“And this is why I don’t get involved with guys like Nash,” she said aloud. She got back into her car and drove home.
Kenzie trudged through her front door and closed it behind her, remembering at the same time that there was no food in her fridge. She put the keys in a bowl on a side table and walked into the living room. And then she let out a scream.
Sitting on her only armchair, one ankle resting on his opposite knee, was Walt. He didn’t get up, just continued to regard her levelly.
“How the hell did you get in here?” she yelled.
“I let myself in. You should get yourself a more secure lock.”
“I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you have to leave, right now!”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that, Kenzie.”
“I’m calling the cops!” She reached into her purse for her phone. At the same time, Walt sprung to his feet and was in front of her in three steps. He put his hand to his hip, and she noticed that he was carrying a gun in a holster.
“I am the cops, Kenzie. I’m the sheriff of this town.” He pulled out a badge from his back pocket and flashed it. “I’m afraid I can’t let you make any calls. Now, give me your phone.” He held out his hand, and she passed it to him, as slowly as she possibly could. “Just sit down on the sofa, and get comfortable. We’ve got a lot to discuss.” She didn’t move a muscle.
“Have you been stalking me?” she demanded. Now she thought about it, she’d seen that black sedan following her a couple more times, but at the time, she’d dismissed it as a figment of her imagination.
“Sit down, Kenzie.” Now, there was a threat in his tone, and his face began to take on a wild, predatory look. She sat down, right on the edge of the sofa, every muscle prepared to fight him if he attacked her.
“I understand that you’re missing, and there’s people who are anxious to find you.”
“What?” Her heart jumped into her mouth. She’d assumed he’d been stalking her because she rejected him. But this was way, way worse. Her pulse beat so hard that it made her tremble.
“I’m not missing, Walt. I’m right here. I know who I am and where I am,” she said. Her voice was shaking, but she forced herself to continue. “Whatever information you might have received, it’s inaccurate.” He shook his head gravely.
“I’m afraid that’s not the case. The Fairfield sheriff’s office faxed over a communication to all the sheriff’s offices in several counties, saying that your life was in danger, and that if anybody knew your whereabouts, they needed to take you into custody for your own safety.” Kenzie gaped.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this! For the last time, I’m not missing! My asshole of a cousin has been stalking me, because he’s trying to get me to marry him, so he can get his hands on my family’s lands. He’s not a good man at all. He doesn’t care about me; all he cares about is money. Hence the fact that he’s offering so much for capturing me. But last time I checked, we live in a free country, and I’m not obliged to marry anyone unless I want to.” A glint came into Walt’s eyes, and she knew right then that he was also motivated by the money, rather than civic duty. And that she wouldn’t be able to convince him to let her go.
“Now I don’t believe that’s true. When I spoke to your cousin earlier, he sounded very worried about you.”
“It’s an act! Can’t you see that?” Walt shook his head.
“He said your life was in danger. And that you’d likely be manipulated to the point that you’re unable to understand that you’re being held here.” His expression was smug. The current situation evidently matched the scenario that her cousin had given him – a lonely woman, too simpleminded to understand the danger she was in.
“I’m telling you right now, the only danger I’m in is from that bozo of a cousin. And you. And now I’m leaving!” He’s not going to shoot me, she thought as she stood up and ran for the front door. But in a flash, he was right behind her, snatching her hand away from the lock, while his other arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her right up off the floor. He carried her back to the sofa and dumped her on it unceremoniously.
“I don’t want to have to get physical with you Kenzie. But you have to understand that I’m a shifter; I’m a lot faster and stronger than you. Please don’t try to escape again, for both our sakes. Seeing you running like that just brings out my hunting instincts.” She shivered. Right now he looked more animal than human, his jaws broad, teeth sharpened into points, and his eyes hooded and wild.
“What’s your plan, Walt? Why are you keeping me here?”
“I’m just protecting you until your cousin arrives. He’ll be along in a couple more hours.”
