This Time You

by T. M. Cromer

  Pure terror choked her, causing her heart to beat a rapid tattoo in her chest and a throbbing to start in her head. It felt like she was stroking out. Her urge to fight was strong, but whatever he’d injected her with made it impossible to move. She opened her mouth to scream and found that impossible, too.

  “Don’t bother. You should be out in three, two, ah. Right on time.”

  Blackness descended.

  Chapter 24

  Gabriel was worried. Margaret should’ve been home hours ago. Whatever her faults, whatever was broken between them, she wouldn’t ignore her daughter’s attempt to run away just to avoid seeing him. With a little luck and a whole lot of tap dancing, he’d been able to help Kaley see reason. But Margaret didn’t know that. It was impossible to believe she wouldn’t have rushed back.

  The first three calls he made were to her cell. Each effort went straight to voicemail. The fourth was to the police department to make sure there hadn’t been an accident. The fifth, to the hospital, yielded nothing. The sixth call, he directed to Grey to garner help in the search for Margaret. The last call, he asked Kaley to dial for him so he could speak to her grandparents.

  Even as the phone on the other end rang, his anxiety level grew closer to requiring a tranquilizer.

  “Violet? It’s Gabriel. Have you heard from Margaret today?”

  “I did. She called me from the beach about three hours ago. I haven’t heard from her since. Why? What’s going on?”

  “Maybe nothing. I don’t want to worry you, but I sent her a message around that same time. She texted me to say she was on her way home.” He sighed in frustration. “She never arrived, and she’s not answering her phone or texts.”

  “Do you think something happened to her?”

  The concern coming through the speaker convinced him as nothing else would that Violet wasn’t covering for Margaret.

  “I don’t know. The police department hasn’t reported any accidents. Do you suppose you or Martin can come stay with the kids? I need to actually do something. Need to be out looking for her. Sitting here is driving me crazy.”

  “Of course. I’m leaving right now,” Violet paused for the space of three heartbeats before continuing. “Gabriel? Thank you for caring enough about my daughter and her children to do this.”

  “I love her,” he told her simply.

  “Thank you for that, too. I’ll see you soon.”

  He’d forgotten Kaley was in the same room until she touched his arm. The worry in her large, blue eyes had to mirror his own.

  “Do you think something happened to Mom?”

  “I don’t know what to think, kid. It’s not like her.”

  “If something happened to her, it’s my fault,” she cried.

  This must be what Margaret was like as a teenager. Sassy and rebellious one moment, and heartbreakingly sweet the next. Both mother and daughter took on the world’s problems as if they were their own.

  “No, Kaley. Your mother walking out today had nothing to do with you and everything to do with the two of us. If anyone is to blame here, it’s me. I let a misunderstanding fester into something bigger between us.”

  “She loves you, Gabe. I heard her telling my Aunt Annie.”

  Having Kaley reassure him when the situations should’ve been reversed, moved him. He’d always had a soft spot for Margaret’s oldest child, but at that moment, he loved her as if she were his own. If he needed to lay his life down for hers, without question, he would.

  Don had had almost two years to construct Margie’s abduction. Each day, he laid one more brick in the foundation of his plan toward the ultimate goal of carrying her away to his cabin. A few trial runs with other women had assured him his strategy to nab her was a viable one.

  Once Gabriel had shown up and captured Margie’s interest, Don was forced to up his game. The man was determined to ruin everything, and if their relationship had moved any faster, Don wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get to her.

  Every night, Don dreamed of making love to Margie as she screamed his name and begged for more—just as she had done for that asshole Gabriel. Black rage clouded his mind, and he swerved into the next lane. A vicious honking horn brought him back to himself.

  Margie had had her chance to do this the proper way, but she’d rejected Don’s overtures again and again. Now she would need to pay for her betrayal. He’d devised punishments to fit each infraction. There had been plenty of those as well. He kept all those indiscretions of hers on a digital recording and watched them on a continuous loop. Careful to commit each detail to memory. Yes, she had done a lot of whoring, but he was here to help her learn the error of her ways. Before long she would be pleading with Don to forgive her.

  As he passed the Florida/Georgia line on the I95 interstate, he allowed himself to breathe easier. If his involvement in taking her hadn’t been discovered by this point, it probably would take a great while for anyone to connect him to her disappearance.

  A high-pitched giggle escaped his lips.

  He was smarter than the lot of them combined. No one had come close to proving his connection to the break-ins, and although Gabriel strongly suspected, he couldn’t prove a damned thing. Palm Coast was still behind the bigger cities on crime-scene advancements. Investigations took a great deal of chance to solve if no fingerprints were found on the scene, and Don was always careful to erase the proof of his presence.

  He shot a quick look over his right shoulder to be sure Margie still lay unconscious in the rear seat. She was. Good. It would make transport easier. Locking her up, too, when the time came. Not long now, and he’d reach the cabin he’d set up for his needs, then his constant itch to touch her would be satisfied.

  “Goddamnit! Where is she?” The helplessness James was feeling had given way to fear. And because none of the Holt family did fear well, he raged.

  Gabriel wanted to have a meltdown right along with him.

