Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
Raleigh’s head pounded like a thundering herd was charging through, and her mouth was drier than dust. Her stomach churned and her eyelids were heavy. Didn’t seem to matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get them open.
She remained still, fighting the fog in her brain.
Where was she? She was lying on something hard.
A musty odor filled her brain, along something else, something she knew but her brain was too fuzzy.
She couldn’t move her hands. Were they tied?
Yes. In front of her. Something was biting into her wrists.
Adrenaline pulled her from the murky depths. She’d been drugged.
She cracked her eyes open. She was lying on her side on a wooden floor.
A grey wool blanket covered her, soaked in a smell she recognized.
Josh’s cologne. Josh! It came back in an instant.
Josh was her stalker. She shifted her weight.
At least her feet were free. Not that she could move them.
The fog was still around the edges of her consciousness.
The floorboards creaked, giving her away.
“Are you up, sweetheart?”
She remained silent. Would he fall for it? Could she convince him she was still unconscious? She needed to think. Figure out a plan. Something.
“Don’t be coy, darling. We’re together. We don’t have to pretend anymore.” He walked across the room. Was he wiping his hands on something? It was hard to tell through her lashes.
Wait. Pretend? Pretend what? What was it he wanted? Should she play along?
“Don’t be angry with me. I know it’s been a little scary, but everything will be fine now. We can’t tell the world we’re together just yet, so I had to sneak you away.”
He’d smuggled her out of the chapel. Were they still at the resort? How long had she been out?
She tried to take in her surroundings. They were in what appeared to be a small cabin or shed.
A metal chair with a bent leg was tucked under a decrepit wooden table.
The room wasn’t huge but did have a couple of windows in the front and one on the side.
Torn, yellowed curtains covered them, somewhat diffusing the light.
Raleigh closed her eyes and swore silently. She wanted to scream, but she bit her lip instead. Screaming wouldn’t help her now.
Dylan. His image rose behind her eyelids.
Had she been out long enough for him to miss her yet?
Would he be looking for her? Was he still in the parking lot of the church?
Was the wedding over? Tears made her vision swim.
Her heart ached at the thought she might never see him again. She might never see anyone again.
Exhaustion ate away at her consciousness. She just wanted to go home. Be safe in her own bed. Her throat filled with unshed tears as she opened her eyes.
Josh limped over and sat down on a rickety chair a few feet from her.
“There you are.” He smiled. “You know, I should’ve kept you sleeping for a while longer so I could go back to the reception, but I just couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t leave you. It’s just so exciting to finally have you with me.
All these years, we’ve been apart but now we’re back together as we should be. ”
His voice dropped to just above a whisper. “Soon, we can really be together.” His eyes lingered on her breasts.
She almost vomited, and her entire body shuddered.
His voice back to normal, he said, “And now that you hurt my foot, I have a good excuse for not attending.” He held up his hands. “Don’t worry, I know it was an accident, but you must never do it again.”
His voice was ice. A weird light shone in his eyes. He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her. He was capable of killing her. She knew it. She began to shake.
After clearing his throat, he said, “I’ve been thinking. It’s only a few months before the election. I know I’m only an assistant now, but I’ll be an equal once Calvin wins and names me deputy mayor. Your parents will accept me then.
“Then with you by my side, I’ll be able to run for Congress or the Senate. I’m sure your parents will support us and of course they’ll get their friends to support us as well. We are an unbeatable couple just like back in high school.”
She frowned. What was he talking about? High school? The drugs were still fogging up her brain. Did she know him back then? She’d gone to a private school. Her class hadn’t been huge maybe eighty kids but surely she would have recognized him if he’d gone to her school.
“Until then,” Josh continued, “you can write articles to support Calvin’s campaign.
No one will know we’re together, so they’ll have no reason to doubt your word.
And once the election is over and we’re married, well, it won’t matter.
You’ll have quit so you can take up your rightful place on my arm. ”
What in the name of God was he talking about? Her parents would find him worthy? Her parents would never find him acceptable. Hell, her parents didn’t find her acceptable. What hope did he have? She tried to sit up, but he pushed her back and she cried out.
“Honey, don’t be upset. I know you’ll miss your little friends in New York, but it’ll only be for a few months, and then you can reemerge and take the city by storm.”
Not in New York? Where was he going to take her? For how long? Fear danced along her spine as the thought of being held captive for months permeated her brain.
“It’s so good you got to meet Jenn and her friends.
They will be your new friends once we announce our engagement and I have the new job.
They are the right crowd for us.” He frowned as he looked down at her.
“It would’ve been much better if you hadn’t chosen her ex-fiancé as your boyfriend.
That was really poor planning on your part. Seriously, I expected more from you.”
The anger in his voice sent ice through her veins. Rage burned in his eyes.
“You cannot be that sloppy ever again. How are we going to move up in politics if you’re not giving me one hundred and ten percent?
You need to work harder.” His voice was getting louder.
“That mistake might have cost us Bill Harris’ endorsement.
What were you thinking?” He was yelling now.
Spittle pooled at the corners of his mouth and sprayed in droplets through the air.
He continued to rant. She had to say something to calm him down, but what? Her mind was blank. Focus. Okay, what would be a good reason for her to have brought Dylan to Jenn’s wedding? The wheels spun in her mind.
She tried to speak, but her mouth was dry.
She coughed and tried again. “I brought him so we could commiserate later.” Her voice was rusty and dry.
Josh’s ranting stopped so she kept going.
“I thought that bringing Dylan would make Jenn realize Andrew was a much better choice.” Speaking was hard. She needed water.
“I was going to wait a few weeks before breaking up with him. Then I figured Jenn and I could bond over our common enemy.” Dread filled her chest as the silence lingered Would he buy her story? She closed her eyes and prayed. He needed to believe her.
“Darling, you’re more precious than I ever dreamed.”
Oh, thank God. She took a quick look at Josh’s face. He was smiling.
“It was a very risky plan, but I can see where it would work. It would give you and Jenn something in common besides your upbringing. Oh, I like it,” he crowed and rubbed his palms together.
He continued, “Of course, we’ll have to modify it now that you won’t be seen until after the election, but no matter.
We have lots of time to figure out the details.
The election isn’t for a couple of months. ”
Why did he keep saying she wouldn’t be seen? Where was he taking her?
“Josh, where are we going? Shouldn’t you go back to the reception? You don’t want to upset anyone,” she croaked.
“Don’t you worry. They won’t notice I’m not there, and Calvin can reach me if he needs me.
I’ll just tell everyone I was working on paperwork for Calvin.
I have the perfect place for you to stay.
A cabin in the woods like Snow White’s, only without the dwarfs.
” His chuckle was childlike, making it even creepier.
“You can write articles about me and Calvin and email them to Max.”
Fear spiked her heart. Would she ever see the light of day again if Josh had his way?