This must be done. Today.
She called the cab company and gave them an address one block away from her house. She slipped out of her bedroom window and fell into the bushes. Cursing, she jumped up and wiped the small branches off her clothes.
She peeked around the corner of the house and, thankfully, Shane still sat in the white Ford Taurus, acting as if he were reading the newspaper.
So far, so good.
It didn’t take long for the cab to pick her up. She gave the cabbie directions and told him to drive slowly. Peeking over her shoulder every other mile, she checked to see if Shane was following. Once again, she was in luck.
They arrived at the Montgomery Mansion within twenty minutes. She paid the cabbie, asked him to wait, before she climbed out, and walked up to the front door on shaky legs. Within seconds, the butler came to the door.
“I need to speak with Terrel. Is he here?”
“Yes. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
With a ragged sigh, she wandered into the parlor and to the liquor bar. She should pour herself a good amount of whiskey, but decided against it. She needed a level head right now, and although the alcohol would calm her nerves, she needed to think clearly. Funny how she used to want a glass of liquor whenever she was with Terrel. Now she didn’t.
The tile outside the parlor thudded from someone’s shoes, and she turned just in time to see Terrel strolling through the double doors. Wearing a three-piece, pinstriped gray suit, he looked as if he were on his way to work...or running for President of the United States. He smiled as he walked up to her and wrapped her in his arms. Hard to believe she preferred the gruffy look of Eli compared to Terrel’s perfect appearance.
“It’s about time you came out of your hole.” He kissed her lips, but she turned her head.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
“You’ve been holed up in your apartment for the past several days. Have you been sick?”
How does he know I’ve been in my apartment? “Uh, yes, I was having my migraines again.”
“You’re feeling better, I hope.”
“Yes.” She stepped away from him and over to his sofa. “Terrel, I think we need to talk about the wedding.”
He lowered to the sofa, pulling her with him. “All right, honey-bear.”
She cringed, hating when he called her that name.
“What is it you need to talk about? Aren’t the plans going on schedule? Are you having a problem with the wedding planner? Do you need me to fire anybody?” He chuckled.
She rolled her eyes. He was so full of himself, thinking he had to do everything for her. She cocked her head to the side. “Actually, there is someone you could fire for me.”
His brows rose. “Really? Who is that?”
Here was her chance—she had to take it. “My fiancé.”
It only took a second before he laughed out loud. He took her hand and stroked it. “Oh, honey-bear, I know I haven’t been very attentive lately, but the company has picked up business and we’re getting ready—”
“I don’t care about how inattentive you’ve been lately, Terrel.” She took a deep breath, pulling her hand away from him. “The reason I’m here is to...to...to cancel our engagement. To stop everything.”
The laugh lines around his eyes and mouth disappeared, his brown eyes turning icy. “This is a little sudden. Are you getting cold feet perhaps?”
She moved to the window. Pulling back the white lace curtains, she gazed out to the green lawn and manicured hedges. She’d always thought this was a beautiful home. If it weren’t for Lisa and Terrel living here...but then Joshua would take over his house once he got out of the hospital.
She cleared her throat. “At first I thought I was getting cold feet, but the more I pondered about it, the more I realized—” She looked back at him. “I realized I didn’t really love you.” She shrugged. “I don’t believe I was in love with you before.”
A nerve on his cheek jumped, and his hands balled into fists but his expression remained calm. Too bad she couldn’t feel that emotion right now. Her heart was playing leap frog with her other organs so frantically right now, she thought she might have a heart attack.
Finally, after several earth-shattering silent minutes passed, he sat back on the sofa and rubbed his chin. “What made you decide this?”
She sighed heavily. “Oh, Terrel. Everything made me decide that. I’d been having really bad headaches, and I knew I wasn’t happy. I don’t like the way you belittle me, and I especially don’t like the way you never put me first in your life. All you and your mother wanted to do was control me, and I can’t have that kind of marriage.”
