I held my breath, waiting for whatever he had planned. I almost resorted to begging, the silence driving me bat-shit crazy. I expected him to rip my clothes off or unzip his pants and shove himself inside my mouth.
But he didn’t.
“Get some sleep. Tomorrow, you’re gonna learn to be my woman. The first thing we’re gonna do is teach you to suck me while you play with yourself. You’ll always call me Mr. Kline. You’ll learn to beg for me to fuck you…everywhere.” He groped me between my legs. “The more you fight and cry, the more I like it, and you will cry, kitten. Trust me.”
He blew into the green hurricane lantern, blowing out the flame. The room went so dark, I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. His footsteps moved closer to me, and I felt faint. I silently prayed for him to walk past me without touching me.
“Stop your fucking kneeling. Lay down on the floor and go to sleep, whore.”
I dropped to my side, welcoming the hardness of the dirty wooden floor. I’d rather take my chances on rats, roaches, and any other biting insect than to be forced to sleep in the same bed as that monster.
He tossed his boots and clothes down beside me and I almost gagged. I reached behind me, feeling for the mercy of my phone, and continued saying little prayers. I begged for signal and battery. I begged for the chance to call for help before horrific things happened to me…more than what already had.
Each time the vile brute shifted on the mattress, I let out a sigh, pretending to be fast asleep. He chuckled. “My dick is still hard, and you’re going to fix that. Rub yourself and call my name like I told you to.”
I lay still, terrified that if I did, he would want more, and that if I didn’t, he’d beat me and take it anyway. A tear rolled over the bridge of my nose onto the floor and I tried swallowing the parched sensation in my mouth.
“I know you’re awake. Do it!”
I unzipped my shorts and ran my hand between my legs like he ordered. Dry like the Sahara, I rubbed the crotch of my red lace underwear. The mattress bounced and I heard him spit on his hand before stroking hard and fast.
“Say my fucking name.”
“Yes, Mr. Kline.” I almost choked on my own words. I wanted nothing more than to stab a knife through his cold dead heart, and given half a chance, I would kill him.
“Wash…you…in…the morning. Can’t…fuck…no…dirty girl.” He panted, working himself harder, moaning like an animal until he released himself.
Nearly an hour later, his breathing evened out and he snored, and it was like beautiful music to my ears. I carefully removed my cell from my back pocket without moving the leg attached to the mattress. My fingers trembled, knowing this was my last hope, and if I screwed it up and got caught, I was as good as dead.
Holding the device under the mattress to block as much of the light as possible, I pressed the button and swiped my thumb across the pad. One bar, seven percent battery, and more missed calls and texts than I had time to check.
It was just after midnight, and I prayed Stone would get my text.
Me: Help. Daryl. Cabin somewhere across the lake. Small, run down. Old tractor. Old truck. Idk what color or make. I’m chained to floor. Door locked with fire poker on the inside. Fast. Low battery.
Shit! I almost dropped it while making sure it was still on silent. The mattress squeaked as he rolled around, and I quickly placed the phone facedown on the floor under the bed. Painful minutes passed before traces of light seeped from around the edges of the screen.
Picking it up, I bit my lip from to keep from making a sound.
Stone: I’m with the police on that side of the lake. Are you hurt?
Me: Hurry. Some.
Stone: Officer thinks he knows where you are. Less than ten minutes, Ave. Hang in there, I’m coming.
I didn’t respond, trying to save my battery. Placing the device down, I let the tears freely fall. This hellish nightmare was almost over. I hoped they found the other women Daryl had done this to…at least their bodies, to give their families closure. I wished I’d been able to get more information like whereabouts, names, and what he’d done to them.
Seconds seemed to take hours to pass by, and minutes seemed like an eternity. Something shuffled outside the window on the porch, but I couldn’t see anything but the moonless night. Afraid to move, I lay as still as possible.
Light seeped around the edges of the phone again. Trembling, I picked it up.
