by Lee Rose
That night Ryan made love to her with a desperation that unsettled her. She was angry at herself for bringing this bad situation into this peaceful little town and to Ryan. Yet she couldn’t regret meeting Ryan or any of her friends or coming here. This is where she was meant to be. She felt that deep in her soul.
She put her regular clothes back on and told Liz the whole story. “So that is why I have my own personal bodyguard and I’m scared, Liz, but I can’t admit that to Ryan or he’ll lock me in the apartment with a guard posted at the door. I just found my happiness and I don’t want to lose it.”
When she was done, Liz had tears in her eyes and hugged Lacy tightly. “Oh, Lacy, Ryan would never let anything happen to you. Thank God you got away. I can’t imagine how terrified you were to see something like that. You are not going back there to live, are you?”
Lacy shook her head. “No, I’ve changed for the better since coming here. I’m not feeling lost and lonely anymore. I know what I want and it’s a life here with good friends and the man I love.”
Within seconds they were both blubbering like babies, then they looked at each other and started laughing. “At least if someone has to follow you around, be glad he’s hot,” Liz said, looking at Ethan one more time before grabbing a box of Kleenex.
“You think Ethan is hot?” Lacy smiled as Liz’s cheeks turned a charming pink color. Interesting, Stella might be looking in the wrong direction setting her up with Stanley’s boss. She’d have to tell Stella later.
* * * *
Gabe and Ethan came into the diner looking for Mr. Harris. He had called the police station saying he saw someone last night at the Reynolds Farm, which had been deserted for over a year now. Mr. Harris got lonely and often reported that someone was trying to steal his cows, but with Chico around they had to check out every little report. They knew he was hiding in the woods, but there were so many acres of it to search.
After talking to Mr. Harris and promising to look into it, they stayed for breakfast. Ally insisted on feeding “her boys” as she called the three of them. Lacy knew they were hunting for Chico and that made her feel safer yet horrible that they were working so hard on her behalf. The sooner Chico was found the better everyone would feel, especially her.
Both men patrolled at night while Ryan and Logan took the day shift. Gossip ran like wildfire in this town, so everyone knew what was going on already, and they all promised to keep a lookout for any strangers. Ally had a stack of Chico’s mug shots by the cash register and encouraged everyone to pass them around. Lacy was touched by the strong support this town showed her. Instead of being mad that she brought trouble into their midst, they vowed to help protect her. Everyone she encountered around town told her that the people of Appledale stick together, and she was so touched she almost broke down and cried. Everyone already called her Ryan’s girl, and she felt a secret pleasure run through her when she heard that.
Her biggest fear was someone getting hurt because of her. She’d never be able to live with herself if that happened. She was alert at all times but it was taking a toll on her nerves. She wished Chico would just come out and confront her instead of playing games and hiding in the woods. He had to know everyone knew he was here, so why didn’t he just come out and face her? Waiting for him to show his face was what bothered her the most.
Lacy was clearing off a table when she felt the hair on the back of her neck sticking up and she got the shivers and was cold all of a sudden. She looked around and saw nothing unusual so she went back to picking up the dishes. Ally had sent Stella home early since she was feeling nauseous and most of the customers were drifting out slowly.
“Is something wrong, Lacy? Your face got pale,” Gabe asked, showing how observant he was.
“I don’t know. I felt like someone was watching me but there is nobody out there. Maybe it’s my nerves,” she answered, shivering and rubbing her arms for warmth. “I felt it yesterday, too. Maybe it’s just me being nervous.”
“Have you told Ryan?” Ethan asked, looking out the window, searching the street.
She shook her head and said with a deep sigh, “I figured it was just me and I didn’t want to sound paranoid or crazy. Ryan is so tense right now he’d probably lock me in a cell for my own protection.”
Ethan looked at her and smiled gently “You’re probably right about Ryan, but never underestimate your instincts, Lacy. They can keep you alive.” Gabe patted her shoulder with sympathy. “Ryan worries a lot but we’re all on alert. We’ll get this guy.”