He stood and walked to her, his gaze burning right through her. “So, there’s no other man in your life that helped you come to this decision?”
Her heart jumped to her throat. She hoped he didn’t know about Eli. “No, Terrel.”
He nodded and folded his arms, wearing that all-too-familiar cocky, smug expression. “My brother Joshua didn’t sway you at all, huh?”
She sucked in a quick breath, and the blood drained from her face. Her tight throat made it impossible to swallow, so she gritted her teeth and held onto the edge of the window. “Joshua?” She shouldn’t have said anything, because she knew the quiver in her voice would tell him the true story.
It had. He arched a condemning eyebrow. “Yes, Joshua. You know, my brother.”
“The brother that died right after your father did?”
He reached out and took a lock of her hair, rubbing it through his finger and thumb. She tried not to flinch, but her body stiffened automatically.
“You know Joshua isn’t dead.”
She tried to steady her quick breaths. “Terrel? What are you saying?”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “Doctor Goodwin recognized you from our engagement photo. He thought I might like to know my future wife is visiting my loony brother.”
She slapped his hand away from her hair and scowled. “If anyone is loony, it’s you, Terrel. You know as well as I do Joshua isn’t crazy.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe what a greedy man you really are. All of this because you had to be the president of your stepfather’s company. All of this because you couldn’t stand to be second best.”
He released a growl before his claw-like fingers bit into her shoulders. He shook her. “Don’t ever talk to me like that. I deserve more respect.”
She wanted to spit in his face, but refrained for now. “You deserve every terrible thing you’ve done to your brother...and more. You’re the one who needs to be locked away from the rest of the world.”
His mouth twisted in an evil smile as he pulled her body against his, crushing her with his steel-like arms as they wrapped around her. He placed a not-so-tender kiss on her mouth and she squirmed.
“Oh, why, why did you have to find out?” he mumbled, pulling away just enough to glare into her eyes. “You know I can’t have you running around telling everyone about my brother. Soon, the right people will start asking questions and all hell will break loose.” He paused, his jaw hardening. “And I can’t have that, can I?”
Her blood turned to ice. Was he threatening her? She held her breath, afraid to make any movement at all.
“I guess I could just kill my brother.” He shrugged. “It’s either you or him, and he’ll be easier to kill.” He tilted his head and gave her a look of sympathy. “Of course, if you go blabbing your mouth about what I’ve done, you may end up like Joshua.” He ran his knuckles down her cheek to her neck. “And I’d hate to think of you locked away in a mental institution for the rest of your life.”
She shook her head. “You can’t kill Joshua. I won’t let you.”
Where that came from, she had no clue. Terrel frightened her out of her wits, so to challenge him to his face...that was suicide.
He widened his eyes. “You won’t let me?” he mocked. “And what are you going to do to stop me?”
She bit her tongue. She’d said too much as it was. There was no way she could tell him about how she’d involved her father already. Now she wished she hadn’t ditched her bodyguard. He could be here with her right now prying her ex-fiancé off her. Inwardly, she groaned. She’d dug herself in a hole now.
“Oh, let me guess who’ll try and stop me. Dear ole Daddy?” He chuckled. “Honey-bear, there’s nothing your father can do that I can’t undo. I have connections beyond your imagination. I have half of the police force in my back pocket.”
She cringed. “What are you going to do with me?” she asked, her voice quivering.
He sighed. “I don’t know. I haven’t figured that out yet. But I can’t keep you here, especially today.” He yanked her arm and pulled her toward the door. “Besides, once the police realize you’re missing, this is the first place they’ll look.”
Her heart dropped to the floor her feet where shuffling on. “Missing? I’m going to be missing?”
“For now, until I figure out what to do with you.”
She couldn’t let him do this to her. Yet, as he pushed her out the front door toward his car, she couldn’t think of how to stop him. He was bigger, stronger, and definitely, more commanding than her.
Frantically, she searched for the cab. Why hadn’t it waited for her like she’d asked? Then again…she had paid him already. Stupid cabby!
