“Addison hired me to be here,” she snapped. “Why are you here, dickhead?”
“You did a shit job of protecting her, didn’t you? She wouldn’t be in this situation if you’d figured out who her stalker was a little sooner? What were you doing, Sitnikov, taking her money and fucking around?” he snarled in her face. “That how you got fired from the city police in the first place? Did a piss poor job of actually detecting shit?”
“That’s enough, Mercer,” King said warningly.
“Fuck you,” Jane yelled back at him. “Maybe if she trusted you to protect her she would’ve told you about her stalker, like a normal girlfriend would tell her normal boyfriend. Oh… oh did that bother you? Did I detect a little flinch there, big guy? What’re you gonna do about it? Gonna choke me out again, like last time? Or maybe go old school and just punch me. I bet you like punching girls, don't you?”
He reached for his cell phone as he climbed into the vehicle. He looked back at her in the rearview mirror. “Not going to punch you, little girl. Going to call your husband and tell him where you are. Betting the Russian Boss has no fucking clue where his property is right now.”
“You son-of-a-bitch!” Jane tried to launch herself at him from the back seat, but Daniel shoved her back.
“Put it away,” King rumbled from beside Daniel. “You’ve made your point.” His eyes met hers in the mirror. “Besides, Vladimir will know soon enough. He has ears all over this city. It’s probably best if she tells him herself. You two need to drop these ridiculous hostilities. Let’s just get to Addison and hope like hell she’s okay.”
Daniel stared hard out the window as they drove. He wanted to blame Jane Sitnikov for this mess, but she was right. He was to blame. He should’ve protected Addison. He should’ve been a proper boyfriend to her right from the beginning. If he had been, then she would’ve told him about her stalker and he could have taken care of Erica long before she could’ve ever touched Addison. If anything happened to Addison, it was his fault. If anything happened to her, he wasn’t going to be able to live without her sweet self in his life. He needed her light to balance his dark. Without it, the dark would consume him and everyone around him.
***
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Erica wailed, pressing one hand against the wound over Addison’s collarbone.
The gash was deep enough to reach the bone, but it wasn’t serious. Or at least that’s what Addison hoped. Blood soaked into her blouse, but gradually became sluggish. She almost laughed out loud when she realized that just that morning she was wondering what colour her shirt was. Well, watermelon coloured or not, the blood was definitely going to ruin this particular outfit. Probably so was the long cut over her ribs on the other side, she thought cynically. There was also a nick over her cheekbone that seemed to be dripping blood down her face.
At least her physical appearance now matched the macabre dinner scene that Erica had set up for them. Addison shuddered in disgust as Erica lay her head against Addison’s breasts and sobbed out her misery at how badly her perfectly planned evening had ended. If it weren’t for the knife clutched tightly in Erica’s fist, Addison would most definitely have shoved her away and told her exactly what she thought of this ‘perfect’ date. The chill evening air wrapped around Addison’s bare arms, telling her that the sun was finally setting and it was nearly time for her to take advantage of the coming darkness.
In order to do that though, she would need to summon some acting ability to distract Erica. With heavy apprehension, she touched Erica’s head and brushed the strands away. “I… I’m so sorry I ruined everything Erica. That was never my intention. I guess I’m just… just a temperamental musician. I just can’t seem to stomach food right now, but you were right, these were all of my favourite things. And I so appreciated that you thought of them for me.”
Erica sniffled and raised her head off Addison’s lap. She took Addison’s hand and pressed it against her cheek. “You have no idea how much work it was to get all of this stuff here and to check on it every week. There was this homeless guy who was sniffing around our stuff once. I can't even tell you what I had to do to protect it from him.”
Horror settled in the pit of Addison’s stomach and she felt as though she was going to throw up. She shuddered and then forced herself to continue speaking. She remembered feeling a candle roll against her hand when Erica had thrown her against the table.
