“I know. Let me talk to Ryan.”
She sighs. “I have to go. I love you so much.”
“I love you too. Sit tight. I’ll find you.”
“I know. Can you do me a favor when you do?” she asks. I almost fear what she’ll say. “Don’t kill Jason.”
I groan. “Shayla …”
Mathis’ wicked chuckle comes through the line. “She’s good. I’ll tell you that. She just told you everything you need to know to find her. And you know what? Come on. I’m done messing around.”
“Look, I’ll let you live if you just give her back to me unharmed and alive.”
“It’s not me you have to worry about, Ryan. She really does remind me of my wife. I understand now why you were so drawn to her. It’s a real shame I had to put a bullet between those lovely hazel eyes. It’ll be an even greater shame if I’m forced to do it again.”
“Mathis, I swear …”
“Oh, calm down. I’m not hurting her. She’s fine.”
He hangs up. I throw my head back and scream, punching the closest tree. The pain brings me back to reality. I take off running back to my house. I’m going to find him and kill him. I don’t care what Shayla wants; the man deserves to die! I barge into the house, startling my men, who promptly aim their guns my way, but holster them as soon as they realize it’s me.
“Are you okay?” Marsh asks as he walks around me, inspecting outside before shutting the door. “What’s going on?”
Panting, I answer, “I talked to Shayla. Her phone was on. Run a constant check on it, Riley.” Tom hands me a bottle of water and I down it before continuing. “She’s okay.” I pause, shaking my head at our strange conversation. “I think she may have been trying to tell me something, but I’m not sure.” I fill them in on the conversation and how she was acting.
“That’s definitely out of character for Mathis. He would torment you. This other person has to be family,” Marsh says.
“Okay, but why would his relative want Shayla?” Paul asks.
I shrug. That has me baffled as well. “Let’s just look for anyone he could be related to. I don’t care how distantly related they are. I still want the surrounding areas searched, but I’m pretty sure she’s at least a couple hours away. She said she was far.”
“Are you sure you can trust anything she said? I mean, you said she sounded off. Maybe she’s being drugged,” Marsh offers.
I run my hand through my hair in frustration. “I don’t know. All I know is this has to end. We have to find her soon. Mathis could very well be messing with me. He says she’s fine, but he knows I don’t believe him. They don’t call him The Fox for nothing. He’s sneaky, he keeps you guessing. No crime was ever the same, other than the origami and they were all women. Each time the scene was different.”
“Let’s just concentrate on finding her. We’ll broaden our search. We’ll worry about everything else later. Okay?” I nod to Marsh, but offer nothing more on the subject.
I’m leaning over my dining room table, looking at the map and searching the areas within a 200-mile radius, when my son barges into my house. He throws his bag roughly across the room and plops down on my sofa with his arms crossed over his chest and a deep scowl on his face.
“What’s going on?” I ask as Jon shuts the front door.
“I got escorted off the school property by a cop,” Dylan answers.
Jon clears his throat. “If I may?” Dylan shrugs and I motion with my hand for him to tell me already. “The school was not happy with my presence. They let me follow Dylan around for a couple of periods, then the principal asked me to just wait in my car. I refused, as per your order, and offered to stand outside the classroom door, but that wasn’t amenable for her. She asked us to leave.”
“I refused. It’s freaking insane. You’re almost chief of this pathetic town; they should at least let you have some say in your kid’s life!” Dylan is now pacing in his anger, reminding me so much of myself.
“So, you refused and they called the cops?” I ask for clarification.
Jon shakes his head. “No, she called the chief. The police didn’t come barging in. The chief said he understood your concern, but he had to side with the principal. The school is a safe place and Dylan would be fine. I reminded him there was a threat to Dylan already, but he wouldn’t budge.”
Anger boils within me. It’s all I can do to not pick up the closest thing to me and chuck it across the room. Why is this town against helping me find my wife! Okay, she’s not my wife, but as soon as this mess is over she will be. I’m not wasting anymore time.
