“I don’t know. A lot has happened since we met. Now I’m wondering if it’s the brightest idea.”
“Listen you son-of-a-bitch. I helped you with your problem, and now you’re going to help me with mine. How do you think they believed it was my body in the car?”
“Man I—”
“Because you fucking stabbed my only friend Marcus on one of your stupid drinking binges, and then you sat in the same fucking chair you’re in right now and let him bleed out and die. Don’t you cave on me now. I’ve done the dirty work and cleaned up your mess when I torched that car. And now you’re going to hold up your end.”
“Okay, okay, man. I was just suggesting that you think about it, you know? I mean, if you do anything to harm Tara or Kevin, do you really believe Tara will still love you? It seems to me it could push her away.”
“I’m not going to hurt Tara and Kevin. I’m simply going to whisk Tara away into a world she never thought she wanted. I’m going to show her I can provide for her and give her exactly what she needs.” Jake didn’t care what Reggie said to try and convince him otherwise. Tara belonged to him.
“I don’t want you to lose the girl when you’ve worked so hard to get her. I’m only trying to help you,” Reggie said.
It didn’t make sense to Jake. Reggie was saying one thing, but it appeared he meant quite the opposite.
“Oh my God…” he muttered. “What, you see her twice and you think you like her?”
Reggie smirked. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is all about you and what you’re doing for her.”
“I’ve seen the way you looked at her, and I can’t believe I didn’t put two and two together. You care for her and you’re worried I’m going to ruin your chances with her.”
“Don’t be silly.”
Jake wasn’t being silly. He could see the way Reggie talked about her and everything pointed to him being right. You can’t trust him. He’s playing both sides. He could turn on you. Don’t let it happen. Jake heard the compelling words in his head as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun.
Reggie’s eyes widened as he stared down the barrel. “Whoa…what are you doing man?”
“Don’t fuck with me, Reggie. You love Tara, don’t you?”
“No…I barely know her.” Reggie backed up, but his focus remained on the gun.
“Don’t give me that shit. Only two things can happen right now. You can either tell me you love her, or you can help me in the way we both agreed. Make your choice, before my patience wears thin.”
He was used to seeing panic in the faces of his victims, so it didn’t bother him at all anymore. Neither one of them was going anywhere until he got his answer.
* * *
Tara stood next to her mother as she talked to the leader of the group. Her mom seemed happier in the group.
“Thank you, Jane, for another great meeting,” Mary said.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mary.” She smiled, turning to Tara. “And Tara, thank you for coming to support your mom. I hope to see you again.”
“I will,” Tara replied.
Jane walked away and they headed toward the exit of the building.
“So what did you think?” her mom asked.
“Jane had a sad story. I can’t imagine losing a child.”
“I know. He was only two years old…”
“Heartbreaking,” Tara mumbled.
“I parked over there,” her mom said once they were outside.
“I’m over that way.”
Her mom laughed. She hugged her, letting it linger. “Thanks again for coming, Tara.”
“Thanks for inviting me,” Tara said, parting from the embrace. “I’ll be back.”
“And send my sympathies to Kevin and his parents. I got them a card and some flowers. Maybe you can swing by tomorrow and take it to them?”
“That’s sweet of you, Mom. Sure. I’ll call you tomorrow to set up a time.”
“Okay, bye honey.”
Tara waved and went to her own car, reaching for her phone from her pocket to phone Kevin. She smiled as she remembered it went off during the meeting, so she turned down the ringer.
“Hey, how’d it go?”
“Surprisingly well,” she said. “My mom says hi.
“Awe that’s sweet.”
“I’m headed home now. I’ll see you soon.”
“Sounds great. I started a fire and thought we could have a nice night in. How does candlelight, fireplace, wine, a little something for dessert sound?”
“I can’t wait to get there. I love you.”
“I love you, too, babe. Hurry home!”
She hung up the phone and tucked it into her jeans pocket as she got to her car. She pulled the car door open, and was about to sit when someone’s arms wrapped around her shoulders. Her keys slipped from her hand when she felt a hand and cloth go over her mouth. She had no time to react, and barely any time to fight back. The smell was so strong from whatever was on the cloth, but she screamed as her mouth was covered, and kicked as hard as she could, struggling to escape. She desperately tried to pull off the arms around her, growing weaker until total darkness overpowered her. Her last thought was that this was no dream.
* * *
Kevin sat at the table, tapping his fingers as he anxiously waited for her. “It’s been over an hour. What’s taking her so long?” he mumbled, glancing at the clock.
He stepped over to the fireplace. The red glow of the dwindling fire gave off warmth but it wasn’t comforting. He grabbed his phone and dialed her number. She didn’t answer. Once again, he left a message.
“Hey, it’s me. I’m a little worried about you. It’s been an hour and I thought you’d be home sooner. Call me if you get this message. Just want to make sure you’re okay.”
He stood there for a moment before dialing Tara’s mom’s number. After the second ring, she picked up. “Hello?”
“Hi Mary. It’s Kevin.”
“Hello, Kevin. What’s up?”
“I was just wondering if Tara was still with you.”
