by Jess Buffett
"Shhh, now. No need to make a scene," he whispered. His lips curved into a grin. "We're going to take a nice little trip, just you and me."
*****
Blinking her eyes open slowly, Bri groaned when her head wouldn't stop spinning. Fear shot through her when she tried to reach up with her hands, and realized she couldn't move them. Her arms, along with her legs, had been tied to an old rickety chair that sat in the middle of a dimly lit room. Taking a good look around, she saw the barely there light came from two candles sitting on a small table, the only other piece of furniture in the place.
The door opened slowly and Bri held her breath. Shutting her eyes tightly, she gasped when Timothy stopped in front of her, reaching out to run a hand through her hair.
"Look who's awake," he said, squatting down.
He tilted her chin up and Bri tried to pull away.
He slapped her hard across the face. "Don't you dare pull away from me."
She flinched from the blow. "How did you find me?" Her vision blurred and she blinked to clear it.
He snorted. "I never really lost you." He pinned her with his gaze. "From the day you put me behind bars, I had someone keeping tabs on you." A cruel smirk twisted his lips. "And when I got out, I knew exactly where to find you."
The thought made her skin crawl. She didn't want to focus on the idea someone had followed her every move.
"What do you want?" she asked.
He lifted a brow. "I'm sure you can work it out."
She fought the urge to be sick. Timothy wanted to weasel his way into her family. He made no secret of his plan when he'd held her captive the first time. He had financial issues and his parents cut him off. He expected Bri to marry him, and they were to have children, securing his future. With her, he could have it all. But she ruined his perfect plot by breaking things off, and he'd taken what he wanted anyway. Bri didn't know if the man was crazy or just plain evil. She suspected both.
She pleaded, "Timothy, think about it. I'm engaged, and I'm pregnant. Your plan won't work. Just give this up. Leave before they come and I'll make sure no one follows."
Cocking his head to the side, his eyes narrowed. "There was a time you were pregnant with my child, Bri. Remember?" His gaze, malicious and full of madness, focused on her stomach.
Oh, God. Disgust rolled through her, and she nearly heaved.
He looked away from her. "Don't misunderstand. I no longer have any intention of marrying you," he glanced back, his voice full of venom, "or anything else."
A cold shiver snaked its way down her spine and dread filled her. The menace in his tone spoke louder than his actual words. He wanted revenge. Timothy didn't plan to keep her. He wanted her to pay. Bri didn't know which she feared more.
"You screwed up a lot, my dear," he tsked. "First by running for daddy and getting the police involved. I really didn't appreciate spending time behind bars," he reached down and drew a knife from his boot, "although, it did lead me to some interesting contacts that came in handy until I could buy my way out." His hand casually twirled the blade. "Take Kelly, for instance, that stupid girl. She was so desperate to get her family out of trouble, going from one loan shark to another. My guy found her and made her an offer she just couldn't refuse."
"Kelly?" she whispered.
Had he hurt the other woman?
Timothy crouched down. "Oh, yes. We're on her family's property. She has been so helpful, planting the doll for me to make you think I was closer than I really was. All she had to do was wait for the two of you to leave for your date. Such a small town, within the hour of one of their most eligible bachelors booking a dinner for two, everyone in town knew. She even acquired one of her daddy's rifles so I could play target practice with that cowboy of yours." He sighed. "I must admit, that annoyed her. Seems she has had her eye on cowboy Josh for a while, but you got in the way. You do that a lot, don't you?"
That bitch! Bri sure as hell didn't feel sorry for her now.
The feel of his breath on her skin made her turn away when Timothy leaned in.
"You made it so easy for her, Bri. So little faith in the man you claim to love. I wonder what he would think if he knew the last thing you ever did was doubt him. Hmm, maybe I might leave him a note. What do you think?" He stood and paced, debating what action to take.
"Timothy, just go. I'll tell them I didn't recognize who took me, and they'll have no proof it was you," she sobbed, tugging at the ropes that held her.
Tears streamed down her face at the hopelessness of the situation. He wouldn't let her go.
"No. Even if I was tempted, I would never be happy. At least not until I make you scream." He twirled the blade in his hand and cocked his head to the side, studying her. "Will you scream for me, Bri?"
Bri cried out when he brought the weapon up, pressing it to the skin of her arm. She tried to pull away, struggling against the rope that bound her, but she couldn't escape. Slowly, he pushed harder, and she couldn't hold out when the blade finally broke through her skin.
She screamed for him.
*****
Josh could commit murder. The need to destroy something, anything, rode him hard as he paced back and forth near the front desk at the station. Bri had gone missing two hours ago, and they were still no closer to finding out where Timothy had taken her. One thing Josh knew for certain—he would make the bastard pay. If he hadn't been on such a rampage, Josh might have been able to appreciate the fact the entire town had turned out to lend their support.
Sparing a glance in his brother's direction, he saw Caleb bent over in a chair, his head hanging low and his fingers clenched in his hair. The younger man blamed himself, but it could have just as easily happened to Josh. None of his words seemed to bring any comfort to his younger brother, and Josh didn't have it in him to pursue it further. All his time, energy, and emotions were focused on Bri.