“I can’t play tonight. Do you know how badly I want normal? This is so freaking insane! I hate this!” Dylan screams, storming towards the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He scoffs. “Why do you care?”
“I care because you’re my son and I love you. I’ll figure out a way for you to play.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’d be on the bench anyway.” He throws the door open and runs out.
“I’ll go,” Jon says, grabbing his coat and heading out after him.
“He’s just worried. I’m sure he knows you care.”
Gayle pats my arm. I had forgotten she was here. She has been constantly bringing us food and treats. She is just as worried as I am. Shayla may not be her blood, but she is her daughter, and the love that woman has for Shayla is unending. She’ll do anything to help bring Shayla home. She’ll also do anything for Dylan. For that, I’m thankful. I’m totally out of my element with being a parent, especially to a teenager.
“I know. I just don’t know what to do. He’s angry at me. I thought, at first, he was going to be okay, that we’d talked everything out and he knew I’d do what I could, but I think he blames me. I don’t know how to fix it with him. This is all my fault.”
“No, it’s not your fault. It’s the fault of the people who took her. That’s all. Don’t worry about Dylan. You just find Shayla. Bring my baby home, and I’ll take care of my grandson. Tom and I will take him to our house and make sure he knows you aren’t the bad guy here.”
She hugs me with that motherly way she’s always had, making me immediately feel better, even though it is short lived. I watch her and Tom leave and then turn back to my maps. I will find Shayla. I won’t stop until I do.
Chapter Fourteen
Shayla
“You’re something else. I underestimated you,” Mathis chuckles as he stuffs my phone in his front pants pocket. “You gave him everything he needs to find you. Granted, probably not in time, but he may surprise me.”
“I didn’t tell him anything,” I defend, praying he won’t really get the belt. I’m so bruised and sore. I don’t think I can handle anymore abuse.
He bops my nose with his fingertip. “You’re cute. Now, be a good girl and go to your room so I can go get your son. I’m moving the time table up a bit. We don’t want Ryan finding you too soon. I may not be able to do anything to you, but that son of yours is fair game.”
I jump up. “No! No! Please leave him alone. I’ll do anything you want. I swear. Just please leave Dylan out of this.”
He stares at me with his head cocked to the side. “You mean that, don’t you? You’d really do anything?”
“Yes! Yes, I’ll do anything you want. Just leave my son alone.”
His calculating glare makes my stomach turn but I don’t care. I meant what I said. I would do anything for Dylan. If it’ll keep my son safe, I’ll do it.
“Prove it.”
“How?” I ask.
He grabs my arm and pulls me to his chest, his grip is tight and painful. His other hand grips the back of my neck, pulling my hair until I’m straining to look up at him. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest, I’m afraid it might explode, and my breath comes in quick short pants, bordering on a panic attack. His face leans down, his lips almost touching mine.
“It doesn’t matter what you do for me. I’ll still kill
your son. I’m not your friend, Shayla. I won’t kill you, but that is only because my cousin is infatuated with you.” He pushes me away roughly. I stumble back, hitting the table and falling to the floor with a startled scream. I don’t bother getting up. I’m too afraid. He opens the side door, but pauses as he says, “Mark my words, Shayla. The moment my cousin is done with you, you will be mine and I will kill you in front of your beloved Ryan.” The door slamming makes me jump.
Sobbing, I scramble to my feet and run to my room, shutting and locking the door. I know the lock won’t stop anyone, but it makes me feel a modicum of safety. I grab the blanket from the bed, go to the closet, and curl up in the corner.
“Shayla?”
I startle awake as I hear Trevor calling for me, but I don’t answer. I assume, if he’s back, that I’ve been asleep most of the afternoon. I cover my head with the blanket and pray he doesn’t find me.
“Shayla?”
The door to the closet opens. I hear him approach. The blanket is slowly pulled from over my head.
“What’re you doing?” I don’t respond. He’s crouched down beside me. “Sweetheart, what happened?” He moves the hair out of my face. Gently, he wipes the tears from my face. “Please tell me what happened? Did Jason hurt you?”
