“I did. I looked for you. I didn’t know why, until now.” His hand reached her shoulder and he reversed his touch, trailing his fingertips along the curves of her bicep. “Remember what you said earlier? Not yet?” She nodded. “I meant it when I said I’ll wait.”
***
Connie
She settled the door into the frame, turning to look at her empty apartment. Cole had just left, laughing as she’d argued she wasn’t tired, trying to fight through massive yawns to reassure him. After their conversation in the kitchen, they’d retired to the living room, and he’d quizzed her on various topics. Not making her feel under a microscope so much as making it clear he was interested in everything about her from her favorite foods to movies, books, and a thousand things in between.
She walked to the couch and sat, leaning back to stare at the ceiling for a moment.
He hadn’t been shy about sharing his own thoughts and ideas, and she’d ended the evening feeling as if they’d been friends for years. He was so comfortable to be around. She smiled. From what he’d said as he left, she’d get a chance to see if that feeling would stick, because he asked for a date. A real one, as he’d said, “I wanna do it right. Let’s have dinner and everything. The works. I want to see you again and soon, Connie.”
The door rattled and she looked up in time to see Nelly coming in, a broad smile on her face. “Hey, you. Guess who I just saw at the elevators.”
Connie rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. Cole Stewart?”
“Yup. He said he made you dinner?” Connie nodded. “Sweet. Did you invite him over?”
“No, he wanted to talk about something and took a chance I’d be up. I nearly wasn’t. I’d gotten home and was bushed, so I was going to just fall into bed. He proved a distracting visitor.” She gestured towards the kitchen. “Leftovers are in the fridge. He’s a good cook. I don’t even know how he put together anything from what we had, but it was delicious.”
“Too bad you let him distract you and didn’t just fall into bed.” Nelly waggled her eyebrows and Connie laughed as she stood. “Food sounds good. I’ll check it out.” She opened her arms as Connie got near, wrapping her up in a tight hug. “Headed to bed?”
“Yeah. The day’s catching up with me.” She stretched. “See you tomorrow? I’ll be working late again, but that should be it for a while. Just have to get caught up on typing out the filings.”
“See you. Love you, sister of mine.”
“Love you, too.” It didn’t even feel strange or forced now to voice those emotions to Nelly. They’d gone from not speaking for months to spending at least part of every day together, and Connie realized she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Don’t move.” She blurted the words and shook her head. “I mean, I know you’re looking for a place, but I’d like it if you stayed here.”
“Okay.” Nelly took a paper plate from the cabinet and spooned some of the food onto it, covered it with another plate and shoved it in the microwave, pushing buttons until it beeped and started working.
“Okay? Just like that?”
“Yeah. Why would I argue? I love this place, and the eye candy in the rec room is sweet.” Nelly waggled her eyebrows again. “You might have hooked a hot fireman, but I’m still fishing.”
“Jesus, you’re incorrigible. I’m going to bed.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Chapter Nine
Two weeks later
“I’m headed out. I won’t see you until late tonight,” Connie called over her shoulder as she yanked on her computer bag, dragging it out of the hall closet. She slung it over her shoulder and shouted, “Remember, I’m going out after work.”
“I remember,” Nelly yelled from the bathroom. “Have fun.”
Connie exited the elevator at the parking level, startled for a moment as her phone started to ring. It was in the bottom of her purse, so she juggled the bag in one hand, balancing her purse on one uplifted knee as her computer bag threatened to slip from her shoulder. Just as she retrieved the phone, it stopped ringing and the screen went dark. “Of course.” She adjusted her grip on the bag and purse, then glanced at the phone when it began ringing again. Cole’s name flashed across the display and she smiled, lifting the phone to her ear. “Hey.”
“Morning.” His deep voice vibrated through her, and she shivered, hair raising on her arms in reaction. “I just wanted to wish you a good day.”