Lacy tried to smile but she couldn’t, she was scared and tired of feeling that way. She should have been more firm in having Ryan or one of the Wilson brothers teach her self-defense. “I know and I appreciate all the hard work you guys are doing. This town is filled with the best men I’ve ever known.” She hugged them each to thank them.
Ethan smiled at her, hugging her back. Lacy was such a sweetheart. He was determined to find Chico before he hurt Lacy. He hated men who thought they could go around abusing women and bullying people. He had read Chico’s file and it had not been pretty. Chico was used to getting away with every crime he committed and he would terrorize anyone whether it was an elderly man or a woman. Well, no more!
Once the diner was closed Lacy sighed tiredly and said good-bye to Ally. The day had felt so long and it was getting colder. She couldn’t wait to shower and take a nap before Ryan came home later. She climbed the stairs and was about to put her key in the lock when she stepped on something. She looked down and saw a single red rose lying by her doorstep with an envelope. How odd. She didn’t think Ryan would do that. She had just seen him for lunch a few hours ago. Suddenly she got that feeling again and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She hurriedly went inside and locked the door. She set the rose down and opened the envelope. Inside was a note with one single word written on it—soon. It sent shivers up her spine. It had to be Chico. She picked up the phone immediately and called Ryan.
Lacy and Ryan were sitting on the couch. He and Logan had come by immediately, and Logan took the rose and went to the florist to see if anyone had bought roses today, even though they already knew it was Chico. He was letting them know he was coming for Lacy. Maybe Ryan should move her out to his house with his mom. It was farther out of town and Chico would have a harder time finding it.
Ethan and Gabe were out by Reynolds Farm, trying to track Chico down. Ryan had a lot of faith in their abilities. If anyone could find Chico, it would be those to two. Ryan knew they had done secret spy stuff in the army.
“I want this to be over once and for all. Why doesn’t he just come out in the open instead of playing stupid games?” Lacy grumbled, trying not to yawn.
“I don’t know, darlin’, but we’re all on alert and Detective Garcia is on his way now that we know for sure he is here. He can’t hide forever, baby,” he said, putting his arms around her as if to shield her from all harm. He wished he could make it all go away, but all he could do was protect her.
She laid her head on his chest, feeling comforted by his warmth and strength. She could stay here all day.
He tilted her face toward him and kissed her forehead gently. He pulled her close and kissed her, loving the way she melted in his arms so submissively and softly, as if she trusted him to take care of her. He took her to the bedroom. “Come on. I’ll take a nap with you, baby.”
He undressed them and covered them up and they both slept soundly. Ryan woke up first and saw it was evening. He yawned and looked over at Lacy sleeping. It was time to wake her up and take her to his house. He had a bad feeling in his gut that something would happen soon. He put his hands under her tank top and stroked her nipple, feeling it get hard. He kissed her cheek then her lips and she moaned softly. He kissed her neck and shoulder, working his way to her breast. Lacy smiled and sleepily opened her eyes.
“What a way to wake up, Sheriff,” she whispered, leaning up to kiss him. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him close. “A
girl can get spoiled this way.”
His phone started buzzing. “No,” he groaned dramatically, getting out of bed reluctantly. “Not now when things were getting good.”
Lacy giggled, looking at his hard-on under his jeans. She got out of bed to get dressed, too. “Good luck out there, Sheriff.”
“Oh, you’ll pay when I get back,” he promised and slapped her on the ass as he went to answer his phone.
He spoke a few minutes then hung up. “I gotta go check something out with Logan at the bank. I’d feel better if we moved to my house. I have better security over there, so will you pack some clothes and be ready by the time I get back?”