“He’s coming all the way from Fairfield?”
“Yes. I even offered to bring him to you, but he was real adamant that he wanted to come and get you. He sure cares about you.” She snorted.
“All he cares about is his money. Why can’t you see that? Just let me go. I’m pretty sure there’s a law against abduction.”
“Not if the person is taken into protective custody,” he said in a patient tone, as if pacifying a small child. “Now, do you want me to order some food?” She was about to say no; she didn’t want anything from him. But then she realized that it might provide her with an opportunity to escape.
“Yes – pizza. There’s a menu on the fridge. I’ll have mushroom and anchovies.”
She watched him as he ordered, pacing up and down her tiny kitchen in his cowboy boots. She wasn’t going to get away from him, that was obvious. She was going to have to wait right there until her cousin turned up. The thought of his evil, bloated face filled her with revulsion. She couldn’t believe she’d have to lay eyes on him again. And then what? There was no way she’d agree to go back to Fairfield with him. And there was no way she’d marry him. He couldn’t force her. No, she’d wait calmly until he arrived, then tell him to go screw himself. But what if he forces you into a vehicle and takes you back to Fairfield anyway? She’d fight. She’d fight tooth and nail to stop him from doing that. And in the meantime, when the pizza guy came, she’d yell out and tell him she was being held against her will.
Walt ended the call. Then he strode through the front door, opened it, looked outside, and came back in again. She decided to ignore him. Make out she was tired and lethargic, so he wouldn’t expect her to try anything. She slumped on the sofa, and allowed her eyes to get drowsy and heavy.
“Tired?” He asked her. She didn’t reply. “Don’t you worry; it’ll all be over soon.”
A thought occurred to her.
“Did you already know who I was when we met at Rusty’s on Saturday?”
“No, I didn’t. I’d already seen your photo on the sheriff’s communication, but I didn’t match it with your Shiftr photo until we met. And then I put two and two together.”
“So you followed me until you found out where I lived?” He nodded wisely.
“Yup. I figured out that it was your car in Rusty’s parking lot, so I just staked it out and waited for you to come back.” She gave a snort of disgust and returned to her lethargic mode.
Before long, there was a knock at the door. She jumped, every nerve tingling with anticipation. Walt bounded over to her, and scooped her up in his arms. At the same time, his big, knuckly hand clamped down over her mouth. She grabbed at his wrist and tried to pull it away, doing her best to bite him at the same time. But it was no use, he was way too strong. As she thrashed and flailed, he called out, “is that pizza?”
“Yeah,” came a petulant, teenage voice from the other side of the door.
“Just leave it on the step. There’s some cash in the mailbox. Keep the change.”
“Help me! I’m being held prisoner here! Please call the cops!” Kenzie screamed, but beneath Walt’s hand, her voice was no louder than a mouse’s squeak.
Walt waited a couple of minutes, then he took his hand away from her mouth.
“No one can hear you, Kenzie. But it’ll
be better for both of us if you don’t try screaming again.” He strode over to the front door, yanked it open and grabbed the pizza.
She had no appetite, but she forced herself to eat four slices, knowing she needed to stay strong. Walt’s nose wrinkled at the smell of the anchovies. Good, she thought with a smirk.
When she was done, she said she needed to use the bathroom. He went in with her and inspected the window. It was small and high up. Satisfied, he left her in there by herself. She turned the faucets on full to create as much noise as possible, then she opened the bathroom cupboards, and rummaged through. She found some cardboard packaging and an eyeliner pencil, and a little ray of hope lit inside her. Quickly, she scribbled out a message to say that she’d been kidnapped, and needed help. Then she went over to the window and reached for the catch. Usually when she opened it, she brought a chair from the living room, because it was a little too high. But now, she clung onto the sill with one hand, trying to pull herself up the couple of inches she needed to get leverage on the catch. It was too high. And her arm felt like it was being wrenched from its socket. She looked around wildly. All she needed was something small to stand on. Was there some kind of box somewhere? She ran back to the cupboards. And Walt’s voice came through the door.
