Isabella heard him yelling for her but she kept running. She could hear him crashing through the woods behind her. She couldn’t let him catch her. She ran as fast as she could when she saw a clearing ahead, she prayed there was a road out there. Her side hurt from running, but she kept going. The clearing was getting closer. She screamed when he tackled her from behind. She fought as hard as she could. She tried to knee him in the groin, but he pinned her down, lying on top of her. So she pummeled him with her fists.
“Stop it!” Colt grabbed her hands and held them above her head. She kept struggling, but he held her down. She was breathing painfully hard while he was barely out of breath. She finally stopped and gazed up at him. A tear slid down her temple into her hair.
“Please. Please…Colt. Let me go,” she pleaded with him. “He’s going to kill me. Please…” Her voice caught on a sob.
“I can’t let you go, Bella. I can’t. If I could, I would…” He shook his head.
“He’s going to kill me,” she cried, letting her tears flow freely. She wasn’t beyond begging.
“I won’t let that happen. I can promise you that, but I can’t let you go.”
Isabella stared at him. For some strange reason, she believed him. Her glance went to his mouth, and then back to his eyes. She frowned. “Your eyes are blue. I thought they were green.”
“They change colors. They’re usually green. They change to dark green when I’m angry.”
“And when they turn blue?” she asked.
“I’m turned on,” he murmured, staring at her mouth.
Isabella inhaled sharply, looking at his lips again. She heard him groan right before he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. She sighed when he deepened the kiss, stroking his tongue across her lips. She opened to him and his tongue slowly moved into her mouth. She wriggled her arms, and he released his hold. She wrapped them around his neck. Fingers of one hand moved into her hair while his other hand moved to her waist. It didn’t stay there long but slowly moved up to her breast. She moaned when he cupped it in his hand. He pulled her shirt up and unhooked her bra, exposing her breasts. He groaned aloud as he gazed down at them.
“Perfection,” he said before catching a nipple with his mouth.
Isabella moaned at the pleasure he was creating. She ran her hands through his thick black hair. He nudged her knees apart, settling between them. She could feel his arousal against the apex of her thighs. He pressed into her, making her moan low in her throat. He moved his lips to her neck, teasing her skin with hot biting kisses then returned to her mouth, kissing her hard. She moved her tongue against his and he kissed her harder.
A bird screeched in the distance. Colt raised his head and gazed down into her eyes. Isabella didn’t want him to stop but he sighed and moved off her. She lay there looking up into the trees, hating what she wanted to do with him. She knew it would feel this way with him and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling, not because of where she was or even why, but because she would never be able to be with this man. He made her want things she couldn’t have. She was ready to have sex with him right here in the woods lying on the ground. She’d lost herself so much in his kiss she’d forgotten everything else.
* * * *
Mont looked over at her and saw the tears. He stood and put a hand out to her. She shook her head, got up on her own, and brushed herself off. When he reached a hand out to brush leaves from her hair, she pulled away from him and glared at him.
“Don’t ever touch me again.” Her mouth flattened into a thin line.
Mont clenched his jaw, took her elbow in his hand, and pulled her back toward the house. She tried to jerk her arm from him, but he held on tight.
“You don’t have to drag me back. I’m not going to run again…yet.”
Mont jerked her to a stop and shook her. “Do you have any idea what you did by breaking the window out? Barkley’s going to think I can’t keep an eye on you and probably have someone else do it. Do you know who’s next on his list? Blackman.” He shook her harder. “It was a stupid thing to do. You just cut your own throat. Come on.” He pulled her behind him.
“I don’t want Blackman watching me,” she cried.
Mont halted and pulled her into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his waist. “We’ll have to make something up. Once he sees the broken window, he’s going to go off.”
They continued to the house and entered the kitchen and Colt had Isabella sit down. He got a cloth, wet it, and then applied it to the cut on her hand. It wasn’t deep, but he cleaned it and put a bandage on it.