There was a pause on the other end. “No. we left the group meeting over an hour ago. She isn’t home yet?”
“No, but I’m sure everything’s fine. I just thought I’d check.” He sounded hopeful, but deep down, panic was setting in. “Do you mind giving me the address of where the meeting was held?”
“Sure!” She rattled off an address and he quickly wrote it down. “You don’t think she’s still there, do you? They lock up right after our meeting is finished.”
“I just thought it would be good to have it, in case I ever needed it. Thank you! We’ll talk later.”
“Let me know once she gets home. Will you?”
“Of course,” he said, glancing down at the address. “Good night.”
He disconnected the call, grabbed his coat and keys and hurried out the door. He needed to verify she was all right before he did anything else. He tried to stay calm as he drove. Along the way, he was mindful to ensure he hadn’t missed anything out of the ordinary. There was nothing strange. No disabled vehicles, no car accidents. Nothing.
He made it to the parking lot and it was impossible not to notice the car. It was the only one there. He parked next to it. Where is she? He glanced around the parking lot as he got out of his car, then walked around the side of the vehicle. When he reached the driver’s side door, he stopped in his tracks. Her car keys were on the ground. He knelt down and picked it up. Something was wrong—very wrong.
* * *
Tara opened her eyes slowly. Her head throbbed like someone had it clamped tight in a vice grip. She tried to touch her forehead but couldn’t move her hands. They were tied up. As some of her strength returned, she tried to wiggle free, but couldn’t get her hands out of the tape and knots that bound her. She screamed, but the tape over her mouth prevented the sound from escaping her throat. She frantically looked around the enclosure. She was in the back of a van and by the movements, she could tel
l it was going fast.
She heard voices. She closed her eyes, attempting to focus on the words and figure out where she was and who had grabbed her. The sounds were muffled. She was certain there were two voices, but no matter how much she strained, she couldn’t hear them.
The van stopped. Her heart beat faster. Two doors slammed shut and she waited…waited to see what her fate would be. The back of the van opened and her frantic stare went to him. Jake stood in front of her. Her eyes widened. She didn’t understand. He was dead, or at least he was supposed to be.
“Hello, Sleeping Beauty. I’m glad you finally woke up.” He moved closer to her and she tried to kick her legs, but they were also tied together. “Oh…don’t worry, I’m not here to hurt you.” He snapped his fingers, and another man appeared around the corner.
She couldn’t believe it. Reggie? What was he doing here? Was he in on the whole thing? He appeared sad, apologetic he was even there, but he picked her up from the back of the van and carried her outside. He looked away from her, taking her deep into the woods with them. She tried to wiggle out of his arms, scared he was carrying her to her grave. Instead, he took her into a cave. Come find me, Kevin. I need you! She closed her eyes and prayed their emotional connection would keep her strong.
Chapter 9
Tara looked around the dimly lit room. There was a table and chairs, even a small bed made up. It looked like someone had been living there. Perhaps this was Jake’s hideout? But he was supposed to be dead. She felt like it was a nightmare; that maybe she would wake up and none of this would have ever happened. Jake followed them inside. Reggie sat her down on the chair and Jake wrapped another rope around her waist to keep her in the chair. She tried to move, but there was no use. She fell back against the backrest, frustrated, terror raging through her.
“Tara, I’m so pleased to see you, love. I know you must be uncomfortable, but for now we have to keep you tied up like this. I bet you’re wondering why I didn’t come for you sooner, right?” She shook her head vehemently, then glared at him. “Well, the plan is simple. We’ll stay here until you show me how much you love me. Then we’ll escape town and find a new place in Oregon to make our home. Sound good?”
“Hmm…” she mumbled against the tape.
“I’m sorry. What was I thinking? Sorry sweetheart, this is going to hurt.”
He walked over and grabbed the tape, peeling it back gently from her mouth. She bit back a scream, determined not to give him any reason to think she wasn’t on board. She needed a plan. She needed a moment to think, but for now she would look and listen.
“Impressive. Not even one small scream. What were you going to stay?”
“You can’t possibly think this plan will work. The police will be looking for me and they’ll find you if you’re not careful.”
“Maybe, but this will work. I’ve every bit of confidence in you. See? You’re already helping.” He smiled, glancing over Reggie. “I bet you were surprised to see your neighbor was part of this.”
Surprise was an understatement. She turned to Reggie. He appeared awkward and uncomfortable. There was fear in his expression.
“Jake. Tell me. Be honest. What do you expect to gain from this?”
“What else? You of course. Maybe the slight satisfaction I beat my brother…for once.”
It was a game to him. She was sure of it.
“Delusional,” she mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” she said.
“Good.” He beamed. “This is going to be a painless experience for almost everyone involved. Maybe not so much for Kevin. He’ll feel the pain of losing you at first, especially knowing that he lost you to me. But he’s not the type to keep pursuing someone who doesn’t love him anymore. Eventually, he’ll move on. And one day he’ll be happy again”.