“Get in,” he growled.
She turned and planted her hands on her hips. “Terrel, leave me alone! I’m tired of being pushed around by you.”
He pressed her against her car, his body blocking any escape she could have. “Listen, my dear honey-bear. There’s a gun in the pocket of my suit jacket. Don’t make me get it out.”
She bit back the sob threatening to leave her throat. What have I done? Why didn’t she listen to her father and stay away from Terrel?
“Why...why are you carrying a gun?” she whispered.
“I’m heading to one of my top priority meetings.” He grinned. “Now get in the car like a good girl. I would hate to be forceful out here in public.” He stroked his knuckles down her cheek. “And I’d hate to bruise your pretty face.”
Although he’d already injured her heart, she didn’t want him bruising her face, too. She gave him a nod, as shaky as it was, and climbed in the car.
Chapter Ten
After she parked the car in the driveway of a house she’d never been to, Terrel pushed her out and toward the front door. This subdivision didn’t have the grand mansions as where Terrel lived, but were almost as ritzy.
Who could possible live here? Weren’t all his friends wealthy and snobby like him and Lisa? She dared not ask about the occupancy. Not yet.
He reached in his pocket again and moved the bulky object against the material. “Ring the doorbell.”
A gray-haired woman wearing a maid’s apron answered the door. She smiled at Terrel. “Hello, Mr. Montgomery.”
Kendra threw a glare over her shoulder at him. Whoever lived here knew Terrel quite well.
“I need to speak with Tina.”
Kendra lifted her eyebrow. A woman? How interesting.
The minute they stepped into the house, Kendra had a sinking feeling she knew who this Tina was. After the maid left, she whispered to him, “What are the chances we’re at Tina LaRousse’s house?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Good guess. What gave it away?”
She cocked her head. “How close are you and Tina?” She paused, then continued, “You can be honest with me for once. After all, we’re not getting married, and I already hate you.”
He chuckled. “Tina and I have been lovers for quite some time.”
She nodded. “If I would have married you, would she have continued to be your mistress?”
“Yes, until I became bored anyway.”
His answer was like a slap in the face. It shouldn’t bother her, but the sting of rejection was like pouring vinegar on an open wound. Her chest ached and she cursed her reaction. “Why didn’t you just ask her to marry you?”
He shook his head. “Tina didn’t have the right connections.”
“My father,” she muttered. Eli had been right. For certain…time-travel was possible.
Tina came skipping down the stairs in a T-shirt and regular blue jeans until she noticed Kendra. The woman stopped on the steps. Automatically, her genuine smile turned fake.
“What a pleasant surprise to have the future Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery grace my home.”
“Tina love, no need for pleasantries,” Terrel said. “This isn’t a friendly visit.”
The other woman’s forehead creased as she continued down the stairs. “Oh?”
Terrel gripped Kendra’s arm and pushed her forward a couple of steps. “I need a place to hide her. She knows about Joshua.”
Tina’s eyes widened and Kendra was sure hers did also. Tina LaRousse knew about Joshua and was actually going along with it? What was the real story to all of this?
The other woman huffed and folded her arms across her chest. “Why here?”
“Because I can’t keep her at my house. That’s the first place the cops will look.”
Tina walked up to Kendra. She wanted to claw the other woman’s face, but retracted her nails. She’d save that privilege and effort for Terrel.
“What are you going to do with her?” Tina asked.
He glanced at Kendra, his gaze sweeping over her body in one quick motion. “I’m thinking about holding her for ransom. What do you think?”
Kendra threw Terrel a glare. “Will you two quit acting like I’m not standing here listening to every word you’re saying?”
Tina let out a throaty laugh. “Oh, you’re so brave, darling.”
Tina ran her long, manicured nail over Kendra’s cheek. She grimaced and pulled away. Bile rose to her throat, and she wanted to spit it at the other woman. Soon she’d get her chance, but now wasn’t the time.
