Amanda’s anger flared. She pulled out her pepper spray can and pointed it at Rebecca. The latter moved quickly. She grabbed Amanda’s wrists, yanking upward. The spray stained the ceiling.
Rebecca twisted Amanda’s wrist. She yelled, releasing the canister. Rebecca lowered Amanda’s arm. She then struck her in the face with an elbow.
“Ah!”
Amanda placed a hand on her jaw to soothe it. In her distraction, Rebecca brought her arm around Amanda’s neck.
“Did you think I stole Nathan from you just because I had a crush on him? No! A woman like me—like us—doesn’t date below our level. I did it so that you could feel the same pain I went through when you took Hilbert away from me.”
“Hilbert was nothing but a filthy serial rapist. And you’re not any better.”
Rebecca tightened her grip. Amanda gasped for air. She brought her hands up to her neck, but only felt Rebecca’s arm.
“Show me respect, or I’ll make you suffer even more.”
Amanda struggled to free herself. Kellan had taught her how to escape the sleeper hold, but only once. Amanda tried to recall what to do.
“It wasn’t simple to take Nathan away from you, I admit. That’s why I had Christopher help me with my plan, making him seduce you.”
What?!
Amanda froze in shock. She hoped Judith was still unconscious. Her heart would take a blow if she found out Christopher was a traitor.
“You didn’t see that coming, right? Who would ever suspect my brother? He’s so charming, never failed to get any girl he wanted.”
There was a pause. Amanda struggled again, although her mind was reeling from the revelations.
“Except for you. I have no idea how Christopher didn’t fall in love with you at first sight. You’re beautiful, I give you that. I just didn’t count on my brother falling for the wrong girl.”
Amanda looked toward Judith. She was still asleep, oblivious to what was going on.
“Yes, Christopher foolishly let Judith seduce him. I’m told you played matchmaker with them. Luckily, that didn’t screw up my plans. I have you here now.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Oh, you’re stalling!” Rebecca said, laughing. “Good. That means you’re losing hope. You have reason to. Tomorrow, you won’t be alive.”
“What makes you think you’re getting out of here in one piece? The police will get to you.”
“No, they won’t. They don’t even know I have you, or where we are. Hell, they’ve got a sketch of me and can’t even put a name to it!”
Rebecca laughed again, as if she thought she was cleverer than other people.
“I rented this room under Christopher’s name. No one knows that I’m his sister.”
“How?” Amanda asked. “Your surnames are not the same.”
“Think, Amanda. My family took him in after his parents died. We’ve always been very close.”
Amanda felt disappointed. She couldn’t believe Christopher had lied to her and to her friends.
“Was it you? The one who tried to kill Emmy and me that night?”
“No,” said Rebecca. “That was a woman I hired for the job. She was only supposed to mark you, to make Nathan fall out of love with you, but she got carried away. I had to take care of her. She provided a dead end for the police, at least. No one could connect her to me.”
This time, it was Amanda who laughed.
“None of your plans worked long enough. Nathan loves me despite what you did to me. Neither you nor anyone else is going to destroy the love we have.”
“You don’t know shit about love!”
In one quick motion, Amanda freed herself. She then whirled around and hit Rebecca. The latter fell back against the bedside table. She let out a cry of pain. Rebecca lay on the floor, too hurt to get up.
“You messed with the wrong people,” said Amanda. She picked up Rebecca by the collar. Then she slapped her and threw her against the bed. “That was for Emmy.” Amanda grabbed Rebecca again and kneed her in the abdomen. “For Nathan.” Finally, Amanda grabbed Rebecca and threw a right hook. “And for Kellan.”
Rebecca lay on the floor, blood pouring from her nose. She looked up at Amanda in hatred. The latter poked Rebecca hard in the thigh with her heels. Rebecca let out a scream. “For Judith, too.”
“Shut up!” Rebecca yelled. “I came too far for you to spoil this now. You will pay for Hilbert.”
