Chapter 23 Lucy
LUCY
“You heading out?”
I lift my head from the paperwork I’m filling out for a grant and smile at Evan. He’s been great since the death threats started, constantly checking on me and making sure I don’t need anything.
“Not yet,” I reply. “I’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
“You’ve got a ride home, though?”
“Yep. He’s coming later.”
Evan nods. “Good. Want me to hang around for a while so you’re not here alone?”
“No, that’s not necessary. Just let whoever is on duty tonight know that I’ll be here, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.” He pauses as if waiting for me to say more. When I don’t, he says, “Well, have a good night.”
“You, too, Ev. Give the dogs a hug for me.”
“I will.”
Evan disappears into the hallway, and I return to my work. I completely lose track of time, and it’s only when my stomach growls that I stop and check in with Zombie.
“Hey, babydoll,” he greets, and I can hear the wind coming through the line, so I know he’s riding.
“I won’t keep you. Just wanted to see how the trip was going.”
“We’re on track to be there around one,” he says. “Had to make a quick pit stop, but we’re back on the road.”
“Okay, I’ll be here. Text me when you’re a few minutes out, and I’ll meet you outside. There won’t be anyone at the gate. The code is four-three-six-seven.”
“Four-three-six-seven,” he repeats. “Got it.”
“See ya later.” I pause for a millisecond. “Love you.”
I disconnect the call before he can respond, giving him a dose of his own medicine. With a grin, I shove my phone into my back pocket and make my way to the break room to find something to eat.
Fully expecting to be the only staff remaining other than the overnight security guard, I let out a squeak when I open the door and see Evan sitting at one of the long tables, staring at his iPad.
“Shit, you scared me,” I snark. “I thought you left.”
He lifts his head, leveling his gaze on me. “I was about to, but, uh, I got an alert about a security breach, so I wanted to check it out first.”
“Oh.” Confused, I dart my eyes to the door and back to him. “Why are you in here, though?”
“Vic’s conducting his rounds,” Evan explains. “I let him know about the breach, and he’s going to check it out. I’m only hanging out until he lets me know it’s all clear.”
“So, you’re what… watching him on the iPad?” I laugh nervously.
Evan’s expression morphs into one of rage, and it hits me. He’s not here because of a security breach. He’s here for me.
“Evan?” I query quietly, slowly taking a step backward.
He jumps to his feet and lunges for me. When his body hits mine, I’m slammed against the wall, and the sound of my cell breaking reaches my ears.
Shit.
“You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” he sneers, his face inches from mine.
“W-what are you talking about?”
“We were great together,” he prattles. “Weren’t we?” Evan drags me to the table where his bag sits, and he pulls out a set of handcuffs and length of rope. “So damn good, Luce. Our life together was going to be amazing, and then…”
He clenches his teeth, and I try to break free of his hold. The man is stronger than he looks, and I mentally picture Scrubs. He’s a nerd, but he’s built like a brick shithouse. Why I assumed Evan would be any different, I don’t know.
Probably because you’ve seen him naked, and he was not this strong back then.
Despite my struggles, he manages to secure my hands behind my back with the cuffs.
“Let’s go,” he sneers, shoving me toward the door. “We’ve got a date with a snowman.”
“What?”
“For almost five years, I’ve watched you fuck men and made sure no one else found out about your kinks. I wiped the servers clean,” he continues. “Sure, I kept copies of the videos so I could watch them back in the comfort of my home, but I did you a solid by always cleaning up after you.”
“You kept copies?” I ask, horrified.
“I did.” His tone is giddy, and he presses close to my back as he walks us through the zoo. “Oh, and I have all the recordings from the cameras and listening devices I installed in your condo. A lot of spank bank material.”
“You’re fucking sick,” I hiss.
Evan fists a hand in my hair and yanks my head back, causing me to cry out. “I’m not sick. I’m in love.”
He can’t be serious. We had five minutes together, and this is where his mind went? If that’s not sick, I don’t know what is.
“If you’re in love, why threaten to kill me?”
“Ever heard the expression 'If I can’t have you, nobody can’?”
“But we’re friends, Evan,” I say, my tone pleading.
“I don’t want to be your damn friend!” he shouts.
He continues to shove me in an effort to get me to go where he wants. As we move forward, I scan my surroundings in an effort to spot Vic. He must sense what I’m doing, and his next words confirm it.
“Vic can’t save you,” he taunts. “Idiot couldn’t even save himself.”
My blood runs cold. “What did you do?”
“Let’s just say, the lions aren’t gonna be so hungry when your biker arrives.”
Tears spring to my eyes. I didn’t know Vic well, as he was a relatively new employee, but he was kind to me and loved to talk about his wife and little girl. My heart breaks for them.
“Don’t you dare cry for him,” Evan sneers. “He doesn’t deserve your tears.” He forces me to stop walking and moves to stand in front of me. “Now, if you want to cry for me…” He shoves his hand down his pants. “I’d be into that.”
I turn my head to the side when he moans, and it’s all I can do not to throw up. The sound of him tugging down his zipper seems to echo through the night, and I startle when I hear his belt buckle hit the ground.
With his free hand, Evan grips my chin and forces me to look at him while he masturbates.
If the circumstances were different, his expressions would be comical, especially when he comes.
I don’t remember much about the one time we were together, but I know I’d remember these faces if he made them then.
“Fuck, I can’t wait to do that down your throat,” he says as he pulls his pants back up, not bothering to fasten them or his belt.
“That’s not fucking happening,” I snap, unable to hold back the words.
Pain radiates through my cheek when he backhands me, and I bite my tongue until I taste blood to keep myself from crying out.
“You’ll do whatever the fuck I tell you to do, understand?”
“No.”
Instead of backhanding me again, Evan grabs a fistful of hair and yanks me down while simultaneously kneeing me in the gut. Air whooshes from my lungs, and breathing is impossible for a few agonizing seconds.
“One way or another, I’ll get what I want from you.”
Throwing me to the ground, he laughs maniacally as the wind is knocked out of me again.
My head smacks against the pavement, and an instant headache spreads through my skull.
I try to roll away from him, try to curl in on myself, but he quickly starts kicking me with his steel-toed boot, halting all of my attempts.
When he’s done, he shoves me to my stomach and loops the rope through my cuffed arms. I open my mouth to protest, and no words come out. My entire body is battered and bruised, and it’s only going to get worse.
Evan uses the rope to drag me through the zoo, and I’m able to make out that we’re heading in the direction of the arctic exhibits.
Aw, fuck… Frosty.
Evan knows I love to go into the polar bear enclosures, but he also knows that they’re the one animal that I’m equal parts enamored with and afraid of.
By the time we reach the enclosure, my clothes are ripped, and my skin is raw in places. I hurt in ways I didn’t know were possible, and my only thought is that I hope it’s closer to one in the morning than I think.
Because if it’s not, I’m not sure I can be saved.