
He felt the dirt falling in slightly around them. They didn’t have much time.
He placed his hand against her cheek, the sight of all the bruises, the blood, the gash on her head and broken arm angered him and scared the living hell out of him.
The American Soldier Collection 4: Their Blue-Collar Girl (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 25