“You’re so thoughtful Erica, I bet you even thought to bring romantic candles for the occasion, didn't you?” Addison said.
“Oh yes, I did!” Erica said excitedly, getting to her feet.
“Do you think you could light them for us?” Addison asked innocently, hardly daring to breath.
“Of course I can! I even brought matches!”
Addison held her breath and waited. Erica would have to put the knife down to light the candles. If Addison timed it right, she would be able to get the knife away from her when Erica put it down. “How many candles are there?” she asked and then explained. “I’m able to see a little bit of light and it… it makes me happy.”
“Four candles,” Erica said happily. She bent over and kissed Addison, pressing her cold lips against Addison’s for a few seconds. Addison forced herself not to shudder in response.
Then Erica moved back and began moving around the table. Addison let out a tiny breath and listened. Erica placed each one back in its holder, set the knife down, struck the match and lit the candle before moving on to the next. As Erica drew closer, Addison could indeed see the tiny flare of light as the match lit.
“Last one,” Erica said, standing in front of Addison.
Idiot, Addison thought as Erica set the knife down right in front of her and lit the match. Addison knew she would have to be incredibly fast if she wanted to get out of the clearing in one piece. Erica was bigger, stronger and motivated by deep-seated psychotic obsession. Plus, she could fucking see!
Addison grabbed the knife and flung it as hard as she could into the forest, away from both women, knowing that if she held onto it, Erica might be able to get hold of it and turn in against her. Then, as fast as she could, Addison flung herself off of her chair and onto the ground, shoving the chair into Erica’s legs and toppling her over. Addison pushed the chair onto Erica’s back as she tried to get up. She leaped to her feet and kicked Erica as hard as she could to slow her down, landing the blow in Erica’s side, and began running. She realized right away that her jingling flip flops were going to give her away and kicked them off her feet.
Addison ran as fast as she could with her hands out in front of her. Despite the precaution, she still ran full tilt into a tree, slamming into the trunk with enough force to knock her onto her back. She swallowed a scream of agony as she rolled over on the forest floor clutching her head and arms where they were scratched and bruised. Tears of helpless anger and despair flowed down her face as she forced herself back onto her feet. She began running again, arms outstretched, this time at a slower pace. She ran into more trees, but with less bruising force. Now she used them to fling herself forward, wrapping her arms around them, occasionally stopping to listen for Erica’s voice. Her bare feet began to hurt unbearably as she stepped on rocks and branches, but she made herself keep going. She moved her way steadily toward the rushing of the river, knowing that Erica wouldn’t be able to track the sound of her movements over the sound of the river.
It felt like she had been running forever. He lungs burned and her legs ached. Her feet felt raw from stumbling over roots and branches. As she slowed to catch her breath, she realized she couldn’t hear Erica calling her anymore. She was about to start searching for the footpath that she knew ran close to the riverbank when she heard Erica’s crazed voice calling her, much closer than it had been since Addison escaped her. It sounded like Erica was only yards away from her and closing. Addison swallowed a scream and ran full tilt toward the river, hoping if she could just reach the path maybe she would find an evening jo
gger who would help her. But she overshot the distance to the path and went hurtling down the river valley, straight down the bank toward the rushing river.
Addison tried desperately to slow her descent. She didn't want to end up in the river at this time of year. With the spring runoff coming down from the mountains, the river was extremely dangerous. She felt her skirt rip on a branch just before she tumbled into the river. She reached out, trying to grab hold of the branch to drag herself back out, but she was swept right out into the raging water.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Addie, is that you?” Erica called sweetly, stepping around the tree where she had just seen a shadow lurking. “I’ll forgive you if you just come out now and go back to the car with me.”
“Forgive this, bitch,” Daniel growled, sending his fist into Erica’s face. The tall blond woman dropped to the ground like a stone, knocked unconscious by the blow.
Daniel pulled his gun out of the holster and pointed it at her head. King put his hand on Daniel’s arm. “Not the time. We need to find Addison first.”