“Kenzie? What are you doing in there?”
“Taking a piss!”
“There’s an awful lot of water running in there.”
“That’s so you can’t listen to me pissing!” she bellowed, her face heating with anger. She used the bathroom, then stormed out of the room, prickling with frustration. Right now, she felt a lot like punching something. Like Walt. Or her cousin. She threw herself back down on the sofa. I’m sitting here, waiting for him to arrive, she thought. How fucked up is that?
Nothing happened for an hour or more. She stayed on the sofa, glaring at Walt. He kept getting up and pacing around, tapping the heels of his stupid boots together, clearing his throat, cracking his knuckles. She was making him uncomfortable; good. It was quiet outside, quiet enough to hear anyone approaching by car. Cars swished by on the road outside every thirty seconds also. But then there was the sound of a car turning into the driveway. She sat up straight, her heart pounding. There was a heavy knock on the door. Walt bounded over to it.
“Art?” he called.
“Open the door,” came a voice she’d hoped never to hear again. Walt unlocked the door and she turned her head to see not one, but two men come in.
“Well hey there, Kenzie. It’s been a while,” her cousin said, flashing her a nasty grin. He looked even more pink and puffy than last time she’d seen him. His eyes were mean little slits, and he had fat, effeminate lips.
“Not long enough,” she replied. “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing, but if you don’t all get out of here now you’ll be very sorry.”
“I’ll be out of here just as soon as you sign your name on a piece of paper,” he said.
“Wait, I thought you came here to pick Kenzie up and keep her safe?” Walt interrupted. Her cousin looked at him with annoyance. Then he reached into the holdall he was carrying and pulled out a brown paper package.
“Thanks for your help here, bud. Here’s your money.” He handed Walt the package. “It’s all there. Now you’re good to go.” He opened the door wide, laid a heavy hand on his shoulder, and guided him through it. By the time the door closed, Walt was still looking from her cousin to the money and back, forehead puckered in confusion.
“What a fucking moron,” Kenzie said under her breath.
“And you can follow him, Art,” she said loudly. Art shook his head from side to side, as if he was weighing up her suggestion.
“Gladly. As soon as you agree to marry me. This gentleman here –” He indicated the other guy – a pale, pudgy fifty-year-old, with greasy gray hair plastered to his scalp. “Is a judge in Fairfield, and he’s authorized to get the ceremony done for us right here.” Kenzie laughed a little manically.
“The both of you have had a wasted journey, because that’s never going to happen. I wouldn’t marry you in a hundred years, Art. Not if my life depended on it.” Art’s lips cracked in another of his trademark nasty grins.
“How about if somebody else’s life depended on it?” He took a phone from his back pocket, walked over to her, and showed her the screen. She clapped her hand over her mouth.
16
Nash had been tugging at the ropes binding his wrists and ankles together for what felt like half an hour. But at last his wrists were loose enough that he could pull them free. As he pushed himself up into a sitting position, his head pounded.
“What the hell?” he muttered, rubbing at his temples. It was dark. He had no idea what had happened, or how much time had passed. And there was a sharp pain in the back of his right arm. He lifted his hand to it. Something was stuck in his flesh. “What the?” He gritted his teeth together and pulled. With a lightning bolt of pain, it came out. It was a dart. Someone shot me? With a tranquilizer dart? He wracked his brain, trying to go back to the last thing that had happened. He’d been at home, chilling out, waiting on tenterhooks for Kenzie to arrive. There had been a knock on the door, and he’d gone to answer it, opening it wide, expecting it to be her. But there was no one there. He stepped outside, wondering if she was playing a trick on him. And – nothing. The next thing he knew, he was waking up with a sore head, a sore arm, and trussed up like a chicken.
