by Sam Crescent
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2019 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-0-3695-0103-5
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To all of my amazing readers. You guys are so awesome and thank you for your love and support. I hope you love this book as much as I loved writing it.
BLACKMAILED BY HER BULLY
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2019
Chapter One
Running was never in Ava Marshall’s book. But there was no way she could stay in Crow Valley, not if he was back. Why had he come back? She felt sick to her stomach as she rushed into her home. Her parents had left it to her in their will after an unfortunate accident.
With her hands shaking, she couldn’t get the key into the lock. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths and started again. She had to focus, to be in control.
There was no way she could allow herself to make a mistake.
Once the key was in the lock, she turned it, clicking it open. Rushing inside, she slammed the door closed, throwing each bolt across the door before heading up to her bedroom. She’d never moved into the main bedroom. Her parents had been dead for five years, but she’d stuck to her old room.
She went straight to the closet, grabbed her suitcase, and started to fill it. How long had he been in town? She didn’t know when he got back, but if he was here again, then it wouldn’t be long before he followed. People were talking about him like he’d been a missed member of society.
Working at the library, she rarely got any updates from anyone, but then, no one really liked her.
She felt sick to her stomach just thinking about it.
With most of her clothes crammed into the suitcase, she closed it, using as much strength as she could. Next, she grabbed her passport, money, and any paperwork she’d need.
If he didn’t stay long, she could come back. She loved her family home, and even though Crow Valley had never accepted her, not after what she did, it was at least home.
With her bag and case in hand, she ran downstairs, nearly falling in her haste to get away. Holding onto the railing, she felt another wave of sickness, and she had no choice but to sit down. Letting go of her bag and case, she spread her thighs, putting her head between them and taking several deep breaths.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m going to be fine.” No matter how much she repeated the words, it seemed she was lost to the fear.
“I’m shocked at just how sexy he looks,” Martha, one of the stepmoms who attended the crafting class at the library, said. “I haven’t seen him in years, and do you know what I heard?”
“What?” Nancy asked.
“He’s loaded. Like, ridiculously wealthy. I’ve heard it’s not all legal either. He’s dangerous.”
“Please, if he does that, why did he come back here?”
“No one can pin anything on him. He’s like a crime lord. Or a drug one. I tell you, you should have seen those smoking hot eyes of his. He could do whatever he wanted to me,” Martha said with a sigh. “It would beat having to figure out sewing a damn Halloween costume.”
“Why did he have to leave again? It has been what? Twelve years?”
“About that. Logan Stanford and all of his buddies had to leave because of her.”
The moment she heard that name, Ava knew she was in trouble. No one had said that name to her in years, or the other name, but they didn’t need to say his name, for her to know he wouldn’t be far behind Logan. Tears filled her eyes, and she lifted up, breathing deeply.
“She’s the one who accused him of sexual assault.”
Instead of arguing with Martha and Nancy about what actually happened twelve years ago, she’d left the class. There was no point in teaching gossips. They came to class to bring more meaning to their lives, but all she ever heard from them was how boring it was being a stepmom and trying to make a family work.
The sickness passed, and she got to her feet and went straight to the kitchen. Logan and his friends were never supposed to return to Crow Valley. She was promised he’d stay far away from her. Opening the fridge, the ink she had on her arm caught her attention. Never Forget. Two words, in fancy writing, and in a border of red roses.
Dropping her arm, she covered the marks as a fresh wave of tears filled her eyes. She shook a little. But this was useless.
She’d be able to get food on the road. There was no point in waiting around. The longer she lingered, the more chance of him coming for her, increased. He’d promised her one day, he’d find a way to get to her. To make her pay. She’d stayed in town, determined to make a life for herself. He shouldn’t be back, but with Logan back, he would be arriving soon, she just knew it.
She should have been safe.
Grabbing her bag and case, she stepped out of her house, locking the door. She turned to see a man standing at the end of her garden. Her parents hadn’t been wealthy. They’d been able to buy this place outright after they got married. Both her mother and father had been city kids, but wanted to raise a family in a small town. Crow Valley being the small town, and well, there hadn’t been any more kids.
Her mother hadn’t been able to have any more after her.
She remembered the yearning she always had, and they’d not considered adopting. Instead, they had put all of their love and hope in her.
Now she was alone.
“Ava Marshall?” the man asked.
Fear tightened around her chest.
“Who is asking?”
“I am. Are you Ava Marshall?”
The man was tall. She noticed the ink on his neck. Across the street was a black four-wheel drive. She’d never been good with makes or models. It stood out on the street. Most of the people drove family cars, but this one, it looked like the kind in gangster movies. Now she felt silly.
