by Vicki Green
“You’ll never win, Destiny. You’ll never destroy me. I have the power. You’ll never be rid of me.”
My eyes snap open as I bolt up into a sitting position. Horrid screams echo in the room. I look at the doorway. Colby’s mom, Shirley, is standing there, her hand on the door frame, breathing heavy. The screams stop. “I need Colby,” I say breathlessly.
She nods, horror fills her eyes. She turns and leaves and I look back at the fireplace, the fire gone. I bend, my arms on my legs, my hands covering my face. A migraine begins; something I’ve not had in a long time. Suddenly, I feel warmth beside me, his strong arms around me. “Shiloh. Baby, what happened? Mom said you were screaming like someone was hurting you.” I peek at him through my fingers then quickly throw myself into his arms. He holds me tight and then releases me, placing his hands on the sides of my face, and pushing me back to look into my eyes. “Shiloh. What happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
A ghost. “He’s….” I swallow hard. “He’s not dead.”
His eyes search mine, the look of worry on his face or maybe a look that he thinks I’m crazy. Maybe I am. “What do you mean, darlin’? You saw him. If they would have taken his body and known he wasn’t dead, Henry would have said somethin’.”
I blink rapidly. “Would he? What did they do with his body, Colby? Where is it now?”
He stares into my eyes, mine widening with his silence. He pulls me into him, his arms trying to convey that I’m safe. But I don’t feel safe. His hand rubs down the length of my hair, over and over, in an attempt to console me. “I’ll go into town now, instead of waitin’ until tomorrow. I’ll go to Henry’s first thing. I’ll find out. I swear this will be put an end to it once and for all.” I start shaking, my face burying into his neck. Once and for all. That’s what I’m afraid of.
He asked if I wanted to go with him, to be able to see and to hear for myself. I agreed, only because I can’t sit here and wait to hear that he indeed isn’t gone from my life. He helps me on with my coat, kisses his mom goodbye and leads me into the garage and into his truck. I just got home and now I’m leaving again. He holds my hand on the way there, afraid to let go. I’m afraid for him to let go as well. My head is pounding, and my stomach is queasy. “I’m worried about you, darlin’. You look pale. Maybe I should be goin’ by myself.”
My head turns to him, and I shake it quickly. “No. I have to know. I have to hear it, myself.” I squeeze his hand, hoping to convey how much I love him for worrying. It takes a bit longer to get to town because the snow had started up again. By the time he pulls into a parking space at the police department, my head is splitting, but I refuse to give into the pain. He helps me out of his truck. A path had been shoveled to the front door, he opens it, and I walk in. With the weather being bad, not many people are inside. A clerk at the front desk, and a few officers sitting at desks behind it. We walk up to the desk, and a woman police officer looks up and smiles at Colby.
“Colby. What brings you here?” She asks as he looks at me then back at him.
“I need…. We need to see Henry.” He squeezes my hand but all I feel is numb.
“Certainly. Why don’t ya’ll have a seat and I’ll get him.”
We turn and walk over to a set of chairs lining the front windows. I’m about to sit when I hear Henry’s voice. I stop halfway and stand back up. “Colby. Shiloh. What a pleasant surprise,” he says. His voice sounds nervous. He walks over to us, looking at Colby and then me. “Should you be here so soon? I thought you were just released today.” I open my mouth but Colby steps in.
“Henry. How ‘bout we go to your office and talk,” he says as he grasps his arm and pulls on my hand. We walk down a small hallway, Henry nodding at Colby and then turns left, walking into a small office. Henry walks past us and around his desk, sitting down in the chair. Colby closes the door behind us and leads me to a chair in front of the desk. I sit down, Colby standing behind me, his hands on the back of the chair. “Where’s the madman’s body, Henry?”
“Colby, I didn’t want to worry….”
“Where’s his body?” Colby asks again.
Henry stares at Colby and then slowly moves his eyes to me. “I don’t know.”