Amanda started to advance on Rebecca. The latter pulled out a gun. She pointed it at Amanda, who froze. Rebecca fired.
“So, let me get this straight,” Nathan said. He was on the phone with Detective Sutton. “The woman who’s been after Amanda all this time happens to be Christopher’s stepsister?”
“That’s right,” Sutton replied. “He called me just right now to confess. He told me that he’s afraid Rebecca will go too far.”
“Why has he kept quiet all this time?”
“We didn’t discuss that. Christopher did tell me that Erika is a name Rebecca used to hide herself. Her plan was to tear you and Amanda apart as a personal vendetta.”
“Did Christopher tell you where we can find them?”
“He did. I already sent a team on the way.”
Nathan memorized the address. He nodded, thanking Sutton, and hung up.
“Who was it?” Caldwell asked.
“Detective Sutton. He found out where Amanda is, and who’s keeping her. They’re on their way.”
“Then let’s go.”
Nathan and Amanda’s bodyguards got inside the former’s car. They were still at Lansing West, having tried to come up with a plan.
“Does Mr. Hayden know?” asked Medina.
“Most likely,” Nathan replied. “Detective Sutton would keep him updated.”
“How did Sutton find out? Was he able to locate Amanda’s car?”
“No. The way he found out was surprising.” Nathan explained about what Christopher told Sutton.
“I thought Christopher was all right,” he added.
“You can never be a hundred percent sure about people,” Caldwell said. “Personally, I never had any suspicions about him. Amanda also happened to like him a lot.”
“Well, she won’t be happy that he betrayed her.”
The blast of the shot reverberated. Amanda felt a graze on her arm. She fell backward, shocked.
Rebecca used the corner of the bed for support. She stood up, keeping the gun pointed at Amanda.
“Careful who you mess with, bitch.”
Amanda looked up at Rebecca. She maintained her gaze, unwilling to become intimidated.
The door opened. Rebecca turned around.
“Point that gun away from her,” a honeyed voice spoke. Rebecca froze on the spot. Amanda moved to look past her. When she saw who was at the door, her jaw dropped.
“Hilbert!” Amanda gasped. He stood, aiming a gun at Rebecca. He’s alive!
“Love! I—I thought you were dead!”
“You both would have liked that, wouldn’t you?”
“H-how could you say that? I love you, Hilbert. I thought Amanda had been the death of you.”
“Is that why you were going to kill her?”
“For you, yes! It’s because of her that you got thrown in jail and nearly killed. How come you’re free?”
“That’s none of your concern. Now, drop the gun and kick it toward me. Slowly,” Hilbert added.
“I must kill this bitch.”
“Give me the gun. That’s an order.”
Rebecca hesitated. She looked at Amanda, and then back toward Hilbert. Reluctantly, she dropped her gun, and then kicked it toward him. Hilbert picked it up, putting it in his pocket.
“What now? You’re just going to let her go?” Rebecca asked Hilbert. He was pocketing his own gun.
“What f-ing part of your brain told you it was a good idea to mess with Amanda?”
Rebecca blinked, confused.
“Wouldn’t you have wanted to kill
her yourself if you’d died because of her?”
“No one crosses Amanda, Rebecca. No one.”
Without warning, Hilbert slapped Rebecca hard. She stumbled to the floor, managing to land on her palms. She felt blood start to drip from her nose again.
“Never lay a hand on Amanda again.”
Rebecca shook her head at Hilbert. She then touched a hand to her cheek.
“You are so pussywhipped. Don’t you see that you’re losing everything thanks to her?”
“I don’t care what you think. You’re going to pay for trying to kill her.”
Hilbert picked Rebecca up by her collar. His right hand reached into his jeans pocket. He withdrew a knife. Rebecca panicked at the sight.
“Wait! You can’t kill me, Hilbert. I did all this because I love you. Amanda took me away from you. You were all I had, so I took everything she had, too.”
“You’re delusional, Rebecca. I’ve always been clear with you. There was nothing serious between us.”
Rebecca looked into Hilbert’s eyes. There was some finality in them.