Terrel glanced at his watch. “I’ve got a meeting in a half hour. Let’s lock her in the attic.”
Tina swiveled around so fast her fake blond hair flipped over her shoulder. She hurried up the stairs, Terrel pushing Kendra ahead of him as they followed.
Kendra pictured the attic to be dark and musty, even littered with cobwebs, but once she entered, she realized it looked like any normal room, except with a lower ceiling. There were only a few pieces of furniture in the room; a bed against the wall with pillow and blankets, a dresser, and a single chair near the small diamond-shaped window.
Terrel pushed her on the bed as Tina ran to take some rope out of one of the drawers. The woman brought it over to Terrel. Yanking her hands in front of her, he began tying her.
The ropes burned her wrists and she whimpered. “Not so tight.”
He glared at her. “You’ll be fine.”
She cocked her head. “I take it you’ve done this before. Why else would there be a rope nearby?” She glanced around the room again. “And why is the room so clean for an attic?”
Tina laughed and jabbed Terrel in the sides with her finger. “She’s smarter than you thought, isn’t she?”
After tying Kendra’s feet, Terrel cupped her face and brought his mouth down hard upon hers. She struggled but he kept her head still. Thankfully, the disgusting moment was over soon.
When he pulled away, he wore a satisfied grin. “If you’re a good girl, we won’t have to hurt you.”
“Get out of my sight,” she spat.
He laughed and Tina joined in with him. Taking Tina in his arms, he brought his face down to hers and shared a passionate kiss. Kendra’s stomach churned. He then broke away and took Tina by the hand as they walked out of the room together, shutting, and locking the door behind them.
Just outside the door, she could still hear them talking. She stood and hopped as quietly as she could to the door, then pressed her ear against the solid oak. Terrel’s calm and steady voice came through very clear. She could also hear Tina’s raised and panic-stricken ton
e.
“Terrel, you can’t leave her here,” Tina whined. “Especially tonight.”
“It’ll be all right, Tina. Kendra is a timid woman. She won’t make a sound.”
“I know, but with her here, I won’t be able to concentrate. Tonight is my big shipment, and I want to make sure everything is in order.”
Kendra scrunched her forehead. Big shipment? Tina’s fashion designs probably. But then, what did Terrel have to do with that?
“Tina, my dear, Pett and Monroe are professionals. They’ll know how to handle things if something goes wrong,” Terrel said.
Tina gasped. “You think something will go wrong?”
Terrel chuckled. “No, but I’ve dealt with them many times, and I trust them completely. Kendra won’t mess things up. She’s not that kind of woman.”
An ache grew in Kendra’s chest and she wobbled back to the bed. Drug trafficking. That could be the only thing Terrel could have going down tonight. Why else would he talk about Pett and Monroe? Although she wanted to do something to ruin their plans, she couldn’t because of her present situation. If only she could get to the phone. If only she could get out of these ropes.
She yanked her wrists against the knots, but they only pinched her skin more. She sobbed and sank to the bed. As she relaxed, her whole body shook with the nerves she’d been trying to hold in, and with it a fresh new batch of tears poured down her cheeks.
Why wasn’t Eli here when she needed him the most?
* * * *
Joshua sat in his cell and waited on his lumpy bed. As each minute passed, his heart descended lower. Kendra should have been here by now. His chest tightened. What if Terrel knew? What if Doctor Goodwin suspected he was being investigated? No, if that were the case, Joshua would have been heavily drugged and beaten. Just like all the times before.
He growled and ran his fingers through his short hair. What if Kendra was in danger and needed him? Could he do anything about it?
Cussing under his breath, he pushed himself off the worn mattress and paced the floor in his small room. Something was wrong. Anxiety of the unknown ran through his bones, and the chills of trepidation coursing over his body confirmed his suspicions. Since Kendra wasn’t here, she must be in danger. Deep in his gut, he knew it.
Crazy For You Page 9