“No,” she said, the lie dropping from her with ease. There was no point in prolonging this meeting. “Excuse me.” She tried to step around him. This man worked for Logan; he had to. Did it mean he’d given Logan instructions to bring her in? No doubt about it, and she had to get as far away as possible.
The man, he laughed. “You know, he said you’d try to run. I didn’t think you’d be that stupid.” He grabbed her arm.
“Let me go.” She tried to pull away from him.
“Not going to happen. I have strict instructions to take you in.”
The man was strong and a lot bigger than she was. She felt the tears fill her eyes and fear grip her as he started to pull her toward the car.
“No! Stop it. Let me go.”
There was no one else around, and if anyone was twitching their curtains watching, they didn’t make a move to come and help her. She was, for all intents and purposes, on her own. She didn’t want to panic, but she felt it rising up inside her.
Her heart raced, and she felt sick.
As they got to the black car, he slammed her up against it, holding her by her neck.
“You know, he said you’d be difficult. I didn’t realize how much. Don’t worry though. I like it when you fight me. It makes me feel all … hot.” He pressed his pelvis against her, and she cried out, hating wha
t he was doing to her.
“Stop it.”
“Then you’re going to get in the car and you’re not going to cause me any trouble, are you?”
“Who are you?” she asked. Tears filled her eyes.
“You’re going to do as you’re told, aren’t you?”
She wanted to rebel. To tell him to fuck off. To leave her alone, but to do that, she’d be risking him hurting her even more, and she couldn’t handle that.
“I’ll do as I’m told.”
“You’re going to be a good little girl, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll be good.”
He smiled, and she hated the wickedness within his gaze, which she saw in the reflection of the car window.
She hated to relent. Giving up was never in her nature.
But you did.
This is why you’re where you are.
The door opened, and he shoved her inside, putting the seatbelt on. She cried out as he grabbed her hands and secured some rope around her wrists.
“If you think you can get away from me, I’m not giving you a choice.”
The rope was tight, and the first tear fell.
“I like to see you cry. You know, I’ve been told a lot of things about you.”
She jerked away from him as he touched her cheek. “Let me go.”
“No.”
“Are you at least going to tell me your name?” she asked. “You know mine.”
He smirked. “That I do. You know what I find strange. I’ve seen at least three curtains twitch and there was even a man walking a dog, and not one of them tried to stop me. There is no love lost between you and these people.” He tutted. “You must have been a very bad girl.”
Another tear fell, joining the last one.
“Keep on crying, sweetheart. It’s not going to do you any good.” He stepped back, and she sank into the seat. There was no point in fighting or arguing. “The name’s Hunter.” He slammed the door closed and climbed behind the wheel.
“No more questions?” he asked.
“Will you answer them?” She didn’t look at him. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing she was terrified, and she was.
It had been a long time since she was this terrified.
Over twelve years.
She closed her eyes, hating how weak she felt.
“Someone has been waiting a long time for you,” he said.
“Why do you work for him?”
“Do you even know what he’s capable of?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then you should know a man that powerful has my loyalty. He has bought it.”
“So you can buy loyalty these days?” she asked. “You can be taken by the highest bidder.”
Hunter laughed. “Normally, I can. But you see, there’s a thing about Logan, he managed to earn my respect and my loyalty another way, and now, I’ll do anything for the crazy bastard. Even if it means abducting a woman for him.”
“How fun,” she said.
“You have no idea. At first, I didn’t think he’d go for it. I know he’s capable of a lot of things, but you see, I had no idea you’re the reason he’s the way he is.”
She looked up to see Hunter staring at her. Every now and then, he’d glance down at the road, but his focus was on her, and she hated it.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“No, you didn’t? We’ll see. Maybe your memory is fogged up, but one day, you will realize all of this is your fault.”
She lifted her tied hands and wiped away the tears.
Logan was supposed to stay gone, along with his other friends. She didn’t know what Logan had done to be cast out, but she’d been told all of them had gone. He wasn’t going to come back to Crow Valley. She’d been promised that.
He’d been one of the star boys. The little rich kid who could have anything he wanted. Only, she’d not bowed down to him. She’d fought him then, and she’d continue to fight him, every step of the way, until he was taken down.
“What’s he like now?” she asked.
“Ah, has curiosity raised its ugly head?”
She looked back at him. “I want to know what I’m up against. Exactly who I’m up against.”
“I think you know. Logan has told me he hasn’t changed much. He’s gotten older. A little meaner, maybe. He’s powerful. Rich. Any other woman would be flattered at the kind of attention he’s bestowing on you.”
She felt sick. She didn’t know what Logan would want with her, unless he was acting on behalf of his friend. “Please, take me home.”