Sin came to stand next to Josh, arms folded across the expanse of his chest. “We’ll find her.”
Josh nodded.
“I mean it, Josh. We will find her,” Sin’s voice was calm, with a hint of danger layered underneath. “And when we do, you, me, Caleb, and Noah...we’ll make sure he knows how wrong it was to take one of ours. Clear?”
“Clear.”
For the first time, Josh saw Sin was no longer the boy he had grown up with, the teenager who always got into trouble and the young man who flirted with anything in a skirt. He was dangerous, darker. His eyes held a dark glint that Josh didn’t think he could ever figure out. But something told him he would need that side of his old friend tonight. And that if anything happened to Bri before they found her, he might actually understand it then.
A throat clearing drew his attention away from Sin and he turned to see Noah standing with Kelly Skater and her father, Howard. He didn't like the grim expression on Noah's and Howard's faces. The shame on Kelly's would destroy any relationship he had with the Skater family.
"What did you do?" Josh growled.
"I-I swear, I didn't think he would hurt her. He was so sure the baby belonged to him," Kelly answered, stumbling over her words. "He just wanted another chance with her and his ba…" she trailed off when Josh took a threatening step toward her.
Never in his life had he wanted to cause harm to a woman.
Until now.
"My baby!" he bellowed. "My baby and my woman!"
Livid, Josh wanted to throttle Kelly. How could she be so stupid?
"I swear. I thought he was telling the truth." Kelly's eyes darted around, seeking help from anyone. "I thought she'd lied to you, that she would hurt you, Josh. Please, you have to believe me," she begged.
"The only one you were trying to help was yourself. Now tell me what you did," he demanded, reminding himself that he couldn't actually reach out and wrap his hands around her neck.
"He…he told me to get her away from everyone. If he could get to her and talk to her, he would be able to convince her to go home with him," Kelly sobbed. "I neede
d the money. Daddy's going to lose the ranch. He was just supposed to scare her enough that she didn't want to stay here. Then she'd go running back to him. I'm so sorry."
Josh didn't care about her regret. Fear for Bri consumed him.
Kelly flicked her gaze to her father, but even Josh saw the disappointment there. She would get nothing from him. "I knew Bri was in the other aisle, and Caleb on the other side of the store. When I started the conversation with Lyn and Fiona, I figured she would hear us talking and run outside or something, which is exactly what she did."
"Tell him what you said, Kelly," Noah ordered.
Looking down, she mumbled, "I said you lied when you said it was a group who went out. That you probably doubted the baby was yours, what with her ex hanging around. And I also mentioned your mother's ring." Staring up with watery eyes, she pleaded, "You hadn't given it to her, and when he said the baby belonged to him, I figured maybe you thought she'd lied too."
"What I have or haven't done is none of your fucking business. The only thing saving your damned hide right now is that you're a woman," he seethed.
Caleb launched himself from his seat, pointing at Kelly and shouting, "This is your fault. I've been blaming myself since I realized she was missing. I thought I failed my brother, but it was all you."
Josh sympathized with his brother, but he needed answers. "Tell us where they are, now."
"He paid me to let him stay in our family's bunkhouse," she whispered, eyes focused on the ground. "It's been empty since daddy let most of our hands go and moved the two we still have into the main house to save on utilities."
They were interrupted when one of Noah's deputies approached, a photo in hand. "We've got the picture of Timothy Nelson that you wanted, Sheriff."
Noah took the picture and held it out to Kelly. "Is this the man you've been dealing with?" At Kelly's nod, he cursed before addressing the crowd. "All right, listen up, everyone. We've got us a lead. Those of you who I've spoken with will come as backup, the rest of you stay here. Let's head for the Skater farm. Howard, Kelly, you're with me," Noah ordered.
The room erupted into chaos when people headed out, the sheriff and his men among them and Josh hot on their heels.
Josh's heart pounded hard, almost like it would explode out of his chest. Jumping in the sheriff's truck, he held on for dear life when it took off. Twenty minutes later they surrounded the edge of the Skater property near the bunkhouse. Between the sedan parked out back, and the lighting that flickered in the windows of one of the rooms, they were certain they were in the right spot. However, Noah and one of his deputies managed to get close enough for a visual confirmation. They weren't taking Kelly's word alone. Josh desperately wanted to barge in and grab Bri, but agreed to play by Noah's rules; it would be the best chance they had of getting Bri out unscathed.
He still couldn't believe the bastard had been right under their noses this entire time. Surely someone would have noticed.
Josh frowned.
"How did none of your hands noticed Timothy was here? How did you miss it?" he questioned Howard.
The man looked uncomfortable. "Like Kelly said, we only have two hands now, and they stay at the house."
"So you turned a blind eye when your daughter came up with the money," Noah stated, clearly disgusted. "Regardless of the consequences."
Howard paled. "You have to understand, sh—"
"Bri is in there with a madman who can, will, and has done terrible things to her. Don't you dare ask me to understand," Josh hissed. "Now, how the hell are we—"
Josh's head shot up when a scream rang through the air and cut off his response.
My God. Bri.
