Chapter 17
Barun
I watched in horror as Katy ran away. Hurriedly pulling on a t-shirt, I put on my shoes next before rushing to the door. Just then my phone rang, making me realize it was still inside. Shit! Hurrying in, I grabbed it from my closet before running out of the door.
“Who is the bastard? Did you find out?” I ground out, slamming the front door behind me.
“Benjamin West, a professor who teaches computers in…” As Ryker delivered the news, my blood ran cold.
Fuck! Benjamin… Ben… that nerdy bastard who was here last night.
He was in Tinselford for Katy. That fucker wasn’t traveling for the holidays.
Disconnecting my call, I immediately called Luke, the first employee in my company, who was put up in the hotel at the end of the town.
“Katy has taken my car, can’t explain everything right now. Ryker is tracking my car. You bring yours immediately.”
My blood was pounding even as I started running in the direction where Katy had left. Calling my partner Brad, I asked him to alert the Falcone brothers before running to the approaching car.
I got in immediately, slamming the door close. “Go, go, go.” The tires squealed as we took off in the direction that would lead us out of the town. I opened the tracker that had Katy’s location to find my car near a barn that was at the other end of the city.
Immediately, Luke veered the car in the opposite direction. I placed a hand on my gun, my instinct on high alert. I jumped out of the vehicle even before Luke could stop the car completely. Running to the barn, I kicked open the door to find a stale smell. Other than that, nothing.
Glancing around, I snarled in frustration. Desperate, I searched the enter area, finally noticing Katy’s scrunchie. I remembered her having it around her wrist when I placed the coffee this morning. My blood ran cold at the implication.
Looking closely, I noticed some disturbances in the mud pattern in the area.
I followed the path into dense woodland, walking precisely.
My eyes automatically scanned the area for threats.
A little further ahead, the path diverged.
Just as I was contemplating the direction I wanted to go, I heard the faint rustling of leaves, as if someone had stepped over them.
At once, my senses went on high alert, years of training taking over. Treading on the path cautiously, I took out my gun, walking ahead until I saw a backpack fallen. Trusting my instincts, I picked it up and walked further.
Spotting them from behind the trees, I stopped short. My blood ran cold when I saw the fucker holding a knife at Katy’s throat. An icy hand gripped my heart, and fear unlike anything I’ve known, lashed through me. But my girl, my brave fucking girl, she was holding up like a queen.
I watched her profile, noticing the proud tilt of her chin. She hadn’t seen me, nor did that motherfucker realize I was in the vicinity. Unlike the previous time when she’d been held hostage, this time, her eyes were clear, and she wasn’t cowering.
Only then did I hear what Ben was saying.
“I lost my family because of you, you stupid bitch. I would have killed you yesterday, but your stupid bodyguard ran to you like a dog in heat. Asshole!”
A red haze of anger covered my vision. My breathing altered, and I held my gun tighter, taking care not to make a sound. I needed to move a little ahead to pull the trigger, and I hoped I could do that without alerting him.
“Your so-called blog, where you spout all the feminist nonsense, made my wife move away from me. She took my daughter with her. All because of your stupid posts filled with lies, you fucking whore.”
I watched him move close to Katy, making her flinch. Bastard! Something must have alerted her; she turned to look at me. For a split second, hope flickered in the dark orbs, warming my heart. God, she trusted me even after all that had happened!
I gestured to her not to make any sound. Heart hammering. I was just close enough to act, close enough to save her, but a sudden rustle broke the silence.
Ben stiffened, sensing movement. His grip tightened as he turned, dragging Katy close to him as a shield. The blade lifted, catching the light, and that’s when my instincts kicked in.
Within a split second, I lunged forward and shoved Katy hard out of that fucker’s grasp. She stumbled and fell to the side, hitting the ground but rolling away, free.
He gasped, stumbling back, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. That’s when pain exploded across my side as something struck me near my heart. Before the bastard could run, Luke ran in, kicking him in his groin. With a pitiful cry, Ben fell to his knees, doubling and howling in pain.
My eyes closed, welcoming the darkness, just as I heard Katy scream and Luke curse. I love Katy was my last thought before I lost all consciousness.