“Aww. That’s so sweet.” She angled between two cars on the way towards hers, parked in one of two slots assigned to her apartment. The other sat empty. Nelly’s vehicle was in the shop down the street, regular maintenance planned for today. She’d be riding to work with Alden, whose car was parked across the echoing garage. “I hope you had a good shift?”
Cole had worked last night, and Connie smiled at the memory of him texting and phoning her during down times between calls. Most of his unit’s dispatches had proven to be relatively harmless, with the fire department providing backup at accidents. Each phone call had started with him making sure he wasn’t keeping her from something important, like sleep, and even when he was, she wouldn’t offer the information. It was too novel an idea that a man would be that interested in her, to call her from work.
“Eh, wasn’t the worst. Which is good.” He chuckled, then his voice dipped an octave. “Talking to you was the best part of my night, though.”
“Oh, was it?” Connie preened just a little, opening the back door on the car that had replaced the one drowned in the river. It was newer even if it wasn’t new, but had been gently used, and she liked it. Bright yellow with white interior, she hoped the color would keep anyone from missing her on the roads. “It was mine, too, Cole.”
“Well, I hope I banked a few points last night, because I might be late tonight. One of the guys supposed to come on at two called and his little girl is sick. He wanted to be there for the doc appointment, so I told him I’d cover until he could show.” He paused a moment and in the silence between words he pulled in a deep breath, and she shivered again at this evidence of his deliberate control, knowing what came next was important to him. “He offered me a favor in return, so when we’re ready…when you’re ready, I’ll be sure to call him and have him cover whatever shift you say. Evening, or early morning, I figure we can sort something out.”
“It’s nice of you to help him out.” She tried to ignore the wobbling knees she’d gotten from his statement, sounding so much like a promise she didn’t know what to make of it. Early morning would mean an overnight stay, and Connie suddenly felt she’d be very much on board with the idea the next time Cole brought it up.
“So,” Cole said, turning at her front door. It was their third date by her count, finding out tonight he tallied the first evening he’d cooked for her as a date. That had started a good-natured dispute that she’d gracefully given him a win on, because he was right. Four dates. “I had a really good time.” His hands were hot as they cupped her shoulders, fingers skating across her skin as his palms moved up and down her arms. “I want to take you out next time.” Head tipped to the side, he stared into her eyes, and Connie’s heart stumbled as she read the depth of affection he had for her.
“Another date, Mr. Stewart?” He smiled and that dimple flashed, the expression on his face making her stomach flip over slowly. Tender and sweet, his crooked smile turned this handsome man into something more. She teased him, “A girl might think you were sweet on her.”
“A girl would be right, if that girl was you.” He stepped closer, crowding her against the wall, his forearm holding him off her. “I like you, Connie Rowe.” His head tilted and she angled her chin, their mouths meeting in a sliding caress, his tongue dipping inside to taste her. “God,” he groaned, heat from his body covering her like a blanket. “I really like you. Maybe...” He hesitated, voice trailing off as he kissed her again.
“Maybe?” Her questioning murmur against his lips made him groan again, his hand sliding up the back of her neck. Even in a mom
ent like this he was careful of her, fingers gentle around where her stitches had been.
“Maybe afterwards, you could come back to my place?” His cheek slid against hers, mouth by her ear as he asked, “Would you like that, Connie?”
She ran her hands up his sides, fingers bunching in his shirt to pull him closer, wanting to be surrounded by him. The tip of his tongue flicked gently along the curve of her ear and she giggled, flinching away. “Maybe.” His indrawn breath at her whisper made her smile. “Maybe I would.”
“What can I say, I hear from my girlfriend that I’m a nice guy.” She heard laughter distantly through the phone and knew he would be razzed good-naturedly for that quip.
“Girlfriend, huh?” He hummed in response, and she decided to let it go for now, still lost in the feelings from her memories. Maybe. “Okay, nice guy, let me know when you’re off, then? We’ll decide where and when to meet.” She took a breath, and then leaped, trusting he’d catch her without letting her fall. “We could meet at your place, if you wanted. You don’t work tomorrow, right?”