My heart rate speeds up quickly, my throat dry, and my hands clench the arms of the chair hard until I feel the blood leave them. Colby’s hands immediately are on my shoulders holding me down from bolting out of the chair.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Colby asks through gritted teeth.
He looks nervous, worried, but then his face changes to concern as he leans forward, clasping his hands together on top of the desk. “While the paramedics were working you on, before the police arrived, it was crazy there. By the time my officers and myself arrived, he was gone. I didn’t want to worry you two while you were in such grave condition. I’ve had men out looking ever since that night but we haven’t found him.”
Bile rises in my throat but I swallow hard. “I saw him. He had shot wounds all over his body.” I begin to stand, shaking. “I killed him. He has to be dead.” Colby’s hands push me back down gently.
“Somethin’ needs to be done, Henry. You know what he’s capable of. Dammit! Do somethin’!” Colby yells.
Henry clears his throat. “I’ve called a friend of mine who’s undercover for the FBI. He owes me. He’s on his way here.”
Colby’s hands fall from my shoulders as I stand. I turn and look into his eyes. Dizziness overtakes me, my heart pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. I start to sway and darkness consumes me.
My arms are stretched above my head, my wrists tied together with a thin wire. Every time I struggle, the wire bites into my skin. Sweat beads on my forehead which is a strange contrast since the air from the fan blowing on me is cold, peaking my nipples. Blood runs down my chin from the cut on my lip, the first of the punishment I receive after he found me. My cheek hurts, and I can feel the swelling from when he punched me, knocking me out. When I awoke, I was where I am now, laying naked on a stainless steel table in a dark small room. My hands tied above me, my legs spread, and each foot tied to the end of the table. I’m shaking from the cold breeze but also from fear of what’s to come next. What can he do that he hasn’t done to me already? Each time I’ve escaped, I’m found, and each time the punishment is worse than the time before. I struggle again, feeling the thick liquid of blood running down my arms and biting into the flesh of my ankles. I stop suddenly when the metal door creaks open. I try to stop my chest from heaving, not wanting to give him a show as he walks into the room. The light of the small spotlight over me glistens on something in his hand. It’s the large blade of a hunting knife grasped tightly in his hand.
“I don’t know why you must always defy me, Destiny. What compels you to do so? I treat you well, give you fine clothing, feed you when you deserve it, and let you pleasure me.” Bile sweeps up my throat as he gets closer, his hand starting to rise with the blade. “You will learn what happens each time you run, my naughty girl, until one day, you will no longer be able to run.”
“No!” I scream, sitting up on the couch. I look around the empty living room. I look out the window and notice it’s dark outside. Where’s Colby? I hear faint voices and toss the blanket off me, then walk out of the room, through the foyer, and get to the kitchen doorway. Colby is leaning against the breakfast bar laughing as he watches his mom cook. I shake my head, my migraine pounding against my temples. My hands move up, my fingers pressing against them, closing my eyes tight.
“Darlin’? Are you okay?” I open my eyes to see Colby standing in front of me. His hands reach out and grasp my arms. “You really slept a long time. It’s almost time for supper.” His eyes are full of concern. “You look really pale. Maybe you should lie back down and I’ll bring supper into you.”
I lower my arms, his hands falling with them. “I’m so confused. Didn’t we just go into town? Didn’t we just talk to Henry?”
He turns his head towa
rds his mom and she gives him a worried look then he looks back at me. “I really think maybe you should have stayed in the hospital longer.” He releases one of my arms and turns his hand, placing it on my forehead. “You’re not warm.”
I break free from his hold, taking steps slowly backwards. “No. You don’t understand. We were in town. We talked to Henry and he…. He said…. I thought….”
His hands raise, palms up, like he’s trying not to alarm me. “Shiloh, it’s okay. Maybe I should take you back to the hospital. Darlin, I don’t know what to do.”
I keep taking steps back as he continues towards me. He reaches out and grabs my arms, and I scream!
Chapter Fifteen
Colby
“NOOOOOOOO!”