Stone: Police here. Don’t move. Stay on the floor. Let me know you are ready.
Me: READY. NOW
The door burst open with a flood of lights shining in my eyes. “Freeze! Don’t move! Don’t make a move, or I’ll shoot! Put your hands on top of your head! Now!”
Daryl raised his hands high in the air and pleaded, “Don’t shoot.”
I let out a deep sigh and began to sob in relief. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he grabbed the back of my hair and aimed a nine-millimeter at the back of my head. “One move and I’ll blow her brains out. Get out, or say goodbye.”
A gun. I’d had no idea he had a gun, but I should have assumed as much. He’d assaulted me, thrown out taunting threats, and made it crystal clear he’d finished off ‘the others’. The man was a lunatic and wasn’t going down without a fight, but I wasn’t about to let him have the option of using me for insurance.
The officer kept his pistol aimed at Daryl while two others held their flashlights in his face. “Put the gun down, Kline. It’s all over. You kill her and you’ll get the death penalty.”
“I’m not bull-shittin’ here. I count to three, and if you’re still here, she dies. One… two…”
At that moment, I saw the red laser light coming through the window, and he didn’t make it to three before the blast came through the glass. His grip slightly tightened before releasing altogether, and his body fell to the floor. Blood sprayed on my arm and oozed from his head, forming a small pool at my side.
I scrambled across the floor, as far as the chain allowed, before Stone’s strong arms circled around me. Racking sobs escaped my throat as I circled my arms around his neck, holding on to him in fear of being let go.
“Shhhh, you’re safe. You’re safe, baby. I’ve got you.”
“Thank God you’re here. You’re really here,” I cried.
He gently rocked me on the floor for several minutes before a medic team entered the room with a gurney. They pulled me from his arms, lifting me onto the stretcher. One of the paramedics held a light to my face and Stone cursed.
“I’d kill that son-of-a-bitch myself if I had the chance,” he muttered. I couldn’t see his eyes, but he sounded angrier than I’d ever heard. “Get her to the hospital.”
“Mr. Mitchell, they’ll take good care of her. You’re going to need to stay with us. There’s a question about you being out of Harris County and violating your parole,” a man in uniform firmly stated.
“We can discuss that at the hospital. I’m going with her.”
The officer tipped his flashlight to the medic, instructing them to take me away. I began panicking and fumbling with the safety straps going across my body and wailed his name as they rolled me across hell’s front yard.
“Stone,” I screamed.
“I’m Alex Johanson, Texas Ranger. Son, if it’s just paperwork, then we’ll get you cleared. If not and you made bad decisions, you can count on going back to the big house.”
I lost it, and my body shook with uncontrollable sobs. The terror was over, but if Stone didn’t have approval to be out of Harris County, he’d bought himself a trip back to prison. As I thrashed on the small vinyl mattress, the medics held me down and started an IV in the bend of my arm.
“That should sedate her until we get her to the ER.” He held up an emptied syringe. I hadn’t seen him push the solution into my vein, but a warm sensation flushed through my body and I started floating on a sea of calm. Through my lashes, I watched Stone fade away through the small window in the back of the ambulance.
/> Stone Mitchell was my heart, and they’d made me leave it behind.
Chapter 34
An interruption in the soap opera broadcast I wasn’t watching came over the TV mounted on the hospital wall, and I probably wouldn’t have paid any attention to it had I not heard the name mentioned.
The man has been identified as Daryl Kline. He was shot by a Texas Ranger when he drew a handgun, jeopardizing the life of the woman he’d abducted, identified as Avery Anderson. Remains of four bodies have been found at the gruesome scene and the search continues for more. It’s believed he’s tortured, raped, and killed many women, burying them all at a deserted cabin once belonging to his family. It is unknown at this time who the owner of this property is, and we’ll bring you more details in the five o’clock hour.
