Last Chance

by Christy Reece

  Nausea bloomed and bile surged; McKenna jerked away. “I’m going to throw up.”

  “What?” he snapped.

  “Heights…I’m afraid of heights.” Heights didn’t bother her; she was a certified skydiver. Damon didn’t have to know that his sloppy, disgusting mouth on hers had caused the nausea.

  Damon released her and drew as far away from her as he could in the small compartment of the helicopter. She almost laughed. Good to know the freak had a weak stomach. Knowledge like that might aid her again.

  She perched on the edge of the seat across from him and closed her eyes, pretending to try to control the nausea.

  “Better?” Damon asked.

  Opening her eyes, she shook her head. “Not yet.”

  “It’ll get better. Take your clothes off.”

  Astonished, she couldn’t control the question that blurted from her mouth. “What?”

  “Do not question me. I said strip. Now.”

  Knowing she had no choice, McKenna shifted so she could pull the dress over her head. Left only in her bra and panties, she shivered.

  “Everything. You come to me completely bare. Everything you need, I will provide. Understand?”

  She shot a glance at the man who’d grabbed her. He was sitting with his back to her, looking out the small window.

  “Don’t worry about Simon. He knows if he turns around and sees you naked, he’ll die.”

  Having no choice, she removed the bra and panties, then her shoes. Completely nude, she stayed seated and waited for further instructions.

  The slimy look on his face as his eyes roamed up and down her body made her want to spew the bile in her throat all over him. His gaze stopped at her hand. “The ring, too.”

  Dread filled her. No. If she lost the ring, Noah couldn’t track her. She covered the ring with her other hand protectively. “It was my mother’s…it’s all I have left of her.”

  “Poor baby.” He held out his hand. “Can I see it?”

  She held out her hand to show him. Taking a hard grasp of her wrist, he pulled the ring from her finger and held it up to the light. “It’s lovely.”

  Her smile trembling with nerves, she said, “Thank you,” and stuck her hand out for him to return it.

  He opened a small window beside him and tossed the ring out. “Bye-bye, Mama.”

  The sheer cruelty of that one simple action shouldn’t have shocked her, but it did. She barely paid attention as he bundled her clothes and shoes together and threw them out, too. Though she couldn’t show her anger, it gave her just the right amount of determination. She’d been scared before, but fury was quickly taking over.

  His smile one of smug arrogance, he said, “Stand up.”

  Gripping the leather strap over her head, McKenna stood. When his fingers circled the cigarette burns on her stomach and then her breasts, she stared out the window, determined not to show her disgust. She could do this; she had no choice.

  “Turn around.”

  She turned her back to him, knowing exactly what he wanted to see. His hands cupped and kneaded her bottom, then his finger traced the letter he’d branded her with. When she felt his wet tongue there, she closed her eyes and willed her churning stomach to settle down. Throwing up on him might give her a moment’s satisfaction, but it would most likely get her a beating as well. She had to stay healthy as long as possible.

  “Yes, that’s my McKenna.”

  Knowing he wouldn’t want her to turn around until he said so, she remained standing and waited for his command. One of the many things Damon liked was to be able to order her every movement.

  “Very good. Now turn around.”

  She turned and was immediately enveloped in a soft blanket. Holding the covering tight around her body, she went to sit down. Damon had other ideas. He pulled her down onto his lap. McKenna had no choice but to let him have his way.

  She dared a look up at his face. He had changed in the eight years since she’d seen him. There were lines around his eyes and mouth, and when he smiled, the tooth that had once been slightly crooked was now even more so.

  Once, long ago, she’d thought Damon the most handsome man on earth. And while her mind acknowledged that he might still be physically attractive, evil was beginning to have a negative effect on his face. In fact, he was looking more like the demon she’d often believed him to be.