I hear Shiloh scream and look at Mom as I turn and start runnin’ into the foyer then into the living room. I knew I shouldn’t have left her sleepin’ alone. She was too upset and then when she fainted at the station, she scared the shit outta me. After being in a coma for over a month, thinkin’ I’d lost her, then just gettin’ home finally, and havin’ to live her nightmare, I know I should be more attentive, do whatever I can to help her get through this. I swore I’d do better by her and then I left her alone. Mom told me I’ll end up smotherin’ her if I go too overboard but after just gettin’ that terrible news was not the right time to leave her, even though I wasn’t far away.
I get down on my knees and put my hands on the sides of her face. “Shiloh. It’s me. You’re okay.” Her eyes are wide with fear, tears streamin’ down her sweet face. Her arms move underneath mine then up around my neck as she buries her face into my chest, sobbin’. My hand moves up to her head, rubbin’ down her hair, soothingly. “I know it was a shock, baby. I’m so sorry.” Her body racks with her sobs, her arms tightening around me.
“I thought it was another nightmare,” she chokes out between sobs, muffled by my chest. “You were in the kitchen laughing.”
My hand begins to rub her back, my face down against her head. “No, baby. Mom and I were in the kitchen just talkin’ about everythin’.” I push her back a bit, her face red and splotchy. “Did you dream you came in there and that our visit to town didn’t happened?” She nods and she moves her face back into my chest. “Shit.”
“Can I get her something, honey?”
My head turns to Mom, and I nod. “A bottled water would be good. Thanks, Mom.” She nods, concern in her eyes, and then she walks out. I kiss the side of Shiloh’s head, my mouth close to her ear. “I’m gonna get your pain meds and I want you to take one, okay? You’ve been through so much shock and I know you get those migraines.”
Her head rises, her eyes searchin’ mine. “We did go to town and he’s still out there, right?” She whispers.
I look at her confused. “Yes, darlin’. Why?”
She shakes her head, like she’s tryin’ to make sense of it all. She looks back at me and frowns. “I don’t want to take a pain pill. I don’t want to go to sleep. Nightmares. I need to write.” Her eyes are pleadin’. “I need to get it all down now.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Your laptop is right here. Do you want to sit here or go upstairs to your special spot?”
She leans back, her arm loosening around my neck. “I’ll go upstairs.”
Mom brings in the water, hands it to me, and I give it to Shiloh. “It’s no wonder, honey. Everythin’ you’ve been through,” Mom says shakin’ her head. Shiloh smiles at her, picks up her laptop with the water in hand and kisses me then leaves the room. I turn and sit down, the cushion warm from her body. “Maybe we should stay longer. I hate leavin’ ya’ll with her being so fragile right now.”
I look up and see Mom sit down across from me. “No, Mom. We’ll be okay. I know she’s freaked out right now and I gotta tell ya, I am too, but I’d really rather you all not be here. It’s too dangerous right now. Henry’s got men on it. I know he’ll find him.” Dad walks in with Ditto and sits down in the other chair. “Dad, take Mom to safety. I’ll keep ya’ll updated. This isn’t over yet.”
He nods, clearin’ his throat. “Son. You need to be careful. Sounds like this man doesn’t have all his screws. Last time ya’ll were almost killed. I’ll not lose my son.” He leans his arms down on his legs, worry mars his face. “I like Shiloh. Strong woman. I know she’s been through so much at such a young age. I admire her.” I nod slowly thinkin’ the same thing. “Just do me a favor. Ya’ll let Henry do what he needs to. Stay close to him and his men, ya hear?”
“We will, Dad. Thanks.”
The rest of the night was quiet. Mom and Dad had supper in the kitchen while I ate with Shiloh upstairs in her room. She doesn’t feel much like being around everyone. Told me she felt bad for it. Can’t say I blame her. She started feelin’ like this was home. Two strange people come in and with everythin’ goin’ on, it’s gotta be harder on her.