“No, please. Please!”
Hilbert’s hand moved fast. The blade sank into Rebecca’s abdomen. She stiffened, her mouth open. The pain was so intense she couldn’t even scream.
“Hilbert, no!” Amanda said. It was too late. No matter what Rebecca had done, Amanda didn’t want her to die.
Hilbert withdrew the knife. He stabbed Rebecca again in a different spot. She screamed then. Hilbert still held on to her neck.
“I’m sorry, but you had to pay.”
Rebecca’s vision began to turn black. She focused on Hilbert. So much for the love she felt. In the end, Rebecca would die by his hand.
“Goodbye.”
Slowly, Rebecca dropped to the floor. She touched her abdomen, grimacing in pain. Hilbert wiped off the knife with her clothes.
At that moment, someone else burst through the door. Hilbert and Amanda turned to look. She gasped when she recognized Christopher.
“What are you doing here?”
Christopher, though, only had eyes for Rebecca. He crouched down next to her.
“Sister? No! Who did this to you?”
Hilbert cast a disdainful look at them.
“This bitch tried to kill Amanda. Be glad I got to them in time.”
Christopher looked at Hilbert. He then shot a confused look at Amanda.
“So we meet again,” Hilbert told Amanda. “You look more beautiful than I remember.”
Amanda saw that Hilbert looked different, too. Jail had roughened him up some. He had a five-o-clock shadow, and he’d dyed his hair black.
“How did you escape? What do you want with me?”
Hilbert chuckled. He started walking to his right.
“You shouldn’t fear me, sweetheart. Despite what you think, I don’t like hurting you. I just saved your life.”
Amanda said nothing. She stood up.
“Let us go.”
“That’s not a good way to thank me for what I just did. Rebecca would have killed you. There was no way I could allow that.”
“You’re sick.”
Hilbert nodded.
“Sick in love. You’re under my skin, Amanda. Not a day has passed that I didn’t think of you. It hurt so much to see you testify against me.”
Hilbert shook his head, looking away from Amanda. She stole a glance toward Emmy and Judith. They were still unconscious. A tearful Christopher caught the look. He moved toward Judith to check on her.
“I wanted to be angry,” Hilbert continued. “But I couldn’t do it for long.”
“Do you expect me to believe you can fall in love? You’re the worst kind of manwhore out there. Women are just…trophies to you.”
“I admit I toyed with the idea of having many girlfriends years ago. Since I met you, though, I haven’t wanted anyone else the way I want you.”
“Romantic talk never suited you, Hilbert. You’re but a filthy serial rapist.”
Hilbert suddenly advanced toward Amanda. She flinched. He reached a hand toward her, but stopped.
“Calling me a rapist implies that those women didn’t want to be with me. It was the other way around. What I had with them was consensual. They were all adults.”
“You manipulated them. There’s nothing consensual about that.”
“What would you know?”
“I know all the facts about the case. There was one girl you took to bed who was only sixteen.”
Christopher’s expression turned to dismay. Hilbert took a deep breath.
“She lied to me.”
“Bull.”
“That’s enough! All that is in the past. Now, I want you to be mine.”
Amanda shook her head. She turned around, trusting Hilbert not to hurt her.
“How did you escape?”
“Long story short, I provoked a guy and got him to hurt me just enough to get sent to the hospital.”
“That must have been weeks ago. Where have you been all this time?”
“I had more trouble fighting off the bastard than I anticipated. At least that got everyone to believe he really did kill me.”
Amanda couldn’t help laughing.
“That guy would have done a service to the world if he’d succeeded.”
Hilbert tensed up.
“You think worse of me than I am. All I’ve done is to try to make you mine.”
“By force? Love doesn’t work that way. It’s time you let go of your obsession with me.”
“I’m through attempting to convince you that my feelings are stronger than that. Now I’ll show you.”
Hilbert walked to Amanda. Her eyes widened.
“Don’t dare come any closer!”