I start to cry. The fact that I still have tears is amazing to me. I’ve done nothing but cry since I’ve been here. He pulls me into his lap, cradling me to him. He shushes me, promising me everything will be okay and Mathis will never touch me again.
“Tell me,” he demands with more force than he has so far.
“He just scared me, is all.”
“Scared you? How?”
I decide it isn’t in my best interest to mention my call with Ryan or that Mathis wants to kill me in front of my boyfriend. Instead, I go with, “He said you’d get over me and then he’d have me.”
Trevor growls, but his voice is tender. “No, I’ll never get over you. Your hold on me is permanent. I’ll do anything for you.” He kisses my temple. “You’re the most important person in my world.”
We sit on the floor for what feels like hours, maybe it was, I don’t know, but it’s the first time since I’ve been here that Trevor hasn’t scared me.
“Let’s get some dinner. I’ll help you cook.” The offer surprises me.
I turn to look at him and see he’s sporting a black eye. Instinctively, I reach to his face, barely touching him, but he leans into my palm. I try not to cringe. “What happened?”
He crocks a grin. “Your ex-boyfriend.”
“He punched you?” I ignore the ex part. I know arguing with him will only make me hurt worse than I already am.
“He did, but some officers pulled him off me. He’s convinced I have you.”
Relief floods through me. Ryan did catch my meaning. I doubt he’ll find me that quickly, but at least he’s headed in the right direction.
“I’m sorry,” I say lamely.
“Don’t worry. I give as good as I get. Now, up. We need to eat.”
My stomach drops and my lip quivers at the thought of Ryan hurt. I want to go home, so badly. If Trevor notices my response, he ignores it, for which I’m thankful. We head to the kitchen, his hand grasping mine tightly. He leads me over to the refrigerator.
“I wanted meatloaf for tonight, but since you’re so upset, why don’t we just have soup and sandwiches?”
“Sounds good,” I tell him. Though really, the thought of food right now makes my stomach roil.
“This is my grandma’s famous chicken noodle soup. She makes it when she comes to visit and freezes it for me. You’ll love her. She’s probably the sweetest woman alive.” His face beams as he speaks of his grandmother.
“She sounds nice.” I give him my fake smile, just to appease him.
“She is. Here, why don’t you warm this, and I’ll get the grilled cheese fixings.”
I take the soup and reach for a pot. “Um, would it be okay if I just had the soup. I’m still a little shaken up from today. I’m not sure I can eat much.”
He frowns and walks towards me; I flinch. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m sorry my cousin wasn’t as gentlemanly as he swore to me he would be. I’ll talk to him.”
He pulls me into a hug, then leans down and kisses me. I want to shove him away, scream, and hit any part of him that I can reach, but I don’t. I let him kiss me and try to stifle my tears.
“I love you so much, Shayla.” His voice is barely above a whisper.
He’s so sincere. How can he be so delusional? Can’t he see and tell that I don’t want him? That I don’t want to be here. I don’t say it back. I just can’t make myself give into him any more than I already have. I give him a forced smile and turn back to the stove to stir the soup. He strokes my hair like I'm a small child. Oh, how I hate him.
“You don’t have to say it back. I know you don’t love me yet, but you will. I know you will. I’ll be so good to you.” He leans down and kisses my shoulder before turning back to work on his sandwich.
~*~
The following morning, Trevor leaves for work around four a.m. From what I can tell, we must be at least two hours away because he’s generally not scheduled until six. I try to think of what counties are those distances away, but I just don’t know. I’m not familiar enough with the area to even venture a guess.
Mathis isn’t here today, but he’s left two of the men who tried to take Dylan to watch me. They mostly stay in the kitchen and play cards while I stay in my room. It’s at least nine before I decide to venture from my quarters, and since I’m free to roam the house, I take advantage of their distraction and try to find a way out, or maybe gather some information on where I am.
