Passionate Kisses 2 Boxed Set: Love in Bloom

by Magda Alexander

  “Why can’t I see you?” He couldn’t see a damn thing! “What did you hurt her for? She’s just a little girl. It’s me you want. Leave her alone!”

  “Too late, Hunter. I already took care of her. Now it’s your turn. Except with you, I’ll make the pain last.”

  He heard the pounding behind him. Hunter flailed his arms, trying to find her. If only he could open his eyes! With one dirt covered hand, he touched his face. Wait. His eyes were open. What the hell?

  “What’s happening to me?”

  “You don’t know? You said so yourself. You’re losing your mind!” she said in an evil, pissed off laugh. Oh, that sound made his skin crawl.

  “I need to get to Becca.” Could she have really done something to her? He had so much to try and fix. Becca couldn’t leave him, too. She promised! She wasn’t supposed to give up.

  “I told you already, she’s gone!”

  The pounding continued. What the hell was that?

  “What are you doing?”

  Preparing you.”

  He was numb. Cold. Achy. What was happening to him?

  “I want you to remember. I want you to feel what I felt.” Her voice was closer. Cold. A swarm of cold air slammed into him. All he felt was cold.

  *****

  Becca couldn’t get to Hunter. He had the door locked, but she heard him behind it, yelling. Was he having a nightmare? He must have fallen asleep and shut her out to keep her away.

  “Hunter! Come on! Open up!” She wasn’t sure he could even hear her. It didn’t stop her from trying anyway. She pounded again. Even from the bedroom fast asleep, she’d been alerted to the sound of Hunter’s terrified shouts. “Please Hunter, wake up and open this door!”

  The door flew open. Becca stumbled backwards from the force of how quick it opened and she’d even heard a whoosh from the air as it moved. Hunter flew toward her, his face masked in one of pure terror. Was he even awake? His skin glistened with sweat and his eyes were glazed.

  “Hunter! It’s me!” Terror seized her as he reached out. He was stumbling around. What happened to him? Sleepwalking during a nightmare? She’d never been so afraid of what he’d do before, but he wasn’t himself. “Hunter, please!” she yelled louder with urgency.

  He’d backed her into a wall, still fumbling around. He grunted as his hands found their way to her. He squeezed her arms tight.

  He wasn’t awake. He had to be sleepwalking while still dreaming. Did that happen? He was hurting her.

  “What did you do to her? What did you do?” he shouted, his voice thick with pain and agony. “I need her! Give her back to me!”

  He made no sense. Becca tried to get out of his grasp to shake him out of this, but she couldn’t. Bile rose in her throat. She leaned closer, as close as she could get to his ear and screeched. “Hunter! It’s Becca. I’m right here! You’re hurting me. Let go! It’s okay, I’m right here. Open your eyes and see me.” It wasn’t working. He squeezed harder. Adrenaline kicked in and Becca shoved him away. He staggered and fell backward, landing on his back.

  She froze in place. Hunter sat up, blinking rapidly. “Bec? What’s gong on? What-what just happened?” He gasped for air.

  “Your dreams, y-you-.” Becca stuttered, still unable to move. She just wanted to reach him. At least he finally woke up. Every pulse point on her body throbbed.

  “What did I do?” He shot to his feet. When he neared, she flinched.

  Hunter reeled back, his skin so white she thought he’d be sick. “Oh no. No. I hurt you, didn’t I?” When she couldn’t respond, he tried again. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you. What did I do, Becca?”

  Becca rubbed her arms, suddenly so cold. Goosebumps ran all over her arms and legs, sending a spine tingling shiver through her. “You grabbed me-squeezed my arms and had me again-against the-w-wall.” The stuttering. Ugh. Make it all stop! This had to be a nightmare. She pinched herself, right above where Hunter’s hands had been. Please let it all be a bad, bad nightmare. Ow. It hurt. No, this was real. “You were yelling ‘What did you do to her’ and shook me.”

  “Noooo!” he yelled. “I didn’t. Please tell me I didn’t.”