Hilbert didn’t pay attention to the warning. When he got close enough, Amanda struck hard with her palm. The blow caught Hilbert in the jaw. He growled.
“Stay away from her,” Christopher warned. He was still next to Judith.
“I haven’t seen you in months. At least let me touch you, Amanda. I can hardly contain myself.”
“If you lay a hand on me, I swear I’ll beat you up and be long gone by the time you stop drooling.”
Despite his restraint, Hilbert went red.
“You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”
Amanda shook her head. The movement caused her to look to the side. She noticed Judith was awake. She was looking at Christopher with wide eyes.
“You were made for me, Amanda Tilley. I’ve wanted you ever since I met you. Oh, and if you think I’m so bad, I waited for you to come of age. Did you see me hitting on you while you were young?”
Amanda knew that was true. She had to give Hilbert that at least. He’d respected her, at least until she was about to turn eighteen.
“Even if you were a proper gentleman, Hilbert, I still wouldn’t choose you. My heart belongs to Nathan.”
“Shut up! You will come with me.”
Hilbert raised the gun again. Amanda crossed her arms, as if waiting for him to leave.
“I’m staying here. If someone’s leaving, it’s you.”
“Believe me, you don’t want me to force you.”
“I dare you to try.”
Hilbert narrowed his eyes. He was becoming angrier. Amanda stared him down, not breaking his gaze.
At that moment, there was the sound of screeching tires. Hilbert’s head whirled toward the window.
“Who did you bring with you?”
Amanda shook her head.
“I didn’t tell anyone to come!”
Judith and Christopher looked toward the window, too. Hilbert walked to it, opening the blinds.
“Damn it! There’s about a dozen cop cars out there.”
Amanda’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe they had found her so quickly.
“You set me up!” Hilbert said, walking back toward Amanda. She took two steps back.
“I didn’t! I swear, Hilbert.”
“Li
ar!”
Hilbert slapped Amanda with the back of his hand. She fell to the floor, breaking her fall with her hands. Christopher advanced toward Hilbert.
“Stay back!” he said, pointing his gun at Christopher. The latter halted. Hilbert turned back toward Amanda. He made sure to keep Christopher in sight.
“Come with me now!” he commanded. She shook her head. Hilbert grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her up. As soon as she was on her feet, Amanda yanked Hilbert’s hand off her.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Hilbert looked angered. He raised his gun again.
“I demand you to follow me!”
Amanda stood her ground.
Hilbert’s gun hand shook. He tried to squeeze the trigger. Amanda didn’t move. Hilbert wanted to shoot her. He just couldn’t do it.
“Go ahead. The only way I’m getting out of here is if you shoot me, or if Nathan comes for me.”
Hilbert stared at Amanda, waiting to see if she would obey. When she didn’t, he growled. Hilbert turned around, punching the air. He raised his hand and shot the wall.
“Fine,” Hilbert said. He started walking out of the bedroom. “You’ll regret your decision. Mark my words.”
Without further ado, Hilbert fled. Amanda exhaled. She then walked to Judith. Christopher helped Amanda untie her.
“Are you all right?” Amanda asked.
“I am. You?”
“Just fine.”
Once finished, Amanda untied Emmy. She had already regained consciousness.
“Where are we?”
“Rebecca and Hilbert got to us,” Amanda explained. “But the police are here. They’ll take him.”
Judith looked at the body on the floor. She shrieked.
“Who’s that?”
Emmy flinched when she noticed. Christopher couldn’t help crouching down. He touched a hand to Rebecca’s neck, and then brushed some of her hair aside.
“She’s Rebecca. Hilbert killed her.”
A few moments later, Amanda and her group walked out of the apartment. Hilbert had vanished.
“Let’s go over there.”
The four of them started walking down the corridor. When they approached the stairs, they heard footsteps. Caldwell and Medina appeared. Sutton and half a dozen police officers followed them.
“Ms. Tilley!” Sutton said when he spotted her. “Are you okay? We heard a gunshot.”
Devoted to Her (Dream Date Book 2) Page 31