  Margaret’s vehicle had been found parked in the dunes off the Atlantic Highway by North 22nd Street in Flagler Beach. Her purse had been shoved under the driver’s seat. The only thing that appeared to be missing was Margaret, her phone, and her keys.

  “James, calm down.” Margaret’s father, Martin, looked as ragged as the rest of them, but he seemed to be the voice of reason at this point. “Flying off the handle isn’t going to help anyone right now. We need to concentrate on finding your sister.”

  The shrill ring of the house line caused everyone to jump. Initially in surprise, and then to grab for the receiver.

  Gabriel managed to get to it first. “Hello? Margaret? Love? Is that you?”

  “Gabe? Gabe, it’s Sammy. Why are you answering Margie’s home phone? I’ve been trying her cell all day. What the hell?”

  “Sammy? How… I…” No words could convey what needed to be said. Helplessly, he stared at the counter. Shaking his head, unable to speak, he shoved the phone into James’s waiting hands. Long, swift strides carried Gabriel out to the deck.

  He dragged his hands up and down his face then gripped his hair. Every ounce of control he had, went into holding back the guttural yell working its way up from his tortured soul.

  Margaret was gone, and no one knew where.

  Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

  A gentle hand on his low back startled him.

  Violet.

  “Quite the extensive language you have there, Gabriel.”

  Apparently he hadn’t done so well keeping his internal screaming at bay.

  He snorted and shook his head. “Do you think the whole neighborhood heard?”

  “I’m pretty sure all of Palm Coast heard,” she said dryly.

  “How are you so calm, Violet? What aren’t you telling me?”

  Her eyes widened.

  He’d guessed correctly; she was hiding something.

  Gabriel waited her out, keeping his steady gaze trained on her. The tactic worked well with his clients and courtroom opponents alike. She avoided looking at hi
m, and instead, her eyes trailed into the line of woods beyond where they stood.

  Lightning lit the sky in the distance. It created a sharp contrast between the bright night sky and the pines towering over the backyard. Even nature was restless tonight.

  “Violet, tell me. Now.”

  “Margie called me from the beach. I told you as much.” She paused for a heavy sigh and to rub her arms. “I’m sure it was the heat of the moment, but she said she intended to leave town. Permanently.”

  She turned to him, a wary look on her face.

  Did she assume he’d fly into a rage? Perhaps he refrained because her words didn’t surprise him. If he were being honest with himself, he’d never expect Margaret to continue to live next door to him after what had transpired. It would be torture for the both of them. However, had she bothered to ask, he would have told her there was no need for her to go. He intended to trade Grey the house for his old condo. There were no memories of Margaret there, and Gabriel might have a chance in hell of getting through each day without losing his mind.

  “It doesn’t explain why you are so calm. If she had run away—and I don’t believe she did—she would’ve taken the kids. Or, at the very least, made arrangements with you or Scott to get them. Did she?” He inhaled a deep breath. “And why would she leave her purse in her car? For that matter, why not take her car? It doesn’t make sense.”

  Violet shrugged and shook her head. “She did say she intended to take the children, but she needed to talk to Scott first. Kaley’s rebellion and hatred were a big concern for her. Margaret did mention the possibility of Kaley living with Martin and me to avoid the strife.”

  Worry had crept into her voice, and Gabriel suspected the reality of the situation was about to strike. He watched as her eyes widened in horror. A hand came up to her mouth as the other reached toward someone behind him.

  He spun in time to see Kaley’s face crumble. Hurt and betrayal shone from her baby blues. Fucking great! Now the kid thought her mom didn’t want her. He recognized the look. Between himself and his two brothers, one of them wore it constantly while growing up.

  Taking the four steps to reach her, Gabriel hugged her. She struggled to be free. Her small fists stuck him in the back, one after the other, for a full minute. He refused to let go. Refused to let her escape and wallow in her pain alone, to hide out like a wounded animal. Because he’d done that, too. It led to no place good.

  “Kaley, stop!” he commanded. He had to control his jaw drop when she did.

  Inch by inch, he pulled back, ready to grab her if she bolted. The energy drained from her a little at a time until nothing was left. He had the fleeting thought that the poor kid was almost dead on her feet.

  Gabriel guided her to the two-person lounger and eased her down beside him. “When it came down to it, she would never have left you, kid.”

  “You don’t know that!”

  “I do. Believe me, I do.”

  Kaley studied his face, looking for signs of dishonesty. Gabriel let her see all the pent up pain and hurt he’d been so careful to keep hidden from his brothers.

  “Who left you?”

  “My dad. He was a mean sonofabitch, and it was no great loss.”

  “What makes you so sure my mom didn’t leave us? She’s always threatening to.”

  “How so?”

  “Aaron burned a hole in the living room carpet yesterday. She said she doesn’t know why she puts up with our shit. Said if she was smart, she would dump us in an orphanage and join a circus.”

  A snort of amusement burst from him. Yes, it sounded like something she’d say. “That was your mother being melodramatic. When have you ever known an adult to join the circus? I mean seriously. Can you see any of us learning the flying trapeze at our age?”

  Kaley shook her head, a tentative smile forming on her lips.