  If only she could. Oh, if only she could.

  He raised his hands and her first instinct, again, was to flinch. She didn’t mean to. Becca took a step backwards. At her move, Hunter dropped his hands.

  “Oh hell, I did. You’re afraid of me. I move to hold you, and you’re afraid of me.” She heard the mix of anger, horror and fear in his tone. “Becca-I. I’m so sorry. I should have listened before. I should have-I hurt you! I can’t believe I hurt you!” He dashed down the stairs, still sounding upset, but she barely made out the words he said. The slamming of the door echoed throughout the house and shook the walls. A car engine roared to life and peeled out.

  Why did he just leave? Where was he going? Becca forced herself to move, to get to her phone and call him.

  Straight to voice mail. She hung up and dialed again and again. Still went to voicemail. The last time she left a message. “Hunter. Please come back. You’re in no shape to drive. It’s just a-another s-storm. We’ll get through it.” Becca hit end and clutched the phone to her chest, her body wracked with sobs. This time, she wasn’t sure.

  *****

  The phone rang at three in the morning. She’d barely slept as she kept waiting for Hunter to come home. He wouldn’t answer his phone, and he hadn’t shown up for hours. She’d never answered his house phone before, but didn’t hesitate when it rang. She was desperate.

  “Hunter?” she answered, out of breath.

  Nothing but static on the other end.

  Ugh!

  Yeah, something was wrong here. A static call at three am?

  “Hello?”

  Still, nothing.

  Then. “You need to hurry. Hunter, he’s hurt!” a voice Becca didn’t recognize pleaded.

  “Who is this?”

  “He’s on his plane!” the voice said, avoiding all questions.

  His plane?

  He was in no condition to fly and Becca hoped that’s not what he was doing. Hunter wasn’t in the best shape.

  “I’m on my way. Please, don’t let him do anything crazy. He won’t answer my calls!”

  Becca slammed the phone down.

  She didn’t know the streets of this town very well at all, but she had to do something. She had to get to that airport. Maybe she should call someone. Shara? The Sundstroms?

  No, she’d just go find him. She’d already done enough damage by bringing in someone else when Hunter obviously didn’t want anyone to know.

  As she backed out of the driveway, her cell phone beeped, signaling a message. She stared at the screen and wondered why she never got a call. Becca put the phone up to her ear and waited for the voice mail to play.

  “Angel, I’m so sorry. You were right. I should have-I need to talk to someone. I should have done that before I hurt you. Damn it! I love you more than life, Becca. I know it’s hard to believe, considering how things have been the past few days, but you’re everything to me. I’m sitting here on my plane thinking about things. Don’t give up on me, angel.” His voice cracked, choked up at the end before the voice mail ended. He’d left the message about an hour ago. What did he do within that hour that hurt him?

  Her vision blurred. “Oh Hunter,” she whispered. She pictured him alone and hurting on that plane. Remembering the name of the small airport, Becca typed it in on her phone, hoping to pull up directions. Once she found him, she would hold him and never let go.

  Becca had never been one to drive over the speed limit, but this morning, she found herself doing just that. All she wanted was to get to that plane and find Hunter. They had to fix this and get past it all.

  She made it with no problems. No cops followed or pulled her over. Becca jumped out of the car and headed toward the building. She saw the man from the other night, Arther, and called his name. Maybe he could help her.

  “Becca!
” He smiled, big and friendly. “Meeting Hunter for a little fun?” he said, laughing mischievously.

  If Hunter was hurt, Arther knew nothing about it. This was a small, private airport. How could he not?

  Something wasn’t right. Still, she kept her words to a minimum until she knew the situation. No way was she going to say something else that might upset Hunter.

  She wished that was it. If she forced a smile and played along, maybe he would get the message and not talk too much. “Something like that. Is he already here?”

  “Been here for a few hours. He was on the phone with his ex-wife when he showed up. Thought that was strange.”

  Her legs trembled, threatening to collapse beneath her. “Yes, well they’ve been talking about things. They’re trying to keep the peace for Sienna’s sake.”

