“Yes, Father Roberts.” I take a deep breath. “I don’t want to marry him. Not today, not ever.”
The stunned look on Alec’s face is replaced by hatred.
His blind rage is apparent, but I figure my chances with two witnesses, albeit one a priest and one an accomplice, are better than none.
After the ceremony, I’ll be stuck alone with Alec, tortured, most certainly raped, then killed.
Father Roberts searches my face for a sign that I’m being facetious or even kidding. But the fear in my eyes and dilated pupils tell a different story.
“Let’s give the lady some time to breathe.” He puts down his bible.
Alec fakes a smile. “Let’s step away a second.” He’s pulling me out of earshot. He keeps it plastered on and whispers under his breath, “You stupid bitch. I should’ve killed you when I had the chance. If you go back inside or try to get help, I’ll fucking strangle you the way I strangled your dear friend.”
I burn holes into Alec as I stare at him, then I turn back to Father Roberts.
The last thing I want is to get Father Roberts hurt. I know what Alec is capable of and with George, there’s no telling what they would do. I doubt that he’s excused from Alec’s wrath just because he’s a man of God.
I weight my options. George has a gun. Alec has a knife. They have the control.
But I have the money.
I place my bets and roll the dice.
“Let’s go,” I say to him. “Please, let’s go now. I’m being held against my will.”
Once more he looks at me, unsure how to respond, an uncomfortable silence follows. I can tell he’s concerned but doesn’t know me or what to do at this point.
“Why don’t we go inside, and we can discuss this?” Father Roberts is agonized after my outburst. He’s rubbing his hands together as if he can wash away the unease.
He’s at an impasse—his duty is to officiate a wedding, not a funeral. And I imagine the last thing he expected when he arrived today was to be walking into a crime scene.
I start to follow the priest, but Alec pulls me to the side, his grip on my arm matches his tone. The priest is now further ahead of me out of earshot.
Alec takes the opportunity to wrap his hands around my neck cutting off my circulation.
“You’re going to finish your vows without one more outburst, do you understand?” I can’t even open my mouth to respond. “Or this will be the last breath you take.”
I’m gasping, choking for air, as he squeezes, intent on sucking the air out of my lungs.
I’m dead, vows or not. He’ll kill me now or later.
“You’re going to apologize to Father Roberts, say this is a bad joke.” He’s grasping his ear as he lets go of me.
I want to scream for the priest, but George makes sure to keep him occupied, their voices hushed ahead of us. He hasn’t the slightest clue what’s going on.
So close but so far away.
Chapter Fifty
Alec
The bitch is going to die. I’m going to choke her out, and her last memory will be of my face haunting her.
My vision is red, and it’s impeding everything, a shade that makes my mood, well, murderous.
Levin tried to give me up. How dare she?
No one knew she was missing. The house, or mansion, to put it accurately, is carved into the side of the mountain like it’s a natural formation that appeared as part of the landscape.
There’s no numbering on the structure or any signage which helps my case.
No one can find us without specific instructions. A gate code. The guard calling me.
But what now that we’ve been seen by the priest?
At this point, forging marriage documents and going back to California might be preferable. I’m sure George knows someone who could help with that. And Levin could be dead after they’re signed.
There’s an expression of horror, not bridal bliss, on her face, a variance from the typical bride.
Regretting my quick instinct to choke her, I unclench my hands from her throat.
The knife’s still in my pocket. I had it just in case she didn’t behave.
I whisper in her ear and shove it in the small of her back at the same time, “It’s time to make a deal.”
She opens her mouth to speak but still hasn’t caught her breath. It’s all air.
I press the knife harder into her skin. “Don’t play dumb.”
There’s a low whisper, “If you’re going to kill me, what does it matter?”
“I won’t kill you if you marry me. I need the money.”
“I don’t believe you,” her mouth’s in a hard line. “You’ll just kill me later on.”
I’m desperate. Levin motions that she needs to sit down. I lead her to the edge of the cliff, a downward fall the only way to escape.
“What’re the terms?” She’s spent, her voice emotionless.
“Marry me. Have children with me.” I wave the knife around in the air.
“But why wouldn’t I marry someone I love?” She’s disgusted at my proposal. “You’ll kill me the first chance you get. You do realize you won’t get the money?” She’s disgusted. “The kids have to be eighteen before they see a dime.”
I shake my head. George can take care of that. Forging is a loose term.
“I love you, though,” I plead. “We can make a deal.”
My resolve’s melting. I don’t want to kill her. I want to stop this precipitous behavior. I vow to stop hurting what’s mine.
“Who is that man at the villa?” I change topics.
“I never cheated on you, Alec.” She sighs.
“Who he is?” I trace the dirt with my shoe, the patent leather a dusty tan now, matching the desert backdrop.
“A guest of the resort, nothing more.” Her lips are pursed in thought.
Enough about that sorry bastard.
“Marry me, Levin.” I get back on track with the knife still poised in her lower back.