  Odd, but she was suddenly completely unafraid. She was facing the devil once more, and though she wasn’t safe, neither was she terrified, as she had thought she would be. Damon’s hold on her was truly at an end. He was just another perverted monster who had kidnapped someone. She’d dealt with this kind of filth before. He was just one more.

  That settled in her mind, she could fully concentrate on finding Jamie Kendrick. Pray God she was still alive.

  Tampa, Florida

  LCR field office

  Noah sat at his desk and reviewed the new information they’d gathered on Hughes. He refused to think that McKenna wasn’t all right. She had made the decision to go with Damon. While he understood her reasons, he was still furious she’d taken that risk.

  McKenna was a professional. He’d been impressed with her from their first meeting, and that hadn’t changed. And the conversation he’d had with her before they landed in Tampa reinforced that confidence. If she could maintain the perspective that this was just another job for her, she would succeed. Didn’t mean he didn’t intend to help her out.

  Her mic had stopped working within minutes of her being taken. That hadn’t worried him; the range wasn’t that long. What did concern him was the ring she wore. The GPS signal had disappeared ten minutes after the helicopter left their view. Getting inside Damon’s head, Noah surmised he’d made her take off anything that might have a tracking device in it. McKenna was resourceful. She would find a way to contact LCR when she could.

  From what he’d been able to glean from his new informant, and based upon Damon’s suggested meeting place, he was betting that Damon did live in Florida. Which was why he and his team were still in Tampa. When McKenna called, they could be at her assistance within hours.

  He looked up when the door opened. Samara came in looking angrier than he’d seen her in years. Though she was concerned for McKenna, Noah knew most of the anger stemmed from what Damon had left them: a young woman, barely out of her teens, named Lilly Francis, ravaged, beaten, and damaged so badly internally, the doctors were stunned that she was able to walk upright.

  So far, she’d only been able to give them her name and could supply little information on Damon’s whereabouts other than to tell them there were palm trees everywhere and she had often heard the ocean. Two years ago, she had arrived at Damon’s residence unconscious and had lived at his giant estate all this time without any idea how to get out or where she was.

  Damon had used her to entertain himself or the occasional businessman. The man who’d raped and almost killed her was one of Hughes’s employees named Carlos. Apparently Lilly had been his reward for something.

  Despite the little information she’d given them so far, Noah had hopes that, given time, she’d be able to provide them with something they could use. And that it wouldn’t be too late.

  “How’s Lilly?”

  Samara came around the desk, and by the tears in her eyes, he knew the news wouldn’t be good. Holding out his arms, he pulled her into his lap. “Tell me.”

  “She started hemorrhaging about an hour ago. They’re doing an emergency hysterectomy. We won’t know for a few hours if that will completely stop the bleeding.”

  Noah held her close. Mara’s sorrow only increased his determination. If McKenna didn’t manage to destroy Damon Hughes, Noah would make sure he did. The sadistic bastard should not be allowed to take another breath.

  Samara took a shuddering breath. “Any news?”

  “Not a lot. Based upon the little that Lilly could tell us, I believe he’s here in Florida. I’ve got investigators running all over the state t
rying to dig something up. It’s just a matter of time.”

  “But will it be too late to save McKenna?”

  “Hughes won’t kill her. And he’s certainly not going to be expecting that McKenna can and will kill him if it comes down to it. He’s used to fragile women who can’t defend themselves. My money’s on McKenna.”

  “Do you think Jamie Kendrick is still alive?”

  “I don’t know. Once Hughes realized his people got the wrong woman, his temper may have got the best of him. However, if he didn’t kill her, my guess is that he sold her. He wouldn’t want her around, reminding him how stupid he’d been.”

  “Sad that we’re sitting here hoping that he sold her to someone.”

  “You’re right, but at least if she’s alive, there’s hope.”

  She pulled quickly from his arms and turned to face him. “I can’t believe I haven’t told you this. With the news of Lilly’s surgery, it flew right out of my mind.” Turning, she looked down at one of his computer monitors. “Can you go to the website for one of the newspapers?”

