Chapter 31 #2
“I was gonna wake you and get you outta there,” he continues. “I figured that was the night for me to bring you here, to the home I put togetha’ for us.”
His voice tightens. His eyes narrow. “But then I heard that bastard Kade Bishop pull up outside.”
Kade. Oh my God, and I blamed him for it. I basically came out and accused him of killing Jackson when it was Buck. Kade honestly believed I was guilty, because who would’ve guessed otherwise?
“You don’t need him,” he croons. “You’re too good for him. I hope you can understand that someday, if you can’t understand it now.”
My skin is crawling. I can’t let him see how sick it makes me when he touches me. What is he planning? My God, how could I ever have trusted him? How did I not see this?
“I figured Kade would be the one they would blame for it,” he explains.
“Two birds, one stone. But I forgot those Bishops are like Teflon around here. They can get away with anythin’.
” His eyes narrow a little, and a growl touches his voice.
It’s like an icy finger stirring my blood.
“Well, I’ll have to take care of him, too.
But not yet. Not when I finally have you here.
After all this time. Besides, might not have to do much with the sheriff thinking he killed those two boys in the woods.
I left them just so they could be found and he could be called in. ”
Don’t show it. Don’t show it. I can’t let him see how hard I’m fighting not to scream when the backs of his knuckles trace the curve of my jaw.
The look on his face sickens me, too. How did I not know?
Because he hid it well. And now I have to hide what’s really going on inside if I’m going to get out of this. I have to. And I will.
“Those two men?” I whisper. I have to know for sure. “Was that you? Protecting me?”
“I would never let anyone hurt you, Allie.” He shakes his head slowly. “No one, not ever. They got what they deserved. Don’t you see how much I love you? I would do anything for you. I’ve killed for you.”
His intensity makes a whimper start in the back of my throat. He’s completely insane, totally gone, and I… I have no idea where I am, no clue how to get home, or how to contact anyone. I’m not even wearing shoes.
And he’s still staring at me. Waiting. Searching my face, looking for approval.
I can only think of two words to say. It isn’t easy to choke them out, but I have to keep him happy. “Thank you.”
And that’s exactly what he wanted to hear, too. His eyes open wider, a slow smile starting to spread. “So you see? You understand?”
“Of course I do. You protected me. Where would I be if it wasn’t for you, Buck?” I’m going to be sick. I can’t do this.
Yes, you can.
I can do it because I don’t have a choice. I have to get through this somehow, then find a way to get home. He thinks he loves me. I have to remember that and act like it’s a good thing to keep him happy.
But first, I need to think. I can’t do that with him hovering over me like this. Licking my lips, I whisper, “My head hurts really bad. And I’m so tired. I think I need to rest for a little while.”
His eyebrows pull together. He’s disappointed. “Oh.”
“But I know I’ll rest well,” I add. My teeth grind together when I force a smile. “Thanks to you. You went to all this trouble to make me comfortable.”
That was the right thing to say. He looks bashful, sheepish, when he smiles. “It took me a little time, but I wanted to get everythin’ right. Look.” It is such a relief when he gets up from the bed. I can breathe a little easier without him hovering over me.
He picks up a bottle from the dresser. Familiar bottle, familiar dresser. “I bought some of the perfume you like.” He sprays it into the air. “So it will smell the way you like it to smell in here. I tried to think of everything to make you happy.”
He’s completely insane. I wonder if he was like that the whole time I knew him, or if he lost his mind over time. “I can tell. And I’m honored.”
“I’m the one who is honored to have you here. Finally, you’re finally here with me. I’ve been dreamin’ about this for so long.”
A scream builds in my chest when he takes off his boots. No, please, not this. My body seizes when I think of what he plans to do. “What… are you doing?” I whisper as fresh, cold terror freezes my muscles.
“You said you were tired. I’m tired, too.
Chasing you around and watching to make sure you’re safe is a lot of work.
” He still wears a sheepish smile when he looks down at me.
“It took a long time, but I finally have you. You’re finally here.
And I’m not gonna let anybody take you away. Don’t you worry about that.”
“I’m not worried.” Not about that.
Bile rushes into my throat with his first step toward the bed. “Don’t get skittish on me, now,” he whispers, approaching slowly like he would a horse he’s getting to know. “I know how to be a gentleman. Unlike that dead fiancé,” he growls.
Something dark and dangerous passes over his face when he mentions Jackson. “I only want to be close to you. I’ve waited so long for this. Don’t tell me I can’t be close to you now.”
He doesn’t want to hurt me. I have to believe that. “It’s okay. This has all been a lot. Thank you for understanding.”
“All I want to do is understand you and take care of you, Allie.”
I close my eyes, grinding my teeth to hold back a whimper of pure disgust as he stretches out on the bed, draping himself halfway over me.
His head rests on my chest, and his hair tickles my cheek.
But it’s the way he sighs that makes me want to scream.
There’s happiness in it, but something else, too.
Something… hungry. He’s hungry for me. And he’s waited a long time. How much longer is he going to wait?
Tears squeeze out from between my lids and roll down the sides of my face. How will anyone find me? How will they know where I am?
“This feels good,” he whispers, sounding like a happy little boy. “You’re finally mine. We can finally be together forever.”
I can’t cry. He’ll feel it if I cry. Since his head is on my chest, he’ll feel every breath I take. “Thank you for doing all of this for me,” I choke out. My voice is shaky, but maybe he’ll think it’s happiness I can’t contain.
“Tell me you love me, Allie.”
He lifts his head to look at me. I blink fast, trying to clear away my tears. “Tell me. I’ve waited years to hear you say it. Tell me you love me the way I love you, Allie.”
God, I don’t know if you’re real or if you can hear me, but I need you to get me through this.
It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, forcing a painful smile when all I want to do is scream for help that would probably never come, anyway. I have to make my voice gentle instead of letting the terror leak through when I murmur, “I love you.”
His smile lights up his face, deepening his wrinkles, making his eyes glow. It makes me shrivel inside. “Thank you. We are gonna be happy together, Allie. Just you wait and see.”
Then he settles back down, his head on my chest, his body half crushing me and making it impossible to move. All I can do is stare at the ceiling and get through one breath at a time.
Someone has to help me. And they have to do it soon.
Because he won’t be satisfied with this for long.
And I’ve seen what he’s capable of when he snaps.