I drew in a deep breath. One surgery to repair the bone under my eye and two days later, I rested in solitude. Multiple abrasions, bruises, and the removal of my thumbnail had all been attended to by the medical staff. Though reluctant to leave me for even a moment, my parents had finally gone to the cafeteria after I’d threatened to have them thrown out if they didn’t eat a decent meal. I forbid Savannah to see me like this, and the Mitchell family had taken her in.
Fresh tears came to my eyes each time I thought about the threats he’d made toward her. I was glad he was dead, was thankful he’d never get the chance to hurt another person, and I was forever thankful my ordeal had ended in my favor.
But I needed Stone.
I hadn’t heard anything from him. No phone call. No message. No text. Nothing. His mother had come by to see me, assuring me he was okay. When I asked where he was, she folded her hands in her lap, dropped her eyes, and told me, “He’s being detained in the county facility until they transport him to Houston.”
“Are you kidding me right now? He was here without approval? What the hell was he thinking?”
“He was thinking of you and Savannah. The private investigator he hired uncovered the possibility of Daryl being a psychopath but there wasn’t enough concrete evidence to hold him, so when they let him go, Stone brought you to Dovie’s, where he thought it would be safer.”
I shook my head. “But he said we were coming to Dovie’s to finally let her…let all of you know about Savannah. We waited two days for the approval for him to travel within the state.”
She nodded. “Yes, but the approval didn’t come. The state said he had exceeded their comfort level for letting him traipse about the state. He was told to report to Harris County.”
“And he brought me to Dovie’s instead, crossing two county lines. My God, he’s going to go to prison because of this.”
“There will be a hearing next week, and the parole board will decide how to handle this.”
Before she left, we hugged, comforting one another. We loved the same man, and vowed to do everything possible to help him. I couldn’t stomach the thought of him being locked up again. Stone was a good man with good intentions. He was harmless to society and didn’t pose a threat to anyone.
The music indicating another breaking news story sounded through the speaker on the remote in my lap.
Good afternoon. We earlier brought you the story of a serial killer being shot to death by the Texas Ranger on scene. Our reporting team is on standby at the courthouse where the boyfriend of Avery Anderson, identified as Stone Mitchell, was arrested for parole violation. Mr. Mitchell served nearly half of his sentence after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter for driving while intoxicated and taking the life of eighty-two-year-old Beatrice Nichols. It has been confirmed that Tessa Montgomery has come forward, claiming that instead of Stone Mitchell, she was in fact the driver that caused the fatality that night. She claims she heard the story on her local news yesterday and without an attorney present, she released a statement, saying, “Enough is enough. Stone and his entire family suffered a great loss for several years for something he should have never been charged with.” She made an apology statement to the Mitchells and Nichols families, insisting, “He has duly paid a price that wasn’t his to pay. I cannot sit back and let him be thrown back in prison for something I did.”
I sat still for several moments, speechless and stunned.
Oh. My. God.
Ohmygod.
Since Stone’s mother hadn’t been gone long enough for the valet to deliver her car, I called her cell, and she picked up on the second ring.
“Come back. Now!”
“Are you okay dear?”
“He’s innocent.” I breathed fast, my heart being faster. “The girl Stone was with that night confessed. He’s innocent. He’s going to be coming home!”
“I’m…back on the elevator. I’ll be right there!” Excitement filled her voice.
Next I called my parents, crying uncontrollably. My dad probably had a near cardiac event listening to me crying without being able to speak. In the background, my mother demanded to know what was going on. “We’re on our way, baby girl. God is good—don’t you ever forget that.”
I wept like I’d never wept before. He was going to be free and clear. Even though it was six years late, thanks to Tessa, Stone was going to come home.
The three of them rushed into my room, minutes apart. Mrs. Mitchell had the phone to her ear, advising someone to return her call immediately. She had a less than pleased expression on her face as she eyed me, her frown line making a perfect M between her eyebrows. “You do that.” She hung up.
