He headed to the nearby door. Excitement lashed through him at the prospect of waking Summer and asking her to warm him up.
Shivering madly in the darkness, he could barely find the slot for the key. Fumbling around, he finally managed to slip the key into the lock. It clicked and he grabbed the doorknob, about ready to slip inside. But the key chain slipped from his numb fingers and dropped to the frozen ground with a clatter.
“Shit,” he swore softly under his breath. He let go of the doorknob and a gust of wind blew the door all the way open. The door smacked against the wall inside. Hopefully, the sound didn’t scare Summer. If he didn’t hurry and find those keys and get inside, the alarm would go off. He had thirty seconds. He swooped around and searched the darkness. He couldn’t find the keys in the cold fluffy snow that was beginning to accumulate and his fingers were getting painfully cold.
Frustration zipped through him. He’d have to deactivate the alarm before it went off. Thankfully, the owners had invested in an illuminated keypad so he could at least see the numbers. As he keyed in the password, he realized it would be easier getting the hell inside and turning on the motion detector lights to find the keys. Just as he thought about that scenario, he felt a presence behind him. Before he could react, something hard slammed against the back of his head. Pain and stars exploded. His stomach lurched with nausea. His legs gave out.
He tried to shout.
To warn Summer.
But another blow to the back of his neck had him falling into a dark pit of black.
Fallen Angel, he thought as he looked down at the big figure sprawled on the ground. He should have known she’d be here screwing around on him. Her scent was all over him.
But that was okay. It would just give him a reason to punish her. He loved punishing the Fallen Angel. Loved it when she cried and begged and screamed. Then afterward, he was merciful and put her out of her misery.
He smiled and swooped the gun off the ground where the demon had dropped it. The gun would come in handy. It would keep the Angel in line.
As for this demon who had wandered out into the cold, he could shoot him now and that would be that. But the gunshot would only alert his Angel. He wanted to surprise her.
He pursed his lips thoughtfully. He would have to kill this demon after he found her. Or maybe he would let the demon watch the Angel get fucked? Hmm, now that was an idea, but he preferred no audience.
No, he would kill this one after he found the Fallen Angel and he would make her watch. Consider it a partial punishment for her sin of allowing the demon to defile her. With gun firmly in hand, he stepped through the open doorway and entered the cabin.
Chapter Five
Something woke Summer. Her heart was pounding and a cold perspiration dotted her forehead. She felt so cold. The coldest she’d ever felt in her life.
What had woken her? A sound? She thought she had heard something. But now she swore there was a movement in the cabin. Whatever it was, uneasiness had slipped through the many layers of peaceful sleep she’d been enjoying, jerking her awake. Instinctively she knew Nick wasn’t in bed beside her. She also knew it wasn’t him walking around out in the living room. Nick walked with confidence. Whoever was there moved slowly, cautiously. They were searching for something or searching for her.
She heard harsh breathing and the blood froze in her veins.
His breathing.
Oh God! Was she in the throes of a nightmare? Imagining she heard the killer breathing? Her throat went dry and she needed to scream but nothing came out. She wanted to burrow deeper under the covers, hoping he wouldn’t find her. But he would if she stayed here. She was trapped!
No. No. No. This can’t be happening!
Fear clawed through her. Where was Nick? What happened to him?
She jumped as the intruder hit something. The couch?
He stopped. Maybe he thought she was awake and she’d heard?
Nick? Where the hell are you? And where was her cane? And Nick’s gun? Why in hell did she always forget where she’d put her cane? Dammit!
Her mind made quick judgments for an escape route. She could go out the window, but the intruder would hear the window opening. Or she could hide under the bed? No, he’d look there.
Another idea slammed into her. Yes, it was her only hope.
Lifting up the landline telephone receiver, she then dialed the numbers 9-1-1. In Blind School they’d made her memorize the layout of the keypad on the phone in case of such emergencies. As she placed the receiver to her ear, there was no tone. Only black silence. The hairs on the back of her neck rose even higher.
Oh no! He’d cut the telephone lines.
Her cell phone! She’d placed it in the drawer with the condoms and panties. But he would hear her the minute she slid the drawer open.
Okay chill! He wasn’t blind. His ears weren’t in tune like hers were. She would have to be extra quiet. If she hurried, she could get to the cell and maybe even slip out of the bedroom before he came in.
She quickly, and as quietly as she could, peeled the comforters away. Mild air blazed against her nakedness and she cursed herself for sleeping in the nude. No time to think about it now. She needed to move at the same time he moved. His footsteps would hopefully cover any noises she made.
Her heart was beating against her chest like explosions as she reached down and slid her fingers along the bed. Okay, the bureau was directly across from here. All she needed to do was—
Her bare feet tangled into something and she stumbled but caught herself quickly. Of course, their clothes were on the floor. Leaning over, she groped in the darkness and quickly found her jeans and top. She also noted Nick’s jeans and top were missing.
Okay, so Nick had heard something. He must have gone out to investigate. Maybe he was outside looking for this creep who’d managed to get in?