  “You young ones find some strange places and times to talk and … do other things. Well, go on over. Want me to drive you on the cart?”

  “No, that’s okay. I remember where his plane is. Just direct me there to where I’m not in the way, please.”

  Five minutes later, ignoring the pain in her knee, Becca ran to Hunter’s plane. She noticed the door open ajar and was relieved. He had to be in there still. A jolt of nervousness shot through her, both for the plane that she had to face again, and for the unease with Hunter. She climbed aboard and wondered why he’d be sitting there without any lights. If only she remembered where he’d turned them on the last time.

  “Hunter? I’m here,” she called out. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness. “We have to talk this out. I got a call about you being hurt.”

  “You might be here, but Hunter isn’t,” a cold voice said from behind her. It was the same voice she heard on the phone.

  Bile rose in her throat.

  This had been a set up. Where was Hunter?

  She’d been so upset and worried about him that she never once considered the fact that the call hadn’t been real. But why would she have?

  Was this the person who’d sent the letters and left the dead animal on Hunter’s porch?

  Becca whirled around as the plane door was pulled shut, shrouding her in darkness with the unknown person on board. Becca opened her mouth to scream and no sound came out. Her scream died in her throat.

  “Want to go for a little ride? I think there’s so much to catch up on. I was hoping for a full reunion, but Hunter left a while ago. I should have really made sure he was hurt. I’ll deal with him later, but you, well, it’s your damn fault I was on the plane all those years ago.”

  The lights came on. Becca stared at the woman. Her hazel eyes blazed with rage.

  “Don’t think about going anywhere. We have company. Just a friend.” A man stood by the door, looking all too eager to pounce if she made a move to get near that door. “Sit down, Becca,” she snapped. Then she turned to the man. “Ready for your first flight as a pilot?”

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Hunter opened his eyes when he heard an engine roar to life. It was loud and rumbling. He blinked, trying to recall where he was. He’d fallen asleep in his car. What the hell? The last thing he recalled was driving away from the house in a panic because he’d hurt Becca. How did he get here, and were exactly was here?

  As he jarred to reality, he realized exactly where he was and what that sound was.

  The airport.

  How did he get here? When? Why?

  The plane taking off wasn’t doing a good job. He watched in horror until it smacked him in the face like a rubber band.

  That’s my plane taking off!

  His feet were tingling from the way he’d been sitting. As he darted across the field where his car was parked, he nearly fell. He kept darting his gaze to his plane. Someone inside better have a damn good explanation about this.

  He spotted Arthur. When the man noticed him running toward him, his eyes widened.

  “If you aren’t flying your plane, who the hell is?” Arthur pointed.

  “That’s exactly what I’d like to know!” Hunter snapped as he skidded to a stop. His eyes were on the plane, which was now in the air. “Who the hell cleared this plane to take off?”

  “I have no clue. If you aren’t on that plane, where have you been? Is Becca with you?”

  Hunter’s heart almost stopped at the sound of Becca’s name. “What are you talking about?”

  “Becca came by just a little while ago, saying she was meeting you here.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” Holy hell, was Becca on that plane right now? With who? Hunter ran inside the building to talk to anyone with a clue.

  “Who the hell is flying my plane?” he yelled, slamming his fist on the counter. The woman behind the counter raised her brows at him and immediately looked up the information. She must be new, because Hunter didn’t recognize her.

  “There’s no scheduled flights on-”

  “Hello! I know that! You’d better do something. Someone just took off in my plane,” he fumed. “And they don’t look like they know what the hell they’re doing.” Something occurred to him. “There’s not that much fuel right now, either. I haven’t flown in a while, so I haven’t had the need to have it filled.”

  An eerie feeling washed over him.

  Was Becca on that plane, and if so, who was with her?

  He reached in his pocket for his phone and dialed hers.

  *****

  “Still hate planes, huh? You look like you’re about to get sick.” The woman snarled at Becca.

  “Who a-are y-you?” The stuttering worsened. Clutching the armrests of the seat, Becca never let her eyes waver from the stranger’s face.