I shrugged. “What is it?”
“His lawyer said he lied on the witness stand after he swore to tell the truth, and he did this before the judge, the jury, his legal team, and the prosecuting team.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s still in trouble.”
“You can’t be serious! When will Stone know what’s going to happen?”
“They are transporting him to Houston as we speak.”
“Has he spoken to anyone? Can he make a phone call?”
“He did, to his attorney. That is the only call he’s been allowed to make at this time. They take parole violators seriously, and it’s not alleged that he committed the violation, it’s confirmed.”
My dad pushed a clump of hair behind my ear. “Honey, it’s important you try to rest as much as possible and keep from getting worked up. You’ve been through so much. I know you want to talk to him. When you disappeared, he went crazy with worry, and I’m sure he’s having a rough time not getting to see or talk to you now. All of this will be cleared up in no time. When he called your mother and me, he broke down several times before he could even tell us what happened. That boy was torn up…we all were. We’re all here for you, for as long as you need us.”
I let out a deep breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding. Closing my eyes, I rested my head against the crisp white hospital pillow, on the brink of falling apart.
“I just want him here. I need him. He’s in jail right now because of me and Savannah. He chose trying to keep us safe over his own needs. Daddy, I love him. I love him,” I sobbed.
He drew me into his arms. “I’ve got you, baby girl. I promise he’ll be here as soon as he can. It’s all coming to an end, and he’ll be a free man. You’ve been my brave strong girl through all of this. You always have. Weep, sweetheart. Let it all out.”
I crumbled in his embrace, and a mountain of emotions flooded through my tears as I sobbed against his chest. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, and even the nurse in the corner dabbed hers.
Later in the afternoon, I woke from a nap—probably pain medication-induced—and found Stone’s father sitting in the bedside chair. He stared deeply at me with his ankle crossed over his knee and a tablet on his lap.
“You got some good rest.”
“How long have I been out?”
“Five hours, give or take.” He sat the device on the bedside table, rested his elbows on his knees, and leaned closer to the bedrail. “I’m glad.”
I sighed. “Any word?”
<
br /> “No. He’s in Houston.”
“When do you think he’ll have his hearing?”
“I don’t know. His attorney is going to meet with him in the morning.”
“He’s innocent. This shit isn’t fair.”
His lips curled into a grin. “No wonder he loves you. In lieu of everything you’ve been through, you’re worried about him. Ultimately, this should be about you right now, Avery.”
I shook my head. I knew it was going to catch up to me, but not that day. I hadn’t been raped, hadn’t been killed—almost, but it didn’t happen. I was overwhelmed with thankfulness and relief. Words couldn’t express my gratitude for those who saved me, and for having come out relatively unscathed.
“He doesn’t love me, Mr. Mitchell. He’s made it perfectly clear, and I’m all right with it. My sweet girl has an amazing father, and I have…whatever we are. I’ll accept whatever he can give. Stone isn’t the same guy I once dated—he’s better. He just doesn’t know it.”
His hand clasped mine and he swallowed hard. “Make no mistake, he does love you, Avery, but you’re right—he didn’t realize it until it was almost too late. I needed to say these things, and I owe you an apology for the past, for thinking the way I did. You’re the perfect woman for my son. You’ve given him happiness, and he hasn’t had that in many years.”
I curled my pinkie around his and we came to an understanding, one that sat well with my soul. “How’s Savannah taking all of this?”
“She’s doing fine. Dovie has sheltered her, telling her you had an accident and the doctors are making your boo-boos better. She seems to have accepted that, but she does keep asking when you’re coming home. Your neighbor and her daughter are coming in. Your mother didn’t make any calls until she knew you were going to be okay.”
I grinned, knowing not letting Lindsey know wouldn’t have sat well with her. “When she arrives, expect a mad lioness. She is going to be mad as hades that she wasn’t called sooner.”
Chasing Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers - Wicked Series Book 1) Page 24