  “What about working with the elephants? She’d love that,” piped in a young voice to the left of him. Gabriel smiled and opened his arms wider to allow Aaron to snuggle up with them.

  “Talk about putting up with shit. There would be a mountain of it.”

  “Language,” another voice scolded. Gabriel scooted right and made room for Scotty. Of the three, the oldest boy tended to parrot the adults and follow the rules more than the other two.

  “I apologize,” Gabriel said with wry humor. He met Violet’s tearful stare.

  Her hand still rested against her lips, barely containing her worry and fear.

  The desire to ease her guilt from hurting Kaley compelled him to add, “Now you see why I don’t think she left you three little punkasses? It’s less work taking care of you than to clean up after elephants and to work out muscle knots from learning a trapeze routine. Your grandmother can tell you.”

  Violet rushed to the lounger and perched on the edge. Gabriel released Kaley to her grandmother’s embrace.

  “It’s true. Your mom would never leave you, no matter what she threatened. She—”

  “Mom.” James’s voice cut across whatever else she intended to say. “I need to talk to you and Gabe.”

  “If it’s about my mom, I want to know.” Kaley challenged James with a stare.

  “It’s not open for discussion, Kaley. Take Aaron and Scotty into the family room. Now.”

  Gabriel didn’t care for James’s attitude, but the urgency behind it communicated a deeper need to speak privately. Margaret’s brother had important news.

  “Do me a favor, kid. Listen to your uncle. If there’s anything to report, I’ll let you know. I promise to keep you in the loop. Okay?” He hoped his smile transmitted reassurance. From his side, it felt stiff and unnatural.

  She must have seen something to put her mind at ease because she ushered her brothers inside.

  “Spill,” Gabriel barked at James. Rising from the recliner, he wrapped an arm around Violet’s shoulders. Part of him had the sneaking suspicion they would both need the support.

  “As you know, that was Sammy. She’s been trying to reach someone all day.” James uncrossed his arms and ran a hand through his already mussed up hair. A harsh laugh and a slight tilt of his head indicated he was still attempting to wrap his head around whatever Sammy had told him.

  “Jesus, man. Spit it out already!” If James didn’t spill the news soon, Gabriel wouldn’t be responsible for his own actions.

  “Yeah, about that… Sammy claims Margie’s been taken.”

  Chapter 25

  As consciousness crept back in, Margie became aware of her surroundings. She was shivering from the cold, and her head ached something fierce. As she reached for her throbbing skull, she came up short. Wide, metal shackles surrounded her wrists like ugly goth bracelets. A tug caused thick links to clank and echo throughout the room, and she winced at the noise.

  Dear God! She was chained!

  Terror writhed snake-like in her belly and cleared the last of the fuzziness from her brain as reality set in.

  Again, she tugged at her chains. With each forward motion of her arm, she was met with resistance. Panting sobs tore from her throat. She tried to twist to see where the metal met the wall, but the length of chain was too short on either arm, effectively locking her in place with her back to the cool stone. The feel of the rough rock on her skin made her aware of another fact—she was naked!

  The horror of the situation triggered her gag reflex. And as she struggled to control her urge to vomit and to wrap her mind around her current situation, her lungs labored with each breath she took.

  She was at the mercy of a deranged person.

  Memory came roaring back.

  Not just any deranged person. Don Acker! He’d tased, drugged, and locked her up.

  A long, loud guttural cry conveyed her rage and fear. The sound hurt her own ears, but she screamed again and again, until her voice was almost gone and she was spent. She sagged as far as the iron manacles would allow.

  Margie used her remaining strength for one last hoarse yell. “You’d be
tter pray to God I never get loose, you bastard! I swear to all that I hold dear, I’ll rip you limb from limb.”

  The two-faced coward didn’t answer her. Not that she expected he would, but she sure as hell hoped he heard her and knew she’d fight until her dying breath.

  With nothing left to do, she surveyed her surroundings.

  Cameras were in every corner of the room. Even with her lack of tech knowledge, she could tell they were the top of the line. The lights around the lens of the closest one showed red and left her in little doubt he was watching her even now.

  A snarl curled her lips as she glared before she turned her head in the opposite direction. When her eyes lit on the bed in the corner of the room, her horror grew to epic proportions.

  He’d recreated her bedroom!

  Paint, pictures, bedspread… down to the exact throw pillows.

  She shuddered.

  Did he intend to keep her here indefinitely?

  The desk across from her drew her notice. It didn’t belong in her house, but there was something vaguely familiar about the style, and she struggled to recall where she’d seen it before. What did he plan with an office desk?

  Static came across a small speaker in the far corner of the room, followed immediately by Don’s voice. “Do you recognize it, Margie? You should. It’s the desk Gabriel James bent you across.”

  Sweat beaded along her upper lip. Nausea followed. Only deep breaths and determination kept her vomit at bay.

  What twisted game was Don playing?

  She didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “You seemed to enjoy it so much, I decided you and I will give it a try.”

  This time, there was no stopping the eruption from her distressed stomach. Her throat burned from the bile, and hot tears raced down her cheeks. If that smarmy dung beetle thought she would allow him to touch her, he had another think coming. She’d kill him first.