  “You don’t remember me?” she mocked. “No, of course not. Your family was the reason I took that flight.”

  “Wh-what does that h-have to do with m-me? I w-was only eight!” So what did she want with her now, after twenty years? The plane went even higher, making Becca’s stomach clench. She squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted off this plane, now!

  “We’ve got a problem!” the bearded man yelled from the cockpit.

  The woman slapped the side of the plane in frustration. “What now?”

  “We’re low on fuel. We ain’t gonna make it to where you wanna go. I’m going to have to land this thing much sooner, which means you need a back up plan.”

  “Are you a fucking idiot? How do you not pay attention to this stuff sooner?”

  “Hey, you’re the stupid bitch that pulled this spur of the moment shit. We weren’t supposed to do this yet, not without the guy.”

  The guy? Were they referring to Hunter?

  Where was Hunter?

  “Yeah well, with the events of last night, I figured it was the perfect time. Who knew they were going to have a fight and he’d run over here? I’ll just take care of him later.”

  “Why now?” Becca whispered. “After all this time?”

  “You weren’t the only one who didn’t escape without problems,” the woman snapped. “Except they locked me up. Called me crazy. Maybe it was too much time alone when that plane went down. Kinda does things to the mind, you know?” She twirled a finger around her ear, leering over in Becca’s face. “Or maybe you wouldn’t. Of course, Princess Becca wasn’t alone. I wasn’t supposed to be on that plane. That’s why no one ever came across my name. I don’t exist. It would have worked out if the stupid thing hadn’t crashed. I would have had a new life. Oh, I got a new life all right, but not the one I anticipated!”

  Becca’s phone went off in her purse. With wide eyes, she reached for it.

  “I’ll take that!” It was snatched from her hand in an instant. Becca went to grab for it, but a sharp turn of the plane tossed her back. Deep breaths. She’d get through this. She just had to. “Watch it, idiot! I don’t know if I’d survive a second crash!”

  How could she make light of it? Becca fought down another wave of bile as the woman answered her phone.

  “Hello, Hunter. I suppose you’re looking for Becca? Oh, what a l
ovely little plane you have here. It’s fun to take for a little joy ride. Don’t worry, we’ll save a little fun for you. Shouldn’t have left the party before it really began.”

  Becca’s arm shot out for her phone with a spike of adrenaline.

  “Hold on, I think someone wants to talk to you.”

  To her surprise, the woman let Becca have the phone. With a shaky hand, she put it up to her ear. Blood thundered in her ears.

  “Becca? Angel, listen to me. I love you. You’re going to be okay. I’ll find a way to you, just like I’ve always promised. I’ll bring you home to me somehow, okay? I’m so sorry, baby.” His voice cracked.

  Becca choked back a sob as she opened her mouth to speak. To her dismay, nothing came out. Only a squeak as the words died in her throat. No, not now! She should have figured it would happen. She went mute, froze up every time something big happened.

  He let out a string of cuss words on the other end. “She’s on that plane,” he said to someone. “She can’t talk to me.” More scuffling sounds, then Hunter came back on the line. “Just be strong, Becca. I’m going to find a way. I love-”

  The phone was snatched away once again. Becca shot up from her seat to get it back. The woman slapped her hard. With another lurch from the plane, she slipped and hit her head on one of the seats.

  “You had your talk, Hunter. Too bad you left the plane and couldn’t join the party. It would have been a beautiful, heartfelt reunion. Oh, I would have felt your heart beat like crazy as I slowly ripped it out by taking away every thing you loved, starting with Becca. Bye now!”

  Becca watched in horror as her phone was flung across the plane, smashing against a window.

  “Miss your family, Becca? How about I help you join them.” The pure calm way she spoke drove an invisible stake in Becca’s heart. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be. She was going to die. “If I didn’t hate you so much, I’d like you. Everyone thinks you’re such a miracle or something. Oh, if only they all knew the real dirt about Rebecca Lange. She doesn’t exist!”

  What?

  What was that supposed to mean?