“Not going to happen.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I did what I was supposed to.”
He laughed. “I’m sure you did. You better relax. Where we’re going, it’s not going to get easy for you. Believe me, it’s going to get very hard. Logan’s been planning this meeting for a long time.”
The radio was turned on, and she closed her eyes, letting the tears fall.
She should have left Crow Valley when she had the chance. After her parents died and she was left all alone.
Tugging on the rope, she tried to pull her hands free, but it was no good. There was no fighting this hold. She gritted her teeth and pulled again, trying to find the end. If there was a chance of getting out on the road before they even got to wherever Logan wanted her, she’d take it. Would he be with Logan?
She’d not seen him since the day he’d paid an impromptu visit to her home. Her parents had been at work, and she’d decided to be home-schooled. There was no way she could go back to school. Her locker had been defaced, and her life had become unbearable. She had no choice but to finish her education at home.
He’d promised her. Looked right into her eyes and told her there would come a day, he’d be back, and when he did, he’d pay her back. They would be even. All this time she’d known he’d be back, and she only hoped he would never find her.
This was her mistake.
She would have to live with it, but why would Logan want to hurt her? She had done nothing to him.
****
Staring out across the expanse of his lawn, Logan took a long draw on his cigarette marveling at the fake beauty before him. A real garden wasn’t tamed. It didn’t have gnome ornaments or statues of semi-clad women. At the click of his fingers, he’d be able to have real women, standing naked, waiting to amuse him.
He preferred the wildness, the chaos, danger to all the fake and preened lawns. The gardener had promised to stay on, to help maintain the grounds. He’d fired him on the spot. True beauty was seeing what lay beneath. To Logan, it wasn’t about masking nature, but seeing it grow. Seeing the real world, and being inspired by it. He looked forward to seeing the grass grow, the weeds coming up out of the grounds, surrounding their fake, ceramic gnomes and poised sculptures.
Throwing his cigarette to the ground, he stamped it out, blowing out another puff of air.
Gripping the cold cement railing, he breathed in the night air. It was nothing like the city. No lingering toxic car fumes, or the stench of decay. Walking down the street, he’d be able to get a good whiff of rotten food, animal piss, and the unmistakable scent of desperation. He couldn’t get any of that now.
The air was clear, crystal clear.
Just like his feelings. He was more than ready for what he planned to do.
For twelve years he’d bided his time, preparing, getting stronger, throwing away the shackles that had once bound him, and taken over. He was no longer caged for a crime he didn’t commit. The moment he stepped foot in the small town, he made sure the Sheriff knew who the real boss was. Before Logan had kicked out the previous tenant, he’d laid down the law. If the Sheriff even thought to interfere with his plans, Logan would make the Sheriff’s extracurricular activities public. It wasn’t his fault the man liked to go and visit gay bars, and also have a hand at underage children, boys more specifically. Logan remembered being in those bars, and the Sheriff had tried to lure him in. He�
�d tried to blackmail Logan, to get him to confess, and also tried to scare him. When the man tried to touch his dick, even then, Logan had been strong. At eighteen years old, he’d been bigger than everyone in his high school. No one could take him. He’d been a tank, unmoving, unyielding, but Ava, she’d taken him down. She’d crushed him to his knees, and now it was his turn to reciprocate. Her lies and hatred had ruined his life, or at least, ruined a few years of it. She’d had him incarcerated, punished for no reason at all.
The town, from his research, wasn’t behind her.
No one would save her.
He smiled. This was exactly what he’d hoped.
If there was someone in town who cared for her, who hoped to save her, the Sheriff would look the other way, which was exactly what Logan wanted. Everyone could do whatever the hell they wanted to do so long as none of them interfered with his plans.
The door opened, and he didn’t bother looking.
There was only one man who would interrupt him. His other men were on guard. Being powerful came with a lot of enemies.
“She’s in your office.”
“She came willingly?” Logan asked.
“I wouldn’t say willingly, but she didn’t exactly put up much of a fight.”
Logan chuckled. He finally turned to his friend. Hunter had been the kind of guy who jumped from job to job. He only worked for the man who paid the highest price. Logan didn’t even have to offer him money or a job. He simply stopped the man from dying. He’d been severely beaten and left for dead, with broken bones, bullet holes. Rather than leave him in the dumpster to die, Logan had taken him home, and made sure he received the best medical care and rehabilitation to help him.
Having shattered legs was no easy feat, and well, Logan needed a man who was able to walk on both of his, and Hunter was the right man for the job.
There were times he was sure the man didn’t even have a soul.
“That’s not like her. Ava always put up a fight.”