Why would someone do this? Have I been burglarized? He unfastened the rope around his ankles, and stood up on aching legs and switched the lights on. Everything looked just as it was before. His pocketbook was on the table where he always left it, and it still had cash inside it. But where was his phone? He looked around in all the usual places; in his clothes. He went out and looked in the car too. But it was nowhere. So someone knocks me out, and steals my phone and nothing else? That’s beyond weird. And then he stopped dead, as a terrible thought crashed into his brain – Kenzie. What if something’s happened to her? What if whoever knocked him out was still there when she arrived? The thought that someone might have hurt her made him sick.
He went to his laptop, opened it up and looked through his contacts. Damn. Her number wasn’t saved. But he had Jackson’s. He called him through messenger, hoping against hope that Jackson was tech savvy enough to have it installed on his phone.
Jackson answered on the fourth ring.
“Jackson, it’s Nash. I need to ask you a question – was Kenzie at work today?”
“Yes, she was. But where were you? I tried calling you –” Nash let out a long breath. Thank God she’s okay. But she probably thinks I stood her up.
“It’s a long story,” he said.
“Are you okay? You sound – different.”
“Yeah, I am now. I had a rough night. Hey, I’ll call you soon, Jackson. I just want to go see Kenzie, and make sure everything’s okay.”
He hurtled out of the door, and jumped into his car. Kenzie was fine; she’d made it to work today. But still, an unease that he couldn’t explain to himself sat deep in the pit of his stomach.
Nash pulled up in front of Kenzie’s place and walked toward her apartment. And then his nostrils twitched. Coyote. And not just any coyote. He knew that smell – it was the guy that Kenzie had rejected in favor of him on Saturday. He’s stalking her? But something else stirred in his brain too; something more recent. He turned around and tried to figure out where the smell was coming from, but the wind was not in his favor.
Making a big loop around the grounds, he finally picked it up. It was coming right from a large bush that ran alongside the path. He stiffened, and with no further delay, he hurtled into the bush and pounced. He landed on a heavy, thickset body, and they both went down hard. He’s the one who shot me! he realized, as the shifter’s scent flooded his nostrils and jogged his memory.
Nash pinned Walt down on his back and punched him in the face once, then two times more for good measure. Then he grabbed him by
the throat.
“What are you doing here? And what did you do to me? You better tell me right now, or my wolf’s going to rip your throat out before you know what’s happening!” Walt gasped for breath.
“I was helping Kenzie. I found out she was missing, and that her people were looking for her.” Nash glared at him, feeling his skin tightening, and the fur starting to push its way through.
“You mean you saw that there was a $30,000 reward for finding her?” he spat. “What have you done with her?”
“I’ve been keeping her safe, until her people could get here.”
“She’s inside?
“Yes.” He ground his teeth together.
“And you came to my place yesterday, and shot me? Why?”
“Her people told me that you were dangerous, and I needed to keep you out of the way.” Nash snarled, his teeth becoming as sharp as razors. He forced himself to hold back his shift.
“You stupid asshole!” he thundered. “Her cousin is an evil, greedy man. All he wants is money. That’s why she’s been hiding from him for so long.” He paused, realizing that he’d been slamming Walt’s head into the dirt. “I’ve got half a mind to put you down right now. You better not have harmed her!”
“I haven’t,” Walt squawked.
“Where are those tranquilizer darts of yours?”
“Not here. Back at the sheriff’s office.”
“Good.” He shook Walt hard enough to make his brains rattle. “I’ll deal with you in a minute. I’m just going to check she’s okay.” He released his hold on him and got to his feet.
“Wait!” Walt called in a choked voice. “They’re in there with her.” Nash cuffed him again, sending him sprawling.
“Why the hell didn’t you say so before? Who’s in there?”
“Her cousin and some other guy.”
Shiftr: Swipe Left For Love (Nash) BBW Wolf Shifter Romance (Hope Valley BBW Dating App Romance Book 10) Page 11