“I have to go outside to get something to cover the window. Do not try to run again or I’ll let Blackman watch you.” He went back outside and a few minutes later came back carrying half a sheet of plywood and carried it to the bedroom and installed it over the bottom half of the broken window.
* * * *
Isabella watched him from the doorway. She knew she couldn’t run again, not for a while anyway. She would definitely try again, but Colt had caught her quickly so she’d have to plan for the next time. It would have to be when he was asleep or otherwise vulnerable. Any of the other men would’ve shot at her. She believed that with a fearful certainty. They wouldn’t have cared if they killed her or not.
She shuddered at the thought. Either way it played out, if she died her parents would fall apart. If they got to her father and killed him, she and her mother would fall apart. They were a close-knit family and always had been. Her thoughts went to Harrison Washington, her father’s best friend and her godfather. Had he died from his gunshot wound?
The only time she’d ever argued with her parents was when they’d suggested she marry Sean Jones. Now, she shook her head in despair, realizing she may never see him again. The thought hurt her. Even though she’d never been in love with him, it hurt to think she’d never see him again. Have him step on her toes while dancing. She smiled sadly. She wouldn’t even be able to make catty remarks to Rebecca ever again. She may never see Harrison again. She put her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out.
Colt finished with the window then turned to look at her, shaking his head.
“I’ll tell him I broke it while we were arguing,” Colt told her.
She exhaled. “And you think he’ll believe that?”
He smiled at her. “He knows I have a temper. It won’t surprise him.”
“You have a temper?” Maybe he had a bad side she hadn’t seen yet.
He chuckled. “Yes. A bad one. I’ve broken things before, so...” He shrugged. “He’ll believe it. Just back me up. Although I really doubt he’ll ask you.”
Isabella nodded her head. She watched him pick up the tools and head for the door. He turned to look at her and then pulled it closed behind him. She heard the lock turn. Moaning in resignation, she sat down on the bed.
What was going to happen now? She was sitting on a time bomb and it was only a matter of time. Once they got her father, it would be over. All of it. The life she’d known, the life she could’ve had. Barkley would kill her father. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but knowing Barkley the way she did, she knew he’d kill her father simply because he was the one who put him away. Her father fought hard to have him put to death, but Barkley had made a deal. He got his reward for turning in the rest of his men. Life without the possibility of parole. She’d been disappointed with the sentence, but had accepted it. Now look where she was. If he hadn’t cut a deal, he’d be on death row. From there, she was sure he’d never have escaped.
She was still trying to believe Colt had helped him escape. Why? Why would he do that? Why was he involved with Barkley and these other men? She’d counted two others besides Barkley, Colt, and Blackman. That man, Blackman, definitely gave her the creeps. He’d rape her in a heartbeat. She felt sick. The thought of that man touching her…a shudder rushed over her skin. She sat on the bed and picked up the remote, turning the TV on where she saw her father talking to the camera.
“I know it’
s me you want, Barkley. I received the letter you sent. You want to trade me for my daughter. Well, the FBI will not allow this to happen, even though I would do it without a second thought, but it seems I can’t even go to the bathroom without being watched,” he said in sad voice. “The problems of being a politician. Please don’t hurt my daughter.” His voice cracked. “I’m sure we can work this out. I can wire you any amount of money anywhere you want it. Just please let me have my daughter back. Isabella, I love you honey. Your mom and I want you home and we are going to do everything we can to get you here.” He stepped away from the podium without answering any of the questions asked by the press. He looked terrible and Isabella suspected he probably hadn’t slept a wink since the night Barkley took her.
Was it really only a day ago? It felt like an eternity to her. She turned the TV off, put her hands over her face, and sobbed. She wanted to go home.
Chapter Three
Two days later, Isabella sat in the bedroom looking at the television, but it held no interest for her. She sat up when she heard the lock turn. When the door opened, Barkley walked in. She was disappointed since she hadn’t seen much of Colt over the past couple of days. He seemed to be avoiding her. She’d heard him talking to someone yesterday, but couldn’t make out what he was saying since he’d spoken softly. She pulled her legs up to under her chin and glared at the man she hated more than anyone else.