“She fucking took my woman,” he snarled, staring death at the woman unconscious at his feet.
“Trust me,” King argued. “This won’t be enough for you.”
“I’ll watch her, you go find Addison,” Jane panted, catching up to the two men who took one stride for every two of hers. “Boris is on his way, he’ll help me get her to the car. We’ll make sure she gets to the tower for you. I promise.”
Daniel gave her a hard look.
She shrugged. “You can pay for my services if it makes you feel better. Now go find my client!”
***
Addison liked to think positive and be proactive about life, but she was pretty sure that this was the worst blind person luck of all time. Now all she needed was a waterfall or something. Luckily she was pretty sure there were no waterfalls anywhere in the park. Although what the river did after leaving the park… She decided screaming at the top of her lungs whenever she wasn’t being pulled under by deadly currents was a good plan.
Addison tried hard not to panic, but she wasn't a strong swimmer. She didn’t like pools, lakes, or oceans, so she didn’t go swimming often. There was something about not being able to see what was underneath her that always bothered her. Her parents hadn't objected to her unwillingness to take swimming lessons because she’d had more time for cello lessons. Now that she was rapidly drowning in a river, she regretted that choice.
Addison gasped for breath as she fought her way to the surface over and over again. The cold water was also beginning to affect her, numbing her limbs and disorienting her. At one point she began swimming down toward the riverbed instead of toward the surface and had to turn around in the water. She opened her mouth to scream in frustration and swallowed a bucketful of dirty river water.
She cried out as she was dragged along some rocks and desperately reached out to grab one. She managed to hang on for a moment, but the current was too strong and eventually she was dragged away from her momentary haven and back under the murky depths. She knew she was going to drown as soon as her head began to cloud and weary acceptance began to replace the panic.
A voice penetrated the fog calling her name. Erica! Panic overwhelmed Addison for a second and she began flailing her arms and sinking back under the icy cold surface. Then she realized it couldn’t be Erica, it was a man's voice that was calling her name. Erica’s voice was high-pitched and annoying. Except when she was making her freaky stalker calls, then she was whispering, like that voice from the movie Scream. Which ironically Addison had let herself be talked into listening to several years ago, but now really wished she hadn’t given her current circumstances.
Wake up, Addison!
“Here!” she called as loud as she could manage through a mouthful of water. “Help!”
“Addison!” the voice was closer. “Over here, I think she’s in the fucking river.”
“Daniel!” Addison screamed. “I’m here!”
She heard a splash and then seconds later bands of steel engulfed her. She knew instantly it was Daniel that held her tightly against him. His powerful muscles bunched against her as he pulled her toward the riverbank and safety. She tried to wrap her arms around him, but she was too cold. Her limbs just floated uselessly as he swam them toward the steep rocky shore. She sobbed weakly against his chest as he swam.
She felt herself being lifted away from Daniel and whimpered as his hands fell from her body. Tyson King chuckled as he cradled her against his massive chest, rubbing warmth back into her arms. “He needs to pull himself out too, girl, give him a few seconds.”
Before she had a chance to ask again, Daniel was reaching for her. Tyson handed her back over and she was once more wrapped in the familiar protective arms of her lover. She turned her face against his neck and let the tears fall. “I thought I was going to die,” she cried helplessly.
“Shh,” he murmured, kissing her head and holding her tightly. “You’re safe. She can’t hurt you.”
They took the path at the top of the riverbank out of the park. Addison was surprised at how short the walk was back to the car. Daniel explained that she had come quite far down the river. She shuddered at that knowledge and he held her tighter against his hard chest until she could hardly breath, which was fine with her. When her arms were warm enough that she could move them again, she lifted them and wrapped them around his neck, wincing as the wound over her collarbone pulled.
“How badly did she hurt you?” Daniel asked gruffly as they approached one of Tyson’s SUV’s.
