by L. L. Muir
A darkened house came into view. Newish construction, she didn’t recognize it, and it looked slightly out of place in the woods with it’s modern lines. Preston pulled the van to the side door. He jumped out and before she could form a coherent plan, he was at the passenger door. When he helped her to the ground, she dug in her heels of her sandals.
It didn’t faze him in the least and he dragged her toward the house. She tried to see his aura, to determine his intentions, but it melted into the darkness, telling her nothing.
“My father is going to come looking for me.”
“Don’t you mean your boyfriend?” He sneered.
“What you mean?”
“You don’t fool me Zoey, so don’t even try. I’ve been watching you, so I’m well aware of the behemoth you’ve been spending time with. I know you’ve been living with him.” His voice rose with his rage and he jerked her up the side steps.
He shook her. “You wouldn’t even let me through your front door. And you let a guy live with you? I thought you were innocent. Pure. Waiting for your fated one. What happened to that?”
“Preston, you and I dated to see if we suited. You decided we didn’t, remember?” She didn’t mention she’d been about to break up with him, that when he broke up with her she’d been immensely relieved. “It just wasn’t meant to be. You told me so, yourself.”
He stopped at the top of the steps and jerked her to him. She could barely see him in the darkness, his face shadowed and menacing. “I am your fated one. Do you remember when you told me about that?”
“I do remember. You laughed off the concept. You didn’t believe in it.”
“That was then and this is now.”
“Why are we here?”
“I scouted this place earlier. It looks deserted at the moment.”
It probably was. A lot of rich people kept summer and holiday homes in the area and used them rarely.
“By the time your father, your boyfriend, and all your little hick friends come looking for you, we’ll be comfortably ensconced in this house.” They’ll drive right on by, probably at a hundred miles an hour trying to catch up with us, and we’ll be here the whole time. As soon as the search dies down, we’ll just drive right out of here.”
The guy might be crazy, but he’d come up with a good plan. How would anyone find her?
She had to try to reason with him again. It might be her only hope. “But Preston, we’re not dating anymore. You broke up with me.”
“It was a mistake. I’m willing to take you back. I’m going to prove that to you tonight.”
Dread settled in her stomach and she pulled against his hold as he opened the door. The man was crazy. She could see where he’d broken the window to get inside.
He was stronger and she considered kicking, biting. If she thought she’d escape she’d try it, but with her hands tied, with his superior strength, she decided to conserve her own. She’d have to try and calm him, use logic, and hope she made her way out of this unscathed.
If she could count on rescue, perhaps she could do things differently. But she didn’t think even Aiden would be able to find her.
He opened the unlocked door, bent, and scooped her into his arms to cross the threshold. “Don’t worry, you’ll love me again, just like you used to.”
He flipped on the kitchen light, carried her into the beautifully decorated living room, and shoved her onto the sheet-covered couch. He stood back, intimidating, threatening, and with the weak light, she could finally make out his aura’s color. Pure black.
Dread tightened her stomach.
“Preston, you need to let me go. We can date. Just like we used to. It was fun. Remember when you took me to the duck pond and we fed the ducks?”
“What I remember was you yelled at me when I threw rocks at them. You wouldn’t let me have any fun.”
“I thought it was fun. Remember when we went for coffee? You were such a gentleman. I was so impressed.”
He studied her for a long moment, as if trying to gauge her truthfulness. “You didn’t like me yelling at the waitress even though she was clumsy and stupid.”
“What about the movie? We both liked it, right? You held my hand.”
“You pulled away.”
“I…I was overwhelmed by my feelings.”
“I want you to admit I’m your fated one. That it’s you and me together, forever.”
How did she get out of this? She put what she hoped was a convincing smile on her face. “Oh, Preston. That’s so romantic. Why didn’t you feel this way about me before?”
He stroked her cheek and she barely kept from flinching.
He knelt down and placed a hand on her knee. Instinctively she jerked.
He clutched her leg and held it in place. “You’re not fooling me, Zoey. You’re not feeling it, not like you used to. But I promise, before this night is over, you will. You most definitely will.”
She was in so much trouble!
~~~
Blade in hand, Aiden moved through the house at speed, calling Zoey’s name.
She wasn’t in her room, nor his, nor in the bathroom or other bedrooms. He ran downstairs and out the back to find the boy being questioned by adults.
When they glanced up, he shook his head. “She’s not inside nor out front.”
“What happened?” he asked the young boy.
“A man was hiding in the kitchen.” The boy sniffed and wiped a cheek with the back of his hand. “He was wearin’ a black ski mask.”
“What is a ski mask?” Aiden asked.
River shot him an impatient glare. “You know, it’s made out of thin material, goes over your head, leaving only your eyes and mouth visible. It’s a hat for your entire head and face.”
“Does it give the look of a snake?”
“I guess. Sort of.”
So Aiden had actually seen a man the night of Zoey’s attempted abduction, not a hybrid monster. Heat crept across his cheeks at his foolishness.
The young boy continued. “He jumped out from behind the kitchen door when Zoey came inside. He pressed a Taser to her back.”
“What is a Taser?”