She nodded. She’d feel better knowing he’d be able to look out for Ally, too. Her worry for the woman had been on her mind even though Ryan assured her Ally was safe being so far from town. She locked the door after him. She went to the bedroom and grabbed her work uniforms and her personal items and put them in a bag. Ryan had a few of his clothes lying around, so she grabbed those, too. She loved seeing his clothes lying around. It seemed so domestic. She was going to be brave and tell him she loved him when he got back. He had to care for her. Maybe he didn’t say the words out loud, but he showed her in a million different ways. She was confident of that and it was time to stop being scared. How could she expect Ryan to see her as strong unless she stood up and said how she felt?
She was almost done packing when she heard a noise at the door. Ryan couldn’t be done that quickly, could he? He hadn’t been gone very long.
She tensed up, feeling scared. No, Ryan would have called out her name, knowing how nervous she was. She looked around for anything that could be used as a weapon, but she couldn’t find anything. She was just about to head for the kitchen to grab a knife when the door was suddenly kicked opened. She screamed when saw Chico standing there. She turned and made a run for the bathroom. She turned the lock just before he reached her. If only she had thought to grab the phone. She looked around and grabbed the scissors. They would have to do as a weapon. She looked up at the window above the toilet but it was too small. She’d never be able to crawl out of there. She was trapped. Think, Lacy, she told herself.
Chico yelled and banged on the door. “You can’t get away from me, Lacy, so why try? You’re making it harder on yourself, chica.” He kicked the door several times till finally it flung open with a bang and he stood there smiling. It sent chills up her spine.
He came at her and she had the scissors open and ready. She swung at him and he turned so the scissors went in his arm, but he still screamed with pain.
“Oh, you’ve made me mad now!” He grabbed her by her hair and slapped her hard across the face. “Finally it’s just me and you, Lacy. Did you get my note? We’re gonna have some fun together then you’re gonna pay for snitching on me and my boys. You ruined my business, bitch,” he told her angrily, shaking her hard. “Because of you I have no money and I had to leave my hometown.”
“How is you killing someone my fault?” she asked, trying to stall and give Ryan time to come back. “How did you even know where I was? No one was supposed to know where I am.”
“I have ears and eyes everywhere,” he yelled. “Let’s go before lover boy comes back. I have a lot of plans for you and me, and they don’t include your boyfriend.”
Lacy didn’t want to die, not when all her dreams were finally coming true. He had his arm around her throat, so she bent down and bit his arm as hard as she could, drawing blood. He let go and yelled loudly.
She ran out into the living room and grabbed a lamp and threw it at him, but he ducked and it missed him. The door was wide open so she ran outside and down the stairs screaming, hoping Ryan or someone would hear her. The bank was right around the corner. Chico grabbed her by the shirt when she got to the bottom of the stairs and put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming. She tried kicking him but she was barefoot and it did no good.
“So you wanna play rough?” he said in her ear. “I like it rough, chica. Turns me on.”
She kept struggling but he was too strong for her. He turned her toward him and kissed her roughly, bruising her lips. She kept her mouth shut tight, refusing to allow his tongue inside. She kept pushing at him but he wouldn’t budge. He was a lot bigger and stronger than she was. He put a piece of duct tape over her mouth and threw her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes and headed toward the woods. She tried hitting him on his back, but he ignored her struggles and kept on walking.
* * * *
Ryan and Logan looked at the broken window at the bank. A rock lay inside among the shattered glass but no one was around. It couldn’t be a robbery. The alarm was so loud it was hurting their ears. Finally, Logan figured out how to shut it off. “Damn, that was loud,” he said, his ears still ringing.
“Who would do this? Kids?” he asked, puzzled, looking around the dark, empty streets.
Ryan shrugged. “Nah for what?” Then he thought for a moment and groaned. “Oh no, Lacy!”
They ran toward Lacy’s apartment and saw the broken door and his heart fell. He was too late! He yelled out her name and stepped on broken glass. She was nowhere around. How could he have been so stupid as to fall for that distraction like a rookie and leave Lacy alone? He had promised to protect her and now he had failed her. He wanted to fall to his knees with grief but he had to be strong and find Lacy before Chico killed her. Why had he been so stubborn about giving her lessons to defend herself? He wanted to shelter her from bad things but maybe that had been wrong. He hadn’t even told her he loved her!