“Your father’s a stubborn man. He wants to give me money for you. I don’t want his fucking money. I want him! You’re going to call him for me. He’ll listen to you.”
“I won’t talk to him,” she told him.
Barkley smiled at her. “Yes you will. I have no problem killing you.”
Isabella scrambled to her knees. “Then do it! You’ll get nothing, you son of a bitch. Do you think I’d do anything you want?”
“I’ll kill your friend, Patsy Murphy, if you don’t,” he said in a low menacing voice.
Isabella sat back on her haunches and gasped. How did he know about Patsy? She watched a sly grin cross his lips.
“I know everything about you, Miss Lofton. From where you work to who your friends are. I even know who you have sex with.” He shook his head. “Although it seems you haven’t had much of that lately.”
She growled, launching herself at him, and tried to claw at his eyes. He jumped back just as Colt ran into the room and grabbed her around the waist, holding her back. Barkley let out a surprised laugh and looked at Colt with wide eyes.
“Jesus Christ! You weren’t kidding when you said she has a mean streak, Raines.”
Colt shrugged. “I told you she got me so pissed I threw the lamp and hit the window. Now do you believe me?”
Barkley laughed. “I do. I know you have a hell of a temper and apparently, this little she-cat does too. You two are made for each other.” He headed out the door, closing it behind him.
Isabella turned and glared at Colt.
“Let go of me,” she said through clenched teeth. She hated both of them. She couldn’t let them hurt Patsy or anyone else, for that matter.
“I know you hate me right now but I’m your best friend while you’re here. No one else is going to protect you like I will. Do you understand?” His voice was a whispered warning alongside her ear.
* * * *
Mont felt the fight go out of her when he asked if she understood her predicament, so he relaxed his arms from around her. She tilted her head forward and nodded. His heart ached for her and he hated how she was involved in this. He’d told her the truth when he said he was her best friend while she was here. He could keep an eye on her and was hoping to convince Barkley not to kill her.
Mont leaned his head against the back of hers. He felt her crying so he turned her in his arms and held her. She resisted at first, but eventually wrapped her arms around his waist and clung to him as she sobbed. He murmured soothing words against her hair but doubted she heard them over the sounds of her sorrow. He wanted to soothe her but wasn’t sure how.
Isabella pulled back from him and looked up, blinking through spiked lashes. He kissed the tears from her eyes and cheeks. She cupped her hands around his face and kissed his lips. When he groaned her name, she pressed her lips to his again. Mont knew it was wrong, but he was unable to resist taking control. She moaned when he deepened the kiss, moving his tongue against hers. Her hands swept into his hair, grabbing fistfuls of it and pulling him tighter to her.
His arms held her tightly to him as if he couldn’t get her close enough. He tore his lips from hers and buried his face in the silkiness of her neck. Nipping at the soft flesh, he almost smiled when she hissed in a breath. Isabella tilted her head back to give him better access and he took it. Her arms wrapped around his head, holding him close. Mont raised his head and looked down into those beautiful still moist eyes. He wanted to go on kissing her, but he stepped back, knowing he had to stop. She reached for his hand, but he pulled away.
“You can’t kiss me like that and not want to help me,” Isabella said, giving him a pleading look.
“Is that why you kissed me? Thinking you could get me to help you?” Mont stared down at her. “I told you, I won’t help you.”
“You kissed me back.” She glared at him, her eyes narrowing.
He smiled. “Of course I kissed you back. You’re a beautiful woman. What man wouldn’t take what you’re offering? I’d take more of what you’re offering, but we’re not alone.”
Isabella gasped with obvious indignation. “How dare you suggest that I wanted to—to...”
“Have sex with me? You did, princess, and you’re a liar if you say different.”