Silence for a moment, and she closed her eyes, afraid she’d jumped ahead too fast. Then he proved her instincts right by giving her what she needed. “We’ll meet wherever you’re comfortable, Connie. You want to meet at my front door, I’ll sweep you inside faster than you can imagine. I’ll cook supper for you, and breakfast if you’ll let me.”
“Maybe?” She backpedaled a little, and smiled when he chuckled, sounding as if he were standing right beside her. “Probably?”
“I’ll take a maybe, but probably is better. It doesn’t matter when you’re ready. I’ve already told you that. I’m here, Connie. I’ll wait.”
“You’re a good man, Cole Stewart.” He harrumphed, and she laughed at his feigned patience with her. “Let me know when you get off shift.”
“I will. And, Connie?” He paused, and she made a sound, unable to get a full word out because the idea of what he might say had her throat paralyzed. “You’re a good woman. I only hope I’m lucky enough to be your man.” When she didn’t respond, he chuckled and said, “See you tonight, beautiful. Have a good day.”
The call disconnected and Connie cradled the phone to her chest for a moment before putting it away, already irritated at herself for being so emotional. Something about Cole made her want to believe, made her want to trust in herself again.
She bent and arranged her bags before climbing behind the wheel. Finger to the radio button, she turned on her morning commute music and drove to work. Once at the lot there, she scanned her employee card and waited for the swing arm to lift. She parked and, with keys in hand, had just exited the vehicle when she heard someone walking, heavy footsteps bouncing off the cars, distorting the sound.
She scanned the area around where she’d parked but didn’t see anyone. “Nervous, leave that to Nelly,” she joked aloud and moved to get her bags out of the car. She was bent over when something wrapped around her neck, yanking her backwards with such force she flew against the side of the car parked next to her, her head striking the metal with a stunning blow. Senses reeling from the impact, she shook her head to try and clear the ringing from her ears.
Something moved above her, blacking out the sun, and Connie didn’t have a chance to scream before another blow brought darkness down all around her.
Waking was disorienting, because she thought she remembered her morning. Getting out of bed in her own apartment, getting ready for work and then riding the elevator. She thought she’d talked to Nelly, but that didn’t seem right. Nelly lived with their parents.
Connie groaned and reached a hand up to her head, tracing the edges of a huge goose egg on the side of her head. It felt like the one she’d gotten in the accident, just placed differently. She winced at the contact, pulling her hand back and staring in confusion at the dark red stains on the tips of her fingers. “What?” Her voice was weak, tired sounding, and she pushed up on one elbow to scan the room. “Why am I back in bed here?”
Jonas’ things were scattered here and there, the room quite a bit more disorganized than she’d ever seen it. Front and center on the middle of his dresser was the photo from her apartment, the one of them together. She knew Addy had been just out of frame when the photo was taken, but the illusion of intimacy gave the image a quality she’d liked. “It’s a lie,” she whispered, staring at the photo, not certain why she felt so upset at the image being here in Jonas’ apartment. “Why am I here?” Didn’t we break up?
“Hello?” She tried to swing her legs off the bed, startled when her left one came up short, a cold band pressing into her leg. Kicking the covers off, she stared at the shiny metal ring fastened around her ankle. “What the—?” Tentative at first, she tried to pull her foot towards her, frowning when it only traveled a few inches. Sitting upright, she scooted her butt down in bed and wrapped her hands around the dainty, silver chain attached to a loop on one side of the shackle. Pulling hard on the connected metal links, all she accomplished was sliding farther down the sheets on the mattress, the fabric of the sheets rough against her skin. She stared down at herself in shock.
All she was wearing was a shirt she vaguely remembered putting on that morning and her underwear. Connie’s head was pounding, and she touched the bump again, pressing against the swelling until she hissed with the pain. But with the pain came clarity, and memories from the past several weeks came flooding into her mind.
Jonas. A rapist.
Cole. A hero.
