Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Bennett
At least I’m not covered in blood this time; not that it’s anything she hasn’t seen before or something I have to try to hide anymore.
Still, it’s not something I want to flaunt in front of her face either.
But tonight was just following him, checking to see if I was right, if he’s the one I need. He is; they always are.
I stop by High Tides to change and pack a bag of clothes. I know she won’t be here, it doesn’t stop me from hoping, though. A hope that is soon dashed the minute I pull up the empty drive. Little brat, will she ever do what I ask?
I’m in and out within a matter of minutes and back in my car driving the five minutes to her place; desperate to see her. Yes, I’m a needy fucker when it comes to her.
“Where the fuck is she?” I mutter to myself as I pull up outside hers to find her car missing.
I use my key to let myself into her place, a key I had cut for me without her knowledge. Little D comes charging up to me meowing like he hasn’t seen anyone for too long, confirming what I already suspected. Peyton hasn’t been home.
I fish my phone out of my pocket and dial her number, it rings several times before going to voicemail. I hit redial as my gut begins to tighten with worry; is she still at work? She should have been back hours ago.
I make my way into the kitchen to feed Little D as my second call goes to voicemail. While he’s munching away on his awful smelling food I search for the number for the ER. My call is answered on the third ring with an abrupt ‘yep’, I guess they don’t get many external calls.
“Hi. My name’s Bennett, I’m Peyton Lawson’s partner.” There’s no way I’m calling myself her boyfriend, that shit is for kids. “Could you tell me if she’s still there? I expected her back hours ago, and I’m getting worried.”
“Oh, God no, you haven’t heard from her either?” My blood runs cold as her words register. “We’ve been trying to get hold of her since she went to check her car after the accident. She never came back.”
“What accident? When did this happen? Christ, how long has she been gone?” What the fuck is going on? I got Barclay, there is no threat to her, so where the fuck is she?
“Let me get Derek for you, he’s still on shift and he’s been worried sick.” She places me on hold, every second that ticks by is torture.
“Derek speaking.”
“Derek, it’s Bennett Miller, I’m Peyton’s partner.”
“Justine has just told me that Peyton’s not with you.”
“No, she’s not home and she’s not answering her phone.”
“Shit,” he mutters under his breath. “I knew something wasn’t right.”
“Derek, I need you to tell me everything.”
“Something spooked her here at work. The nurses had been talking about Barclay and the Vigilante, and when we were with a patient she had a real ‘oh shit’ moment.” She’s worked it out and left me.
Those thoughts are put to a sudden stop when he continues.
“Before I could question her, her car was hit in the parking lot and the guy wanted her to check the damage and exchange insurance details. I tried to go with her, but she said she was fine and would be right back. That was just over four hours ago and she hasn’t come back.
Her car is also missing from the lot and none of us can get hold of her. ”
“What have the police said?” If she’s in her car, I can find her.
“We haven’t called the police, Bennett. You and I both know they wouldn’t do anything yet.”
“And you and I both know something is wrong, she wouldn’t just disappear like that, especially without telling a soul.”
“What we know and what we can prove at this point are two very different things. I’ve had security go through the camera feeds, but we can’t see anything in the area she parks.
” Goddamn it, Peyton. Stay visible at all times.
“We tried getting hold of her friend Harry, he’s her emergency contact, but it’s just gone to voicemail.
We would have called you but we don’t have your details on the system yet. ”
“I need to go, Derek. I’ve got to find her.”
“Call us when you hear from her, or find her. We’re all worried here.”
“Will do,” I say just before I hang up and pull up the app for my tracking devices and click on the one for Peyton’s vehicle. The one I placed that first night, the one that’s telling me she’s in the middle of fucking nowhere.
What’s happened, sweetheart?
Peyton
He’s insane. Completely and utterly insane.
I’ve been doing Bennett an injustice every time I’ve called him it, never again. I’ll never insult him that way. Because the man in front of me, the man muttering under his breath, the man who has me tied from the rafters of what seems to be a large shed — he is the definition of insane.
I’m not sure what my best approach is here.
Do I get him talking? Do I stay silent? I can’t get away, the knots are too tight, I can’t move my wrists even a fraction.
There’s no way I’m getting free without help.
I don’t know where we are or how far he travelled with me in the car.
We were already here when I woke from the drugs he gave me, but I don’t know how long I was out for, it could have been thirty minutes or three hours.
“You’ll wish it had been him when I’m through with you.” His mutterings are now loud enough for me to just make out what he’s saying.
“Who?” His gaze flies to my own and his eyes narrow on me.
“Oh, you would have much preferred him.” A low menacing chuckle leaves him. “He’s practically a saint compared to me.”
“Who?” I repeat. I need to keep him talking.
Bennett is coming, I know without a doubt that he is searching for me, even before I realized who he was, I know he would have come.
I just need to give him enough time to find me before this crazy ass does whatever he’s going to do, because I know whatever it is, it won’t be good.
“Barclay.” Oh shit. “You see, Barclay and I used to share our accomplishments — we’d send each other pictures and videos — and I was very much looking forward to seeing what he did to you.
I knew something was wrong when he didn’t send anything; so I decided to come and find you myself.
” He runs the edge of the knife down the side of my neck, slightly nicking my skin on its journey.
“What makes you think the Vigilante won’t do the same to you?”
“Oh, I won’t be here long enough. I’ve only come for you.”
“Why me?” My voice is shaking, I’m desperately trying not to show him how scared I am, but it’s difficult; I am freaking the fuck out.
“Because you’re beautiful, and I like to ruin beautiful things.” I only just manage to stifle the whimper that wants to leave my lips.
“Ho-how do you ruin them?” The most vicious smile I’ve ever seen crosses his face.
“Barclay liked to keep his toys alive, he just liked to play with them for a while, ruin them and then return them. I am going to destroy you, I’m going to make you bleed out, and as you take your last breath, I’ll be right there with you; inside you.
” He’s twisted, sick, he’s not human. No human could do that.
“I see I’ve already drawn a little blood.” He drags his finger along the droplet running down my neck; scooping it onto his finger and bringing it to his lips. “Delicious,” he whispers as he sucks my blood into his mouth.
Two things hit me at once — I’m never getting out of here alive, and I never got the chance to tell Bennett how I really feel, how much I love him.
I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry you have to go through this again. I love you so much.