“Put the knife away, Alec.” She tries to turn her body away from my grip on her.
“Then tell me what I want to hear.”
“I can’t marry you.” Tears are streaming down her face. “You killed Eric.”
My face twists into a grimace, the earlier façade crackling.
“How dare you?” I bellow.
With the truth hanging in the air, I have to get rid of her and get rid of her now. There’s no turning back.
I seize her by the nape of the neck and walk toward the edge, the knife now cutting into her skin.
Levin starts screaming, but I clap a hand over her mouth.
She tries to spin around and sink her teeth into my hand at the same time.
I shriek and slap her across the face.
Behind me, someone hollers.
Startled, she falls backward.
Everything is happening in slow-motion as Levin goes down disappearing from sight.
I turn around in time to see the frozen look on a man’s face.
He’s tall, and the way he carries himself looks familiar.
As he gets closer, I see the CEO of that solar energy company, Jake Hunter, appear in my view.
I’m aghast that he’s here witnessing this. I’m right, she’s a cheating whore. This is her flavor of the week.
My focus should be on Levin, but the audacity of this man to show up on my wedding day, of all days, to snatch my bride from me, makes me want to hurdle myself at him punching him in the gut. One more person to get rid of, I sigh.
Oh, Levin darling, you’re free to explore your new choice in men.
Too bad you’ll be dead.
There’s a blood-curdling scream as Levin tumbles down. Along with Jake, I hear the squawk of Father Roberts, a rasping sound.
And two policemen.
I hold up my knife to let them know they’re not going to hurt me.
They sprint past me and almost lose their balance on the edge as they skid to a stop.
She’s gone.
Chapter Fifty-One
Levin
There’s a guttural scream, and it’s unclear if it’s coming from one of the men above or me.
I recognize the police uniforms and standing in between the two is Jake.
His outline stands out against the rest of the world—brown hair, piercing eyes, and at this very second, the deer-in-the-headlights expression as he realizes what’s happening.
I’ll never forget that look as long as I live, the numb horror on his face.
I hit my head as I connect with a sharp rock. Everything blurs.
Somehow, as I’m tumbling down, I manage to grab a handful of weeds growing out of the soil in between some boulders.
I feel the blood gush out of a wound on my head as I try to hold myself steady from sliding backward. If I hit the next drop, it will be my last breath. Alec won’t even get the satisfaction of doing me in.
I’m gasping for air trying to see through the trickling stream of blood that’s running down my eye. The weeds are breaking apart in my hand disconnecting from their roots. My fingers make an effort to dig into the soil, but it’s rocky and clay-like, compliments of the desert.
I take another deep breath, my hand losing the last bit of grip it has.
My thoughts drift to Jake—unsatisfied this is our ending. But at least he knows what happened to me. They will find my body. Before it was questionable. I could be buried in the desert, body parts hidden under a rock somewhere, discovered during the next ice age.
There’s nothing left to hold onto, nothing else in my visual horizon.
Only one way down, and I’m headed straight for it.
My eyes close in anticipation of the unknown. I brace for impact.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Alec
I hold on to the knife clutching it in my hand like it’s my lifeline.
Jake’s there in an instant, trying to find a way down that results in Levin being saved.
I’m pleased with my timeliness, the perfect end to a fucking nightmare. He sees her die. It’s worth it even though it wasn’t technically at my hands.
I’m concerned about the priest witnessing this. George is going to have another job to do. I hate to mess with clergy, but desperate times call for extreme measures.
Jake starts to inch forward and crawl down the side as the other men grab his legs. They ignore me for the present moment, all hands on Levin’s removal from the mountain.
Hopefully, dead on arrival.
A police officer comes running over with the bungee cord and rope they must’ve found in my stash.
It was never intended to save a life, just imprison one.
Working together, they’re able to tie some of the ropes together and secure the bungee cord on an impenetrable rock.
Disbelief clouds my face as my eyes twitch, my ears ring, dumbfounded that my chance to kill the crazy bitch is being sidetracked.
This isn’t supposed to turn into a rescue mission.
She deserves to be thrown down to her demise for all the hell she’s put me through.
“George,” I scream. “Shoot her.” I stamp my feet jumping up and down. I wave the knife around, “Kill her now.”
He’s in shock, his impenetrable façade starting to crumble. He turns and runs toward the house, this well-planned kidnapping a nightmare.
I’m frantic, my life and its trajectory flashing before my eyes—Eric, Heidi, my parents, Levin, the money.
She’s too much trouble, I think.
No good deed goes unpunished, and it certainly hadn’t in this case.
Levin’s had a good life since she met me, the stability she had craved.
She couldn't handle it.
How can someone be so self-absorbed that they don’t see they’ve been afforded every opportunity to have a privileged lifestyle?
My God, I think, she grew up without two nickels to rub together.
She meets me, and I change her life. All for the better. Clothes. Shoes. Furniture.