*****
Timothy stepped back and Bri stared up, sweat and tears blurring her eyesight. Her arms and legs felt like they had been set alight. Blood dripped down onto the floor. He played with her, stretching her torment out so he got the maximum amount of pleasure from her pain, before he finished her off.
The man smiled as if he could read her thoughts.
"Almost done, sweetheart. After all, I doubt you can take as much as last time, given your condition." He laughed menacingly.
God, she didn't want to think about being pregnant. She didn't want to think about losing her baby. Of Josh losing them both. It killed something inside her to know he might suffer so much. And her baby, her innocent baby. Bri sobbed harder and harder, finished with trying to hide fear and despair from Timothy.
“That’s more like it. Cry, scream, give me everything.” His laughter was loud, consuming in the small room. “So good, Brianna. You were always so good.”
Something inside her snapped. Nothing she ever did had been for him. She was sick of people wanting something from her, even if it was just for her to get better so they didn’t have to be so worried, so scared. The only person who had never asked her for anything was Josh. The only person she was prepared to give anything to was Josh.
“Fuck you,” she panted.
Timothy froze, his eyes pinning her where she sat tied. “What?”
“I said...fuck you,” she spat, lifting her head defiantly, her tears having stopped with her anger. “I never belonged to you. I never did anything for you. You are a sick fuck. I hate you. I despise you. I may be scared of dying, scared of leaving the people I love, but I refuse to be scared of you, you bastard.”
Pain sliced across her face as he backhanded her, but she only laughed, distantly thinking maybe more than anger had snapped inside of her. “Oh, what’s wrong? Poor little Timmy getting his feelings hurt because he realizes no one gives a rat's ass about him?”
“You care about me,” he sneered. “You care that I’m going to kill you and your baby.”
She shook her head. “You are pathetic. I care about your actions, the consequences. I couldn’t give a damn about you. And that’s the problem, isn’t it?”
Timothy glared, eyes sparking with fury, yet she noticed the more she talked, the less he physically attacked her.
“You were never good enough, were you? Not even for your family. That’s why you needed so desperately to insert yourself into mine.” She laughed. “You have daddy issues the size of fucking Texas.”
“Shut it, you little bitch.”
“Or you’ll what,” she scoffed. “Kill me? You already said you were going to do that. Thing is, Timothy, you did teach me one thing.”
“And what was that?” His tone was sarcastic, yet there was something in his eyes, genuine curiosity.
“That I’m a fighter,” she stated simply. “You taught me that I am a fighter. You should have broken me, and you nearly did. I’m furious with myself that it has taken me this long to realize that.”
He appraised her for a moment, as if studying a fine piece of art. “You know what? You are right, Bri. But you know what that means don’t you?”
Bri shivered at the pure joy she suddenly saw in his gaze as he stepped closer again, knife held out toward her. She raised her brow, but refused to answer him, though she thought she knew where he was going with this line of thought.
He chuckled manically, pulling out a gun in his other hand. He held them as though he were weighing them...or perhaps weighing his options. “It means that when I do finally break you, it will be that much sweeter. I wonder just how long it will take?”
The knife dug deeper than before, and Bri struggled to hold on, hold it in. But she couldn’t. Again, she screamed.
*****
Josh burst through the door, heedless of Noah's shouts for him to stop. He could hear Bri screaming from further in the abandoned bunkhouse. Heading toward the noise, he froze in horror as he rounded the corner, finding himself in the old dining room. Tied to a chair, Bri had blood dripping from wounds on her body and he wanted to roar in agony. Placing his finger on the trigger, he raised his gun and stared into the eyes of the first man he had ever wanted to kill.
"Please, just make one more move, asshole," Josh growled.
Noah a
nd his deputy stepped in beside him, their weapons drawn, followed quickly by Caleb and Sin who were also armed. Timothy held a sidearm in his hand, and aimed it at Bri. Josh managed to maneuver himself between the gun and Bri as Timothy’s attention was drawn to the extra people filling the room.
The madman’s eyes darted around widely.
"Keep your hands where they are," Noah shouted. "Josh, I'll deal with this piece of shit, you go check on Bri."
Josh raced forward, untying her restraints. "Christ, lavender. Are you okay, honey?"
Bri sobbed. "I-I thought you w-wouldn't find me, but you did. You did," she repeated over and over. “Wouldn’t let him. Wouldn’t let him break me.”
Josh feared regardless of her words that something had snapped inside of her. He called out for help when a struggle ensued behind him and shots were fired. Clutching Bri tightly to his chest, Josh raised his gun, and nearly dropped it again at the sight before him. Every other man in the room stood there, their guns pointing at Timothy's bloody body where it lay lifeless on the ground.
"What the hell?"
"Stupid fool went to take a shot. Don't know what he was thinking." Noah shook his head in disbelief. "What was he gonna do? Shoot his way out."
Noah's radio went off, startling them. Josh focused on Bri, not listening to the other men until Noah grabbed his attention.
"A helicopter with medics from a hospital in Dallas has just arrived. Seems your soon-to-be father-in-law sent them. Her parents are meeting you there." Noah winced.