She wasted no time slipping into her jeans and top and felt just a touch better thinking Nick might be okay after all.
Out in the living room, she could hear the intruder moving again. She swore he’d stopped by the table with her erotic art and shivered with revulsion at the idea he might be admiring the project she’d been working on. The carving of Nick going down on her.
No. She couldn’t think about that now. She needed to move. She needed to find Nick so they could get the hell out of here.
For a split second, she thought about forgetting the cell phone and just sneaking out. But they might need it. She opted to get the cell. In a moment, she reached the bureau and slowly slid the drawer open. Groping around, she quickly found the cell phone and stopped cold. If she dare flip it open that little bit of music she’d programmed into it, would go off. He’d hear and she’d be dead.
Shit!
Okay, she had to get out of this room. Out of the cabin. Then what?
She blew out a slow breath and forced herself to relax. As if that were possible. She could hear him on the move again. Coming toward the bedroom. Her heart picked up speed and she swore she would die of a heart attack.
He thumped into something else. What? She had no idea. Whatever it was, he had come closer. Too close.
She moved faster. Turned and headed back to the bed. Reaching out, she skimmed her fingers over the comforters until she turned the corner of the bed. Then, keeping her arms straight out in front of her, she took a few more steps before her hands touched the wall. Then the bathroom doorway.
Thankfully, the door was open and she slipped through, quietly closing it behind her. Holding her breath, she slid the lock home, wincing at the loud noise. She froze when she heard the click of the light switch being turned on in the bedroom she’d just left. She heard the intruder swear softly.
Her mind whirled. Was there a window in the bathroom?
Running her fingers along the wall, she felt the shower stall, the wall and yes! She found a window. After unlocking it, she slid it up all the way and made sure he heard. Leaving it that way, she ran her hand along the wall un
til she found the other door. Opening it, she then tiptoed into the living room and quietly closed the door behind her. If her plan worked, he would climb out the window, thinking she’d gone out that way. If it didn’t work, he’d come out here and find her and she was as good as dead.
Nick was freezing. Nausea roared through his belly. His head hurt like a son of a bitch and the back of his neck felt sticky and hot. Blood. The insane crack to the back of the neck had blown his balance and sent him sprawling like a helpless rag doll.
Vaguely, he wondered if maybe the blow had paralyzed him. He put that notion out of the way when he flexed his fingers and moved his legs. Things were working. Now he needed to get his ass up and stop that bastard from hurting Summer. Unfortunately, his cold muscles weren’t moving as fast as he liked and he could only manage to struggle into a seated position before the whirls sent him spinning.
For a few freaked out seconds he couldn’t orient which way was up or which way was down. Reaching out, he cracked his knuckles against the cabin wall and braced himself, forcing his brain to rise above the dizziness. It seemed like forever, but he managed to get a semblance of up and down.
Truth was, he was scared shitless. But the fear wasn’t for himself. It was for Summer. She was in trouble. He might already be too late and the bastard was hurting her. His stomach dropped like a runaway elevator at that last thought.
He had no idea how long he’d been lying out here. It could be minutes, or hour or maybe it was even the next night. She might already be gone.
Fuck! He had to stop thinking like this. He needed to get up.
Find her.
Kill that bastard.
In that order.
When he fully got to his feet, blackness enveloped him.
He passed out again.
Summer’s heart was in her throat. She swore it was as she instinctively dropped to the floor and began crawling. Behind her, in the bathroom, she could hear the intruder struggling to get out the window. At least that’s what she hoped he was doing. She shivered as she made her way through the darkness, touching the kitchen table and orienting her direction toward the front door where she remembered leaving her cane when they’d come back from the boat trip.
She knocked into something, which she assumed were boots, then by some insane miracle, her fingers brushed against the cane. Relief poured through her. At least now she had a chance of getting out of here. Grabbing the handle, she stayed down on the floor and listened.
Silence. Not even the wind was blowing out there anymore.
Had the intruder gone out the window? Or had he heard her out here and was waiting for her next move? Either way, she needed to get some help. Sticking the cell phone into one of the boots, she had a heck of time flipping it open, but when she did, the boot muffled the music.
For a split second dialing 9-1-1 entered her mind, but then she opted to call Mary because she knew where Summer was, and Summer didn’t know if the intruder might overhear her if she stayed on the line talking to the police, giving them instructions to this secluded place. Holding back a sob of panic, she also realized she needed to hear Mary’s reassuring voice. She hit the redial number, realizing the last time she’d used it was when she’d talked to the older woman.
Her teeth chattered and her fingers shook as she held the cell to her ear. It rang and rang and Summer’s hopes plunged. At this time of the night, Mary may not even answer.
But when the elderly lady’s voice answered in a sleepy hello, Summer couldn’t stop the hot tears from flowing as she quickly told Mary what was happening.
How could his Fallen Angel have disappeared so easily? She was blind for crying out loud. She couldn’t have gone far out here in these woods. Not in this darkness. He caught himself at that last thought. But she was familiar in the dark, wasn’t she?