“For you, I know that one day soon, you’ll find I can make your knees weak, and you’ll gladly take my love. Me? Well, I’ll get the girl, of course. And Reggie…” He stopped and turned to him. “He’ll be able to move on and give up this ridiculous idea you’re his dream girl. See…everybody wins.”
Tara glanced at Reggie. She had him all wrong. Now she knew he had shown up for a reason. He had been Jake’s eyes and ears; watching her; playing her this whole time. She turned away from him. She was disgusted.
“What if I never tell you I love you?” she asked Jake.
“Well, that won’t happen, but if it does…you’d better rethink it. I certainly don’t want you to feel like I’m going to hurt you. But know that eventually, once you admit to your feelings, I’ll release you. That doesn’t mean we’ll leave the cave, but it does mean when I feel I can trust you, you’ll be freed. Not a moment sooner.”
“What if I need to go, or if I’m cold?” she asked him.
“I’ll be here to keep you warm. And you just let me know if you need to go, or anything else, and I’ll take care of you. See? It’s simple.”
She fell back against the chair. Her wrists already ached. She couldn’t imagine being stuck this way for too much longer. She looked around the cave. “How about food? Will I starve out here?”
“Of course not.”
She opted for manipulation. “Please Jake, let me go. I’ll do whatever you ask. I promise I won’t try to run. You’re going to have to trust me eventually, just like you said. So trust me. Please, I can’t stay tied up like this. It’s too painful. And this place is making me nervous.”
“Well, that will soon change. Nervousness happens in all new settings. And it will happen in our relationship.”
He moved closer to her, and she felt his breath on her skin. She bit her lip. He was about to kiss her and she couldn’t go anywhere. When he was inches from her lips, she did the only thing she could think of doing. She let him kiss her. The only way she could think of getting away was for him to let his guard down.
A mixture of shock and satisfaction was in his eyes as he stepped back.
“I honestly never thought you’d come around this quickly. But I’m happy to see it.”
“I told you I had feelings for you, Jake,” she lied. “That night you came over. Remember that kiss?”
“How can I forget? Best Halloween of my life. Look, I have something quick I need to do.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“I have to go move the van. I’ll take it farther into the woods and walk back here. We could’ve been spotted, and I want to make sure if someone sees the van, they won’t discover the path that leads to this cave.”
He hesitated before speaking again. “Can I trust you two to behave yourselves?” He laughed, not waiting for an answer, before disappearing from the cave opening.
She turned to Reggie. She wanted some answers. “What the hell’s going on? How could you do this to me? I thought you were a good person after that apology last time I saw you.”
He held up his hand, moving to her. “We have to be quick.”
“Wha—” she started.
He pulled a knife from his pocket and quickly cut the ropes and tape around her legs, waist, and hands. He hesitated, looking at her.
“I had to do something, and I can explain later, but you have to trust me right now.”
“You helped him grab me,” she said between clenched teeth. “How can I trust you?”
“I’m the one who just untied you, remember? Trust me for fifteen minutes so I can get you out of here.”
He grabbed her hand and she decided to go along with it. They went to the cave entrance and he peered outside.
“Okay,” he whispered. “He’s gone north to the van. Look we have a ways to go to get to a main trail in the park. We’re at Iron Horse. If we get split up, keep walking southwest and you’ll find the trail. I’ll be right behind you. Now let’s go!”
With his hand in hers and running as fast as they could, they hurried through the woods. She hoped they had enough time to put some distance between them and Jake. It was too dark to get he
r bearings. She needed a plan, but could barely think about anything in her state of panic.
They ran for what seemed like miles. She worried her legs would give out, but the fear only made her run harder. She was breathless, but pushing through the pain.
“Do you even know if we’re still going southwest?”
He nodded. They continued through the darkness in the woods, tripping over roots in the ground, trees, and rocks. She felt like they’d been running for hours.
“Stop…” he whispered, bringing her to a halt. “Do you hear that?”
She shook her head, but then heard the rustling of leaves. Her heart pounded as he made her stoop to hide as they waited. She looked around, but couldn’t see anything. In the darkness, it was near impossible to tell which direction the sound was coming from.
“Hold my hand, we’re going south. We have to hurry!” he whispered.
She prayed he was right. They turned and began running again. Her palms were sweaty, especially the one Reggie held on to.
She kept running, and she noticed a clearing ahead. She couldn’t see, but there was a contrast from the blackness of the trees at night. Is it possible? Are we close to a road? Before she could think of an answer, a gunshot sounded. She and Reggie dropped to the ground, and Reggie came down beside her. She felt him reach his hand around her hips, but was unable to focus as he slipped his hand deep into her front pocket. She was bracing herself as the sound of footsteps neared. She could only cover her head and wait for him to reach them.
The sound of footsteps echoed in her ear. She pulled away from Reggie and scrambled to turn and sit up, but her legs wouldn’t function.
“Don’t hurt me,” she whimpered, crowding her face with her hands.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Jake’s stood over her with his gun and a small flashlight.
Her heart still pounded hard in her chest, barely able to draw in enough air. She had run for such a long time, and with the gunshot added to the nightmare of trying to escape, the adrenalin rush was over the top.
“Come with me. I’ll protect you.”
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