I laid in bed that night, my mind racin’ with everythin’. Thinkin’ back through her words in the first two books then the third she hasn’t finished. The man is deranged, completely mad. He likes the power over a woman, over Shiloh, uses it for his pleasure and her misery. Likes to have the upper hand. But I saw his wounds. How can he still be alive? Unless…. Sometimes even the most evil people in the world can be intelligent. Henry told me that a paramedic checked for a pulse and didn’t find one but in all the chaos of tryin’ to get Shiloh and me to the ambulance, they didn’t check his wounds, assumin’ he was dead. Could it be he had on a bulletproof vest under his shirt? Maybe the blood was a decoy or part of it was actually a wound, part of him that the vest didn’t cover? I need to call Henry in the mornin’ and tell him my thoughts, and I need to ask him about this guy who’s comin’ in to help.
Mornin’ came way too fast with very little sleep. I get up and go take my shower, hopin’ it will wake me up some. She had a restless night too, tossin’ and turnin’. She didn’t wake me though, I already had my eyes open the entire time. When I walk back into the room, she’s gone from bed. I get dressed and go downstairs, hearin’ her in the kitchen with Mom and Dad. I walk to the doorway, restin’ my hand up on the frame. She looks better today, even though I know she didn’t sleep for shit.
“I’m so glad you all came though. It’s been nice having parents around and I’m sure Colby’s missed you.” She’s butterin’ a piece of toast. I can see the faint bags underneath her eyes.
“You’re too sweet, honey. Well, we offered to stay but Colby thought it best we leave, for the time bein’,” Mom says sweetly.
“I’d rather stay and help fight. I wanna kick that sorry piece of ass,” Dad grumbles.
“Bob! You’re too old to fight.” Dad looks at her with lowered brows. “Well, you could probably hold your own but this man sounds like he’s defied all odds. I’m more worried for Shiloh and Colby.” He reaches over and covers her hand.
Hearin’ enough, I walk in and all eyes move to me. I walk over to the coffee pot and pour some much needed caffeine into a cup then walk over and sit down next to Shiloh. “Mornin, darlin.” I lean into her, kissin’ her cheek, then I move back and take a drink of my coffee. I look up at Mom, who’s smilin’ at me, then Dad who’s eatin’. “What time ya’ll headin’ out?” My eyes shift when Shiloh stands and walks over to the stove.
“Think we’ll head out after breakfast. You sure you don’t want me stayin’ to help? I can set your mom up at the boardin’ house in town,” Dad says in his low rough voice.
I shake my head. “I’d rather you both be far away from here but I appreciate you wantin’ to stay and help out. Right now, I’m just worried about keepin’ everyone safe. Especially Shiloh.” At that time, Shiloh walks over and sets a plate of food down in front of me then sits back down. I look at her beautiful smile as she leans closer then kisses me.
“Well, maybe ya’ll oughta think about comin’ with us for a spell. Maybe gettin’ away will confuse him a bit, throw him off track,” Mom says as she takes a bite of breakfast.
Shiloh t
urns to her and smiles. “You all are so sweet.” She sighs. “I’ve never had so many people care about me so much. I just wish this would all be over and we can have a happy life.” She looks down, coverin’ her stomach with her hand lovingly. “I have something more to fight for now.” She looks up and places her other hand on my leg. I cover her hand then my fingers wrap around it, squeezin’. “Two things to fight for.” Ditto comes runnin’ into the room and bounces up and down beside her, waggin’ his tail. She moves her hand from her stomach and leans over, pettin’ him and laughs. “Okay, three things.” Laughter fills the room and my heart swells. She’s right. I have the same to fight for, even more now.
We finish breakfast and change the conversation to somethin’ light. Mom tells us about their adventures in the RV and what they’ve seen while Dad grumbles about the price of gas. We laughed and had a better time than we’ve had in quite a while. Of course Mom went on about how she’s gonna be a grandma and how they will need to take roots here again once the baby comes. Then they went on about where they’ll live when that happens. Dad just grumbled about how so much can change so fast and somethin’ will come up by then. Always the positive person. He’s right though. Look how my life has changed so much just in the last couple of months. I never dreamed I would fall in love and become a daddy. A daddy. I still can’t believe it.