I made it possible for her to be unemployed, to have a killer body, and left the door open for plastic surgery. All I asked for in return is that she realize her place, that she belongs to me. The questions needed to cease.
She inherits money, and after all I do for her, she doesn’t think I’m entitled to some.
Ungrateful bitch.
She’s treated me like shit, raked me over the coals, battled me at every turn.
Just like everyone else—only into herself.
I would’ve confided in her about the business woes, eventually, but what good would that have done?
Eric’s dead. I had made that an absolute.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Levin
I’m stunned. I open my eyes, and Jake’s right in front of me instead of standing at the top.
I feel like he’s a mirage, the sun creating a surreal larger-than-life man.
I shut them again and quickly open them. He’s still standing there, just closer now.
The feeling of solace overwhelms me. He’s here. I was starting to think I’d never see him again. I’m beyond delighted.
We lock eyes, and he grabs my hand wincing at the cuts and bruises on my wrist, the ugly red marks a sordid reminder of the last day.
Nothing is said. There’s no time to waste.
He instructs me to grab the rope he’s clutching in his hand.
My vision’s blurred, the blood congealed, but I’m able to hold on as all three men pull the rope back, fast and in quick succession, getting Jake and me back on solid footing.
As soon as Jake can reach for my arm, he does.
The look of relief as I’m pulled up onto the ground is unmistakable.
I frantically search for Alec.
He’s off to the side, still holding the knife, the sunlight glinting off it.
“He’s got a knife, watch out,” I scream.
Now that the men are satisfied I’m safe, they turn their attention toward Alec.
Alec, in a cowardly act, takes off running. The police officers remove their guns from their holsters and follow suit.
Jake doesn’t leave my side, but sits back on the edge of a large rock and scoots back pulling me into his lap. My dress is tattered, shards of rock caught the fabric along with prickly bushes, maybe even a cactus, and long slits made a jagged pattern across it.
My heels fell off on the way down when I lost my footing, and my face is a swollen mess. A bruise is on one cheek, and now there’s a wicked cut that’s going to require some medical attention. I still had my limbs intact, and I am alive.
The rest of my body is scratched up and sore, yet the reassurance that Jake’s beside me is enough to overcome the superficial wounds.
Jake holds me as close as he physically can wrap me up in his arms. I breathe in his expensive cologne mixed with dry, desert air which will forever be the scent of comfort and relief.
He examines my face and arms before I bury it in his broad chest, and his somber face is enough to bring tears to my eyes.
There’s so much to say, yet, there’s nothing.
The silence spans on as the sobs wrack my body, and he pulls me closer soothing me with kind words and rubbing my back.
I don’t want to move from his embrace.
He brings his head in close to my face, and I feel wetness, his tears mixing with mine.
“Levin,” he breathes into my ear. “Levin, I thought I had…” There’s no need to continue the sentence, the gravity of what could’ve been is known between us.
The brown eyes are a deep chocolate color today. They peer deep into my eyes, and I’m privy to his emotions, a raw energy that’s brought him here—determination.
“How did you find me?” I sound tired. “Was it the text I sent?”
He shakes his head, “Nope, it couldn’t be traced. But the police were able to get access to your friend in San
Diego. When you weren’t at the villa, I contacted your supervisors. The woman whose name starts with an ‘A’?”
“Amada, yes, Maddy’s cousin.”
“She got in touch with Maddy and explained your situation.” Jake touches my skin, a night and day difference from Alec’s roughness. “We thought...” He can’t finish his sentence, he gulps.
“Another woman had also contacted the police. A woman named Janice.”
“Who’s George?” I’m curious. “I mean, what’s his relation to Alec?”
“He’s former military, former cop.” Jake’s thumbing my cheek. “He’s a PI now.”
“That explains a lot.” I’m putting together the pieces of how Alec has had his chum follow me, keep tabs on me, and is here for support.
“What is this place?” I whisper.
“A huge house. It’s not far from the resort. Just up higher and heavily guarded.” Jake sighs. “It took us some maneuvering to get in here and find the place.”
“How did you find the place?”
“There was an email from Alec to the owner. He paid for this place in cash and was careful not to leave paper trails. However, he emailed the owner about early checkout.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning he wanted to leave today instead of keeping it for another few days.” Jake pulls me close. “We lucked out. He just sent the email this morning. The cops have been watching his email communications. It’s been nil. His cell is also not picking up a signal.”
I absorb this information for a minute, then it hits me—I was going to be dead. He was going to head home, go back to our life in San Diego, and I was slated for an early departure on life.
“They were able to track his movements over the last few days, and they found the church the priest came from.”
I’m monotone as I say, “He killed my best friend, Eric, and his ex-girlfriend.”
Jake’s look is one of horror as he rubs my neck and nuzzles me to him. “We’ll have to tell the police. And one day, I’d like to hear about your best friend.”
Because You're Mine_Psychological Thriller Page 17