He smiled. Of course. She was setting a challenge for him. Bringing him to her level. Very good, Angel. Very good. He would accept her challenge and when he caught her he would show her how much he appreciated her games. Yes, he would.
Gun in hand, he sauntered to the rented SUV parked in the driveway behind the cabin. It was the demon’s transportation. Well, she couldn’t drive if she was blind and the demon wouldn’t be going anywhere. Not after he put a few bullets in him to make sure he stayed dead. Before he went in search of her though, he would do just that. He would kill the demon before the Angel had a chance to revive him.
Turning back around, he headed toward the cabin. And toward the demon.
Summer didn’t know what to do. Mary had told her to stay put, after telling her she was calling Ryan and the cops. When the line went dead, something inside her went dead too.
She realized something bad had happened to Nick. He would have come and found her by now. The killer must have done something to him. She couldn’t think about what or she would instantly go insane. She didn’t feel comfortable on the floor here either. She was a sitting duck. She needed to arm herself. Defend herself to the death if necessary.
She knew Nick had a gun, but he’d probably taken it with him. No use looking for it. But she was near the kitchen. There would be knives around. Knives for protection.
Shoving her cell phone into her back pocket, she stood. Waving the cane in front of her, she touched the wall with her hand and followed it into the kitchen. Brushing past the fridge and the stove, she found the counter top. Sliding open the drawers, she quickly found a nice long steak knife, the sharpness of the blade almost cut into the palm of her hand as she yanked it out.
She froze as she heard someone at the front door. It was him! It had to be the killer! Oh God! He was right on the other side of the door! All he had to do was open it and he would find her.
Gut wrenching fear paralyzed her as she suddenly sensed movement behind her. Something cold slapped over her mouth. Instinctively she knew it was a hand. Next, the handkerchief doused with chloroform would cover her face. When that happened, she would be in even bigger trouble.
Panic sliced through her and she screamed. The sound came out muffled. She struggled against a pair of cold, unbelievably strong, arms that embraced her.
It was him! He had her! Oh God! He had her!
She stomped her foot on his, felt satisfaction rip through her at a groan of pain. She worked one of her elbows loose from his hold and slammed it somewhere into her captor’s hard belly. Another grunt of pain followed, but his arms held her tight.
The knife! She had to use the knife, but it was in her other hand. The one he held tightly.
“Shh, it’s me.” The voice sounded gruff yet familiar.
Me? Nick?
Nick!
“Relax, will you?” he muttered against her ear.
She hadn’t realized she’d still been struggling with him and stopped.
“Man, you’re a fighter, woman. Remind me not to get on your bad side,” he whispered.
Alarm zipped through her. She could hear pain in his voice. As well as his teeth chattering, the noise reverberating like bones tapping together, not that she knew what that sounded like, but that’s what she thought. Okay, she needed to get the idea of bones out of her head and concentrate on Nick and getting out of here, or they’d both be dead after this lunatic got through with them.
“What happened?” she asked.
Needing to see if he was all right, if he was truly here and not a figment of her imagination, she reached up and touched his face, checking for injuries.
Immediately she noticed he was sweating. Big-time. Perspiration dampened his chin, his cheeks and his forehead. His skin felt cold and when her fingers came away sticky and wet after touching the back of his head and neck, she forced herself to inhale deeply and not give into the overwhelming fear he may be badly hurt. He was breathing hard. Way too hard.
“No time to explain,” he said hoarsely.
Right. He was right. They needed to get out of here before the killer came in again. She swallowed the fear tugging at her throat and focused o
n staying calm. Yeah, as if that was possible.
“He was at the front door. I heard him,” she whispered.
“Okay, let’s back away.”
He let go of her and she felt the knife being taken from her. His fingers slid against hers, cold but steady. He led her through the living room and she instantly knew something was very wrong with him in the way he staggered, almost falling against her a couple of times. She wanted to ask him again what had happened, but this wasn’t the time. She wondered where they were going in the cabin as her cane slapped into the sofa, then the table she’d used for her wood carving this morning.
God, had it only been this morning that she’d taken Nick in her mouth?
A moment later, she felt the handle of the knife being thrust against her palm. Nick was giving her back the knife.
“He took my gun and I lost the keys to the house and rental outside,” he said and Summer’s tummy hollowed out in despair.
He placed her hand on a doorknob. “Here’s the back door. We’ll go out this way. But first, I need to get the spare key for the SUV. It’s just in the front hallway in the closet. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
“But he might come through the front door. We just heard—”
“Shh, if he was coming through the front way he would have come by now. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. I promise.”
She nodded numbly and realized her teeth were chattering. And she was shivering uncontrollably.
She heard him stumble away and then a moment later she heard the click of a light switch. She froze and knew the lights had been turned on. She also knew Nick wouldn’t be the one turning on those lights, which meant only one thing—
“Ahh, my fallen angel. I finally found you.”
Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances Page 54