I’m not sure who stays in each room, but I choose the one beside mine to explore first. It’s like mine, as it’s decorated with nineteen-fifty era furniture, but there’s also a modern TV and computer. The computer is password protected and I yield no results in guessing. I leave it and move on to the dresser. There’s a small jewelry box and when I open it, I see a watch, a bracelet, and several rings. Three of which look like an engagement ring and two wedding bands, one in a man’s size. I hope those are hand-me-downs of Trevor’s and not intended for me. I pull open one of the drawers on the box and gasp. There inside lies my necklace, the one that was stolen from my childhood bedroom.
“What are you doing?”
I jump, dropping the locket into the pocket of my dress and grab a piece of paper off the dresser, balling it into my hand, then I quickly turn around, finding Lester leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Nothing,” I say immediately.
“Doesn’t look like nothing. What’s in your hand?”
He stalks over to me and I back up, looking frantically for a way around him, but there’s nowhere to go. I’m literally backed into a corner. He grabs my hand and wrenches it forward so he can rip the balled up paper out of my hand. He smirks.
“Do you think this will help you out of here?” He flips it back at me. “We change the codes daily and now we’ll do it a few times more.” He winks. “Get out of here!” he barks as he leaves the room.
I obey and hurry back to my room, slamming the door closed. I plop down on the bed. I wonder if they have the rest of my things. I’ll look for them if I get another chance. I don’t know what I’m going to do about escaping. They’re going to bring Dylan here. I have to warn Ryan; I have to do something. I need to get out of here. Maybe if I can escape, I can find a service station or someone who can help me.
I go to the closet and try to find something to wear outside. Most of the stuff in here are spring types of dresses. There’s nothing I can wear that will be warm. I head to the dresser. I find a sweater that will work, but the only other thing I can find is a long poodle skirt and some long johns. It’ll have to do. I get dressed as quickly as possible and casually wander into the kitchen.
“What’re you doing?” Travis, Lester’s brother
, asks.
“I’m hungry. Trevor told me I could roam around as I liked. I thought after I had lunch that I might clean the house a little.”
They smirk at me. “I think you’re a little overdressed for cleaning. You planning on going somewhere?” Lester questions, giving his brother a look.
“No, I’m just cold.”
“Umhm. I’m going to run a perimeter check. Keep a close watch on her. She’s up to something.”
Lester rises from his seat, grabbing his coat before heading to the back door, but as he passes me he reaches out and pinches my butt. I squeak and jump away from him.
“Don’t you go causing any trouble?” He laughs, exiting the house.
“He don’t mean no harm. He just likes to stir up trouble. He won’t hurt ya,” Travis says in his thick country drawl.
I decide to be nice, maybe if he trusts me, he’ll let his guard down. “Would you like a sandwich?”
“Nah, I just ate. Thank you though. It’s a little early for lunch, isn’t it?”
I shrug my shoulders. Trevor had me up with him at three thirty, and made me make and eat breakfast with him. So I honestly wasn’t hungry until now, around ten.
“This must be hard on you, being away from your loved ones.” I nod but don’t respond. “I didn’t want to take you or your boy. I’m glad he got away. I didn’t get into this to see anyone hurt.”
I sit across from him at the table. “Then why not help me get out of here?”
He chuckles. “I can’t do that. Nice try, though. I may not want to do this, but I’m being paid well enough not to care. That doctor of yours has deep pockets.”
“He’s not mine.”
“No, but you’re his now. Even if you tried to run off, we’d find you or you’d freeze to death. There’s nothing around for at least ten miles.”
My stomach drops. There goes my getting away plan, although it might still be worth trying. I finish my lunch, clean up in the kitchen, then head to the living room. It is decorated like the rest of the house, in the nineteen-fifty style. There’s a small uncomfortable looking sofa, two chairs, and an old TV set. There’s also a small corner fireplace and an old rotary phone. Please work. I check to be sure Travis is still occupied with his game, then hurry over to the phone and pick up the receiver. There’s a dial tone! I quickly call Ryan’s number.
Vengeance (Oak Grove Suspense Book 1) Page 21