  Frowning, he cleared his screen. “Which one?”

  “Try the Tampa Times.”

  Noah clicked on their main website. “Now what?”

  “Go to the business section.”

  Noah clicked on the business section and scrolled down. The image that appeared brought a vile curse to his lips: Lucas Kane and McKenna holding hands, looking into each other’s eyes. They looked every bit the besotted couple. The brief and uninformative caption speculated on whom the billionaire businessman was now romancing. McKenna’s name stood starkly out in the small paragraph.

  It took barely a second to determine Kane’s motive. “He’s luring Hughes.”

  Samara’s shocked gasp told him that was something she hadn’t considered. “You think so?”

  Holding off on answering her, Noah clicked onto the sites of three other newspapers and came up with the same photo and wording. “These are fairly obscure newspapers. Even as famous as Kane is, it’s doubtful they’d run anything with an international slant without good reason. And Kane’s got enough money to stop every scandal rag from printing this. He’s setting Hughes up.”

  Samara’s eyes grew wide as she realized the ramifications. “Oh, Noah, he might ruin everything.”

  With a grim nod, Noah picked up the phone. He had to get to Kane before he did anything else. There was no telling what Damon Hughes would do to McKenna if he saw the pictures.

  Lucas Kane might have had the best intentions, but if Hughes’s temper got the best of him, McKenna might well pay for Kane’s ploy with her life.

  eighteen

  Palm Beach

  Damon carried a still-bundled McKenna into the house. Though she was still such a small, delicate thing, the solidity of her slender body was a bit of an unpleasant surprise. Years ago she had been soft and firm, but now that firmness felt almost muscular. He detested women who marred their body with muscles. Was she into bodybuilding or something? How disgusting. A woman should be soft and feminine, relying on her man to be the strong one in the household.

  She was covered from head to toe as he stalked up the stairway to her bedroom. Tomorrow he would give her a tour of her new home and grounds. He didn’t want her to see anything until he showed her his special surprise. When she saw what he had done for her, she would realize how much she meant to him.

  Margret stood outside the room, waiting for him. He gave her a small nod and she immediately unlocked the door. The instant the door swung open, Margret vanished, as he had instructed her earlier. He wanted no one around to witness this grand homecoming.

  “Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.”

  Damon uncovered her face, pleased to see that her eyes were closed. Anticipation building, he dropped her feet and allowed her to stand. Whipping the blanket from her body, he stood back for a few seconds and absorbed the moment. McKenna standing nude in the middle of the room he’d created for her. It was as if eight years ago had never happened.

  “Open your eyes.”

  Blinking rapidly, her eyes opened. Damon watched her focus on her surroundings. He spread his arms out, so moved by the moment that he couldn’t speak.

  Her eyes roamed around the room and Damon waited for her to voice her enthusiasm. He could see the surprise, but where was the gratitude? Where were the tears? Did she not recognize the significance? Was she that dense?

  “Well, what do you think?” He hated asking, but she was apparently not going to say anything.

  She looked at him then and he saw the surprise and wonder in her expression, just as he’d been expecting. He watched her throat move convulsively as if she were too overcome to express her joy. Yes, his McKenna had always been a bit on the emotional side. She was probably close to tears, feeling overwhelmed by all he had done for her.

  Finally she said softly, “It’s my bedroom.”

  Damon nodded eagerly. “See, everything’s going to be the way it should have been.”

  Whirling around, she took in everything, then turned back to Damon and whispered, “Oh, Damon, it’s beautiful. Thank you so much.”

  Overcome by his own emotions, Damon knew he had to leave before McKenna saw how moved he was. Showing her how this homecoming was affecting him would make her think he wasn’t the strong disciplinarian he had been years ago.

  “I knew you would love it. And this is only the beginning. Every day will be better than the one before. I’ll leave you to get settled. I know you must be exhausted. Everything you need is in this room. There are clothes in the closet and the dresser. If you need anything else at all, you only have to ask.”