“It’s a weapon.” Irritation had River’s voice rising. “It electrocutes. It can make you pass out for a short period of time. Were you raised by wolves?”
Aiden ignored Zoey’s brother. “Then what happened?”
“He threw her over his shoulder and I ran after him. I told him to let her go, but he turned around and hit me on the head and I fell.” Resentment flashed across the boy’s face. “He took Zoey out the front door.”
“Is that everythin’? Do ye remember anythin’ else?”
“He was driving a white van.”
“Like a delivery vehicle?”
The boy nodded.
Aiden knew that van. He’d seen it before and the man as well. “Let’s go.” Aiden went around to the front of the house. In this day of automobiles, such a villain could speed far away in a short period of time.
Ethan, River, and two other men came out the front with keys. “You want to drive?” Ethan asked?
“Nae. You drive.” He’d not let his inexperience slow their chase and put Zoey at risk. “Do ye ken where he might have taken her?”
Grim faced, the men shook their heads.
River shot him a questioning look. “Do you know who took her?”
“A man with a mask tried to take Zoey two nights ago in an alley.” Two days. His two days were through and he’d lost her. “I suspect ’tis the same villain. It may be her ex-boyfriend, a man by the name of Preston North the Third. Zoey thought perhaps it was a random attack, but this proves it wasn’t.”
“You should have gone to the police.”
“We did. At the time, Zoey refused to name her ex, because she wasnae sure.”
River groaned. “She would.”
“We’ll have to split up.” Aiden tried to formulate a plan. “There’s only the one main road through town. Correct?”
Ethan, his arm wrapped around his worried wife, nodded. “That’s right.”
“I suspect he’ll take her toward the city.” He took in the five cars, and the five other men. “We’ll have to split our forces. Two of ye take the south route, and three of us will go north toward the city.”
River finished his phone call. “I talked to the police up in Roseville. They’re going to set up a roadblock and check all the cars. They couldn’t have gotten far by now. I’ll call the next town south. Let’s get going.”
Excellent. Aiden wouldn’t know to think of such a thing and gratitude for the amenities this time and place offered flooded through him. A bit of the tension eased in his chest. If they could stop the man before he escaped into the big city, they’d have a chance of finding Zoey.
He remembered a girl taken from his village. When they’d finally tracked her down, she’d been married to her abductor and, after thrashing the man, her father felt forced to give his blessing.
They’d find Zoey before it was too late.
They jumped into cars and took off. He and Ethan turned to the north, as did two other cars behind them. The others went south.
Why had he let her go into the house alone? Why had he lowered his guard when she was in his care? Where were his senses? This then, was why the witch hadn’t come for him yet. He hadn’t done his task correctly. She’d warned him not to disappoint. Had she known all along he’d fail?
His hands clenched. He’d not fail.
They’d find Zoey and rescue her. That’s all there was to it.
~~~
Zoey sat on the couch, still as a wild animal hiding from a predator.
Preston was ranting and raving again, working himself up. But to what end exactly, that was the question. She was afraid she knew the answer.
“You never let me into your apartment. We always met somewhere else. It was like you weren’t giving me everything you had. You never committed all the way. So it confused me. You confused me. If you would have tried harder, tried to please me more…”
Zoey barely breathed. She was afraid to attract his attention. Why hadn’t she stuffed her phone in her back pocket? Did this house have a phone hooked to a landline? These days one never knew.
Preston’s rant finally wound down. He stopped in front of her and placed his hands on his hips. With the weak light from the kitchen, she could see him, but not clearly. He made an ominous figure with his face in half-shadow.
“Tell me about this guy you arrived with. Is he your brother? A cousin? Don’t try to lie to me, because I’ll know.”
She bit her lip and considered lying.
She finally took a breath, and, worried he already knew the truth and tested her somehow, told him. “He’s just a guy I met. I was attacked in an alley a couple of nights ago, and he felt I needed protection.”
Preston didn’t respond.
“That was you, wasn’t it?” She asked softly. “In the alley.”
“It was supposed to be a romantic gesture.” He sounded petulant.
Romantic? Wow. She bent her head. “I didn’t think it was you, Preston, and do you know why?”
“Why?” He sounded genuinely curious. Like she should have known it was him, should have known they were about to have a romantic moment together. Double wow.
“I didn’t think it was you, because you married another woman.”
He threw out an arm, and turned to pace away. “It wasn’t like that, Zoey.”
“You didn’t marry her? I’d heard you did. Make Me a Match announced it on their website.”
“Oh, I married her all right. But it didn’t work out. She wasn’t you. I couldn’t get you out of my head.” He turned to point an accusing finger. “So if my marriage didn’t work, you can blame yourself for that, can’t you?”
Somehow she should have known she’d get the blame. She didn’t know what to say to that, but wanted to keep him talking. “I’m so sorry, Preston. Can you tell me about her? Why did you choose her over me?”
“I thought I liked her. She’s pretty enough. She should be with all of the money she spent on beauty treatments. It’s just… I think I was seduced by her lifestyle. The nice house, the nice clothes, the nice cars. She tricked me! I would never have left you for her, if she hadn’t taken me to fancy lunches, dinners, and introduced me to her friends. It was the better deal.”