He set her gently on the back seat and began examining her in the dim interior light. First he touched her cheekbone, where Erica had nicked it with the knife. He growled darkly. It unsettled her. She could feel death within him, and it was after he’d only seen that one little cut.
“It’s only superficial,” she assured him, stealthily pulling her shirt over her other cuts with her uninjured wrist. Panic flared in her when she realized she had no idea where Erica was. “Where is she? Where’s Erica?” she asked hysterically reaching out blindly.
Daniel took her hand in a reassuring grip and pushed her further into the vehicle, following her in and gathering her against his side. “She can’t hurt you again.”
She collapsed against him in relief. “You found her?”
He didn’t respond, instead speaking to King, who was driving them. “She needs a hospital.”
“There’ll be questions,” King rumbled, glancing back at Daniel meaningfully.
Addison’s heart sank. Did that mean they had Erica and were going to do something awful to her? She didn’t know how to feel about that. She was horrified at what Erica had nearly done to her, but she couldn’t be complicit in anything happening to the other women. She would much rather Erica go to prison than have Daniel do anything to her.
“Please, Daniel, about Erica…”
“There’s nothing to discuss,” he growled down at her.
She knew better than to argue with him. She would just have to find another way. Later, when she wasn’t so exhausted. She also didn’t want to have to go to the hospital and tried to tell him so, but once again he prevailed.
“You could have hypothermia, Addison,” he snapped impatiently. “We’re going to a hospital.”
Three hours later, after Addison had been thoroughly examined and briefly interviewed by the police, both under Daniel’s uncompromising supervision, Addison desperately hoped Erica really had gotten away. She’d truthfully told the police that she hadn’t heard Addison after she’d tumble into the river and for all she knew Erica was still out there in the park where the police were currently processing the ‘crime scene.’
When Daniel was asked if he’d seen Erica while searching for Addison in the park he crossed his arms and refused to speak. The only time he said anything was in relation to pulling Addison out of the river. He didn’t tell the police how he knew where to find her or how he found out who h
er stalker was. In fact, when it came to helping the professionals out, he was spectacularly unhelpful.
When confronted on his attitude, he commented blandly, “You’ll hear from my lawyer on the city PD’s mishandling of Ms. Sterling’s case. That’s how she got these injuries. Could have easily resulted in her death. Anything else?”
The two officers that were assigned to take Addison’s statement left quickly after that, assuring Addison that everything in their power would be done to find Erica Pennington and bring her to justice. Addison tried to soften Daniel’s words by smiling kindly and reassuring them of her belief in their abilities. She turned to Daniel and frowned up at him.
“Is it just your natural charm or do you make friends everywhere you go?” she asked sarcastically.
He brushed the messy fall of her hair back off her face and shoulders and gently pushed her back on the hospital bed. He sat next to her on the narrow bed and she rolled over, curling her body against his warmth. He picked up her injured wrist and stroked his fingers over the bandage so lightly it felt like a butterfly’s touch.
“Cracked wrist,” he said, then set her wrist down and lifted his blunt fingers to brush them over the stitches on her cheek. “Two stitches here.” He touched her collarbone. “Nine stitches.” His voice became harder, more uncompromising as he catalogued her injuries. His hand drifted over her ribcage, just beneath her breast. “Five stitches. Your feet are bruised and cut to shit.” He leaned forward and touched his lips to her forehead. “Possible concussion.”
“Addison versus tree. Tree won,” Addison said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Don’t.”
She sighed and nodded. “Make your point then, because I’ve had a really bad day and I’m over being terrified and sad, Daniel.”
“I want them to pay,” he growled.
“Who?” she asked.
“Everyone.” He thrust an agitated hand through his hair and leaned away from her as though not wanting to touch her with the swirling darkness that surrounded him. “I want to fucking tear out the guts of everyone that led you to this point. I want revenge, Addison. And I’ll have it.”
Fear in Her Eyes (Fire & Vice Book 5) Page 26