  Her mouth trembling with a smile of gratitude, his McKenna looked close to tears.

  Drawing her into his arms, he closed his mouth over hers, groaning at her taste. Yes, this was his McKenna. How could he have mistaken that whore who was here before for McKenna?

  Pulling away reluctantly, he said, “Margret, my housekeeper, will bring you dinner. Tomorrow I’ll show you around your new home.”

  “Thank you, Damon, for being so good to me.”

  Her words, the deference and sincerity in her voice, were music to his ears. A new wash of tears stung his eyes. Stepping away from her, he stalked to the door. Before walking out, he turned back around and said, “We’re going to be so happy, McKenna. It’s going to be the way it should have been.”

  She nodded and smiled. Relishing her trembling, grateful smile, Damon closed the door, then turned the lock. Tomorrow they would begin their courtship all over again.

  The night had been a sleepless one, long and agonizing. Now McKenna stood in the middle of the bedroom Damon had led her to last evening. Eyes closed, she drew in deep, even breaths, preparing her mind for what she had to face today.

  Their arrival last night had given her little information about her whereabouts. After landing on a helipad obviously belonging to him, she’d been hustled from the helicopter to a gated entrance. Her eyes barely caught a glimpse of anything other than a sandy beach and a few palm trees. The ocean had been close because she’d heard and smelled it, but other than that bit of information, she still had no real knowledge of her location.

  The instant she entered the compound, the loud and ominous clang of the lock told her that any possibility of escape had been relinquished. Damon allowed her to look around for a scant few seconds, enough to see that the giant courtyard was surrounded by a high brick wall and cameras were everywhere. Whatever she did while she was here, she would be seen.

  The surprises hadn’t stopped. Damon had picked her up and carried her into the mansion, still wrapped in the blanket. Before they’d walked through the door, he had covered her head. She hadn’t asked why. Asking questions would bring out his ire faster than anything.

  She’d heard a door open and close, then Damon had dropped her to her feet and told her to open her eyes. A wide grin on his face, he had spread his arms out as if to say, “See what I’ve done for
you.”

  As she had looked around the room, a chill of revulsion shuddered through her. He hadn’t said anything; he hadn’t needed to say anything. He had just waited, apparently expecting delight and gratitude.

  It took a lot to shock McKenna and a whole lot more to make her speechless. She had been both. Not because of what he had done, but by his attitude. Yes, she recognized that he had replicated her bedroom. What stunned her was that Damon seemed to think giving her an identical bedroom to the one she’d had as a teenager somehow made up for what he had done. Just how freaking crazy was the bastard?

  McKenna had struggled somewhat to pull herself together, knowing Damon’s eyes would pick up any hesitancy or antipathy. He needed to think he had her where he wanted her. Reminding herself that she was damn good at undercover and pretense, she went into automatic mode and became what Damon wanted.

  Whirling around the room like the silly, naïve sixteen-year-old she’d once been, she had forced delight and wonder onto her face as she thanked him. All the while the bile built in her throat.

  His words told her she had convinced him. “I knew you would love it. And this is only the beginning. Every day will be better than the one before.”

  It had taken every ounce of her control not to respond with Yes, you freak. As long as I obey your every command and never have another independent thought.

  He had pulled her into his arms. Unable to use her fear of heights to explain the nausea churning in her stomach this time, she reminded herself that this was no different from any other job. She had closed her eyes and accepted his mouth on hers.

  Finally he had let her go. Before walking out the door, he’d given her a sickening smile and a promise. “We’re going to be so happy.”

  The instant the door closed behind him, she had dashed into the bathroom and vomited.

  An hour later, after McKenna had scrubbed herself raw in the shower and brushed her teeth three times to get the taste of Damon out of her mouth, Margret, the housekeeper, had entered the room. The dour-faced woman had brought her a large meal and absolutely no sympathy. She clearly didn’t want McKenna here.