“I think I’ll just walk home and wait there. Thanks.”
“Suit yourself, darling.” His voice was stern as he gunned the engine, taking off.
Shaking off the weird encounter, I walked quicker, eager to be safe at home now. Something didn’t feel right, but I didn’t know if it was my paranoia or intuition.
* * *
Maddox hadn’t made it home by dinner, and I was worried. It also meant I had to ask his boss where he was since he was the last one to know. Sucking it up, I made sure to wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt to cover myself before I headed out.
Using the bicycle we’d gotten at a garage sale, I made my way to the site. Maddox had taken me there last week on his motorcycle. It was a luxury suburb; the whole neighborhood would be half-million-dollar houses.
Some anxiety left me when I pulled up to the house and saw several cars there with lights on. Leaning the bike against a tree, I made my way up to the window, peeking in to see what was going on. It looked like a party was underway. Girls and guys were scattered throughout the room, red cups in their hands. I leaned forward, trying to find Maddox.
A body pressed me into the glass, and everything in me went into overdrive. All my training came rushing back, and I reached around, elbowing the person in the gut. Using the hand that had landed on me, I spun underneath them, stomping on their foot.
“What in the Sam Hill?” Bill cursed, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. He wheezed, rubbing the area I’d hit. “Dammit, Darcie. I was coming to ask you if you wanted to come inside. Maddox’s there.”
Sucking in air, I bent at the waist, trying to compose myself. “Sorry, you scared me.”
He gave me an evil look, giving me a wide berth as he made his way inside. I avoided looking at the others as I followed him, afraid they could see the crazy on me. He stepped into a room, holding the door open, motioning me in. I hesitated, not wanting to follow him in.
“He’s inside.”
He didn’t step in, but stayed in the doorway. Making myself small, I stepped into the room slowly, apprehension filling me with each step. When the door shut behind me, the lock sounding, I knew I was in trouble. Instinct had me running for an exit, but a hand wrenched me back, pulling at my hair, dragging me to them. An arm wrapped around my throat, cutting off my oxygen.
Slowing my breaths, I tried not to panic as the body behind me held me close. Making my body a dead weight, I stopped pulling against him even though every instinct in me wanted to. Bill rubbed his groin into me, making me want to throw up.
No, this wasn’t fair. Everything had been going so well. I was healing, and Maddox and I were creating something.
“Be a good little whore now, and we won’t have a problem. You shake your booty all over town, so now it’s time to pay the toll. Your boyfriend wasn’t willing to take the discount, so instead of just me, you’re going to lay there and take it for all my men. Understand?”
I stayed silent, not wanting to answer him as my plan of escape started to form in my mind. He kept talking, but I didn’t give him anything back.
“The more you struggle, the more I’ll enjoy it. Got it, darling?”
I waited for my moment. I wouldn’t let another man take something from me. Not this time.
“No, I don’t ‘got it,’ Bill.”
Using every ounce of strength I had, I leaned forward and flipped him over me. His body went sprawling, and I used the moment of surprise to get away. It was all I had as I staggered to my feet to escape.
“You, bitch,” he grunted, but I was already running toward the door.
I grasped the doorknob and was so close to freedom when something hit me over the head and it was lights out for me.
* * *
Waking with a splitting headache, it took me a minute to orient myself to where I was. I tried to move my arms but found them bound above me.
“Good, you’re awake. I was getting bored.”
The moment I heard his voice, everything came flying back to me. I tugged on the ropes, but it was to no avail. He’d secured them well.
The man climbed on the bed, straddling me. It was then I realized I was naked. Fear welled up in me, and I just wanted it to be over with. I was so tired of this.
Closing my eyes, I accepted my fate.
The door crashed against the wall and caused me to jump. I barely had time to open my eyes before I felt the body over me leave.