She looked wildly around the room, taking note of differences since the last time she’d been here. Clothing was strewn everywhere, but it was a mix of his clothes and women’s wear. There were black stockings piled on top of a skirt by the door, and a shirt with what looked like lipstick along the shoulder.
Frantic to get free, Connie heaved at the chain, grunting when it slipped through her grip, tearing her skin as it did so. “Ah.” Stifling the rest of her groan, she sucked at her bleeding fingers, studying the metal contraption holding her captive. There has to be a way. She scooted off the bed on the near side and knelt to look at where the chain attached to the bed. It was bolted in place, and when she gripped the metal, her fingers slipped off the slick surface. Oh, no. This was not a new installation, and Connie wondered where the chain had been the times she’d spent in this room before. The leg of the bed was wooden, and she rattled the footboard experimentally. Was this always his plan? There was some give there, the joints glued instead of fastened more securely.
Footsteps echoed from the hallway, and she scrambled back onto the edge of the mattress in a panic, gathering up the top sheet and wrapping it protectively around herself. She’d known somewhere in the back of her mind that it had to be Jonas who had knocked her out and brought her here, choking her from behind in the parking lot. Still, it was one thing to tell herself that, and another to watch as he walked through the door, closing it carefully behind him. He balanced a small tray on one palm, using the other to scrape his hair back from his face.
She studied him, shocked. He looked ill, face drawn and lined as if he’d been sick for days, weeks maybe. His skin was sallow, and his hair was greasy-looking as it hung in disheveled hanks around his face, his eyes were ringed by dark shadows, and when he stared at her, it was with pain and anger. The fear in the room was hers alone.
“Connie.” His voice ripped through her name, making a weapon out of it. “Good old Connie. Man, I bet you’re surprised to be back here, huh?”
“What are you doing, Jonas?” She shook her head, still-bleeding fingers sticking to the sheet as she clutched it tighter. “Why am I here?”
“You’re here to make it all better again.” He shrugged, shoving things out of the way on the dresser to make room for the tray. “I needed you, and you weren’t here.” A woman’s purse fell to the floor, change and a lipstick tube scattering when it hit. Connie jumped at the sudden crash of sound, heart in her throat. She stared at the items on the floor, their presence an implic
ation of so much. Oh my God. “So, you’re here now.”
“Jonas, you can’t just keep me.” Connie watched his eyes narrow; they shone with anger as he glared at her. He bashed me in the head. What more had he done to the woman who owned that purse? I have to try. Without much hope of success, she attempted to reason with him. “I have to go to work. Go home.”
“No, you have to stay here.” He shook his head slowly. “It’s the only way things will go back to how they were.”
“How do you think they were?” She fisted one hand and pressed it between her breasts, holding the sheet in place, ignoring how it shook. “You think things were good?” Connie, don’t argue with him. Clear as day she thought she heard her father’s voice, and Connie glanced around the room in confusion. “Daddy?”
“No, I’m the kid’s dad, not yours. Come on, Connie. How hard did you hit your head?” He turned and shuffled things around on the tray before picking something up and looking back at her. She stared at the knife in his hand, the edge twinkling in the light coming from the windows. She couldn’t take her eyes off the knife, tracking it as he gestured with the blade, slashing carelessly through the air as he spoke. “I heard you, you know. On the phone in the garage? Right before you came back here with me.” Came back here with him? He’s delusional. He’d spoken as if she’d been given a choice, as if he’d invited her back to his house. His casual delivery of a blatant lie shocked her, and she watched his face grow more animated as he spoke. He believes what he’s saying. “You were talking to her brother, weren’t you? That’s who you talked to.” His voice raised a register, and in falsetto, he imitated her conversation with Cole. “Oh, Cole, you’re so sweet. I can’t stand it.” Shoulders hunched, he glared at her, his voice returning to normal. “No, what I can’t stand is the idea of you with him. You’re mine. You belong to me. Your little act made me so sick I missed you there and had to follow you to work instead. That wasn’t part of the plan. Your fault.”
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