“Don’t worry, we’ll save her, Ryan,” Logan said in a steady voice. He called Gabe and Ethan on the walkie-talkie to let them know that Lacy had been taken. They were already in the woods tracking down clues they had found earlier in the day.
“He’s a dead bastard if he harms one hair on her head,” Ryan promised angrily and got in his Jeep with Logan. He had never felt so scared before but he needed to stay strong and think logically for Lacy’s sake.
“Gabe and Ethan are checking the woods by the old Reynolds Farm,” Logan said and started the Jeep. “Let’s go meet them there. That’s where Mr. Harris said he saw someone wandering around.”
Chapter Twelve
Chico took her to a heavily wooded area not too far from town. He had a little camp set up inside the barn. Two small camping lamps gave a little light to the dark, cold, and empty barn. He has been here for days, Lacy thought as she looked around for anything that would help her get out of this. She saw a sleeping bag and some food and water bottles lying on the ground but not much else.
He set Lacy down on his sleeping bag and straddled her so she wouldn’t get away. He was heavy and his knees were hurting her stomach. She shrieked with pain when he tore the duct tape off her mouth. “Oww!” she yelled, rubbing her mouth with her hand. “That hurt!”
“We are alone out here and I wanna hear you scream for me to stop.” He laughed with an evil grin on his face.
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, she vowed to herself. She would not make it easy for him.
She tried to buck him off of her using her body to try and throw him, but he was too heavy. He grabbed a fistful of her hair to stop her from moving around. “Why try? You can’t get away from me, Lacy. You might as well save your energy for your last night on this earth.” He growled and sat her up. He tied her hands behind her back with rope and laid her back down. It hurt to have him lie on top of her arms that way, but she doubted Chico cared.
He pulled a big butcher knife out from under the sleeping bag. He waved it around her face, laughing and trying to scare her, but she just stared coldly at him. He took the blade and tore her shirt open with it, the buttons popping off and flying around. “Oh yeah, we are gonna have us some fun, little girl.” Lacy cringed as Chico touched her neck with the knife, nicking her. Chico watched the blood trickle down her neck and laughed. Then he dragged it down to her bra and cut it open. She could feel blood trickli
ng down her neck as he stared at her breasts.
He squeezed her breast hard with one hand and twisted the nipple. She cried out with pain and felt the tears coming out of her eyes. She screamed loudly. There was a chance Gabe or Ethan was in the woods searching for Chico. Maybe they’d hear her. It was her only hope.
“I’ve been waiting for days to grab you. Fantasizing about all the things I’m gonna do to you to make you pay for all the suffering I’ve done,” he said with a grin, still sitting on her stomach. She struggled uselessly and screamed, but Chico figured they were alone in the woods with no one but cows to hear them, so he didn’t try to stop her.
“Let’s get this party started.” He looked at her body with lust in his eyes, ready to enjoy this night. “Nice and convenient of you to wear shorts for me.” He set the knife down and got off her stomach and onto his knees, bending down to pull her shorts off.
This could be her only chance to escape. No way was she going to make it easy for him to rape her. She’d fight till her last breath.
She brought her legs up and with all her might she kicked him in the face. He fell back, groaning with his nose bleeding. She clumsily stood up with her hands still tied and ran while he lay groaning on the ground, cursing at her.
She started running out the barn even though she was barefoot. It was so cold and all she had on was a torn blouse and shorts. She had never been in the woods before and didn’t know which way was town, so she just ran toward the trees, praying she was headed in the right direction. She could feel every stick and rock cutting into her feet, but she didn’t let that stop her. Fear and adrenaline gave her the strength to keep going. She knew Ryan would rescue her if she gave him time. She had faith in him and trusted him. He loved her. She felt that with all her heart. She didn’t need the words to know it and Chico wasn’t going to ruin her chance of happiness.