“Get out of here and leave me alone,” Isabella screamed at him with undisguised anger in her voice.
Mont stared at her for a few seconds, shrugged, and then left the room, securely locking the door behind him.
* * * *
Barkley entered the room an hour or so later with a cell phone. Without a word, he handed it to her. She glared at him not taking it. He shoved at it again. He grinned and gave her a nod to call her father. She snatched the phone from his hand and dialed the number. She started crying when she heard her father’s voice.
“Daddy…” she exclaimed, her voice catching on a sob.” Daddy, I love you.”
“Isabella! Sweetheart, please tell me you’re all right,” Barton Lofton pleaded his voice breaking over the words.
“I’m not hurt. They haven’t hurt me. Daddy, Barkley wants me to tell you that he doesn’t want your money. He wants you.” She cried softly, not wanting her father to hear. “I know you can’t do it. He doesn’t understand.” She glared at Barkley. “He’s an idiot.”
Barkley jerked the phone from her. “You know better than that, Lofton. I’m not stupid. You can kiss your daughter goodbye if you don’t get away from those assholes in the FBI and meet me.”
“I’ll do what I can. Give me a few days and call me back. I’ll get away, but…please don’t hurt her.”
Barkley laughed. “I knew you were smart. Otherwise, you’d have never put me in prison. I’ll call back in three days. You better have an idea or she’s dead.” He disconnected the call and glared at her. “Calling me names won’t help you at all. You’d better hope your precious daddy comes up with a plan or I will kill you.”
“Better me than him.”
Barkley laughed. “Don’t think I still won’t go after your family once you’re dead.” He strode from the room, slamming and locking the door.
Isabella had to get out of there before her father tried to take her place. It was driving her crazy. She heard the other men leave so she knew it was just her and Colt again. He didn’t talk to her much at all. He’d bring her food and stay while she ate but after that, she didn’t see him. She was sitting on the bed trying to figure out an escape when he entered the room with a bag. He set it on the bed. She looked at it, and then at him. She refused to speak first. She was a redhead and as a redhead, she could be hardheaded.<
br />
Colt gave a huff. “Here are some clothes for you. There are several pairs of jeans, shirts, socks, underwear, and pajamas.”
She perked up at the word underwear. She’d been washing out the same pair over and over since she’d arrived here. It was beginning to get embarrassing. She got up on her knees and opened the bag. She pulled out the clothes, blushing when she saw the boy-cut panties. She knew her face grew even redder when she pulled out three bras. She checked the sizes and her eyes widened when she saw they were her size. She glanced at Colt and raised an eyebrow. He gave her a cocky grin, making her blush harder, and left the room.
Jumping off the bed as soon as the door closed, she ran for the bathroom. She showered and once dry, she put on new panties and a bra. They fit perfectly. She noticed how all of the panties were the boy-cut type. She wore others, but she supposed he got these because he’d seen her in them, assuming they were what she normally wore. It didn’t matter because she was so happy to have fresh ones it didn’t matter. She put the jeans on and one of the T-shirts. She walked out of the bathroom and knocked on her bedroom door. Colt immediately opened it.
“Can I come out there with you?” she asked shyly, hoping he’d allow it.
He nodded. “Do you like your new clothes?”
Isabella smiled her pleasure, and then thought of something. “How did you go get them?”
He gave her a smug grin. “I didn’t. I had Smitty pick them up.”
“Which one is Smitty?” She had hoped Colt picked out the clothes.
“He’s the tall one. Dark hair,” Colt said with a shrug.
She nodded her understanding. She knew which one he was. She’d learned to recognize all of them. Besides Colt, Barkley, Smitty, and Blackman, there was one other. He was very quiet and seemed to keep to himself. He was average height, slim and wore glasses. Including Colt, there were five of them all together. She wanted to be sure to know all of their faces. If she ever escaped, she wanted to be able to describe them all to a T.
Montgomery Page 4