Eyes widening she shook her head and tried to look hurt. “A better deal?” She sputtered. “How’s that supposed to make me feel?”
He threw out his hand again. “Don’t try to make me feel guilty about this, Zoey. We can be together now. That’s what we both need to focus on.”
“If you want to be with me, why didn’t you just call? Set up a date?”
“I told you. I was trying to be romantic. I was going for the big gesture.”
When he wasn’t looking directly at her, Zoey glanced around for a phone, or a weapon, but so far no luck. Preston outweighed her by at least eighty pounds. He kept himself in shape. She was at his mercy.
“Well, I have to say, I’m so glad you’re here. You following me home means a lot to me, Preston. I’d like to introduce you to my family.” Zoey kept her tone lighthearted. “I don’t want to be too forward, but I’ve always wanted a spring wedding. We could date through the fall and winter, go to pumpkin patches, have Thanksgiving, Christmas, and take sleigh-rides.”
She lowered her gaze in an attempt at shyness. “And plan a wedding.” She smiled. “I’m thinking maybe May? I’ve always wanted to get married in my parents’ backyard. I think you’d like it too.”
Preston studied her. She wished she could see his expression more clearly. Wished his aura would at least lighten to the dark red color it used to be so she could read his emotions. There was nothing to read.
“I’m not going to wait, Zoey.”
A hard knot settled in her stomach and the air seemed to shimmer with menace. “You don’t want to get married in the spring?”
“I’m okay with a spring wedding.” He moved a step closer. “But I’m not going to wait until spring to make you mine.”
Fear dried her mouth, and skittered up her spine. Maybe she should take a stab at honesty. “You’re scaring me, Preston. I want to go home now.”
He thrust his face close to hers as sudden rage twisted his features, leaving his visage unrecognizable. “You’re not going anywhere.”
CHAPTER TEN
They drove down the road in Ethan’s small truck, searching as they went. Aiden watched as they passed yet another mailbox at the end of a lane. “Are ye sure he wouldnae have turned off?”
Ethan shrugged. The man’s face appeared greenish-gray in the dim light coming from the car. “He could have, but these are homes, with people living in them.” He blew out a breath. “There’s no telling what this man is doing, though. If we reach the roadblock, we’ll turn back and search.”
That thought eased Aiden’s tension a bit. They’d find her. With police checking all vehicles along this road, and especially watching for a white van, Preston wouldn’t get through. And if he tried to turn back, they’d have him.
River called and Aiden answered. “The police have a road block going south. We’re going to find her.”
“Aye.” Aiden tried to believe. “Preston willnae get away with this.”
As fast as they drove, so much swifter than Aiden ever traveled in his life, he still felt they moved too slowly. He had a bad feeling. Like they’d get to the end of the line and Zoey still wouldn’t be there. She’d have disappeared into thin air. Could the man be a warlock? Able to have the same power as Soncerae? Could he disappear and take Zoey with him?
His fists clenched, his mouth tightened. Aiden didn’t want to say it aloud, or even think on it, but what if the man hurt her?
They flew by another side road, scanning for a white van as they passed. There were just too many turn offs and she could be anywhere. He rubbed the back of his neck. Chances were the vill
ain sped to Seattle. It was instinct to run home and hole up.
“Can we not discover where Preston lives? I dinnae think Zoey even knew. Cannae we find such information?”
“Maybe the police can.”
Ethan gripped the steering wheel tight. “We’re coming up on Roseville now.”
They slowed as a line of cars appeared before them. Aiden wanted to feel relieved. Obviously the police did their job, but the line wouldn’t remain in place if they’d found her, would it? He didn’t see the white van anywhere.
They parked at the back of the line, jumped out, and ran forward to where police questioned people up front before waving them on.
“Have you found her?” Ethan asked.
The officer straightened and shined a flashlight in Ethan’s face. “Stand back.”
“I’m Zoey Barnes’s father.”
“Let me see some identification.”
While Ethan was busy, Aiden noted Zoey’s uncle, and the men with him, walking up the row of cars and peering inside. Starting back, Aiden did the same.
No one looked suspicious. Curious gazes met his, men and women, and families with children.
Ethan ran back to report. “They haven’t found the van. Either they didn’t come north, or they turned off somewhere.” He dug out his phone, pushed a couple of buttons, and held it to his ear. “River, nothing here. Anything on your end?” He listened a moment then said, “All right. We’ll start checking side roads.”
Aiden closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. The thought they may have passed her by when she needed him thrust him into madness. He walked back toward Ethan’s truck, raised his hands and gripped his hair. He stopped and turned in a circle. “Soncerae! If ye can hear me, I need ye!” He’d wanted to call on her before, but worried she’d snatch him away as punishment for Zoey’s disappearance. For his inability to keep her safe. And he’d never find her.
She could snatch him away as long as she helped Zoey. The witchling had a kind heart. Surely she’d not punish Zoey because of his ineffectiveness. Surely she’d see Zoey safe.