“That’s when you arrived at the house that day?”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot you knew about that. Well, that makes it so much easier to finish the story. My sisters and other brothers didn’t mention anything when I spoke with them occasionally. I found out later that my mom had given them talking points for when they talked with me, since the phone was most likely bugged.”
“How did you manage to get to your mom’s that day? How long were you with Randall before you escaped?”
“I made it to my mom’s because Randall gave me some freedom during the day when the kids were at school, so I could grocery shop or get myself prepped for him.”
“I don’t even want to know what that means.”
“No, you really don’t. Once I was able to plan enough time to see my mom without having to worry about getting all my chores done, I found that almost two years had passed. In the meantime, Randall had made me quit school and my job, and had removed my friends from the equation. The day I was able to run he beat me so badly I thought I wouldn’t live to see freedom again.”
“Shush.”
Zack rocked me as I cried into his chest, his pain just as evident as my own. We stayed like this for what seemed like hours.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Thank you for telling me about something so horrific that has happened to you. I understand now what we need to do together.”
Puzzled, I looked up at him, but I saw nothing that would give away his thoughts. I wished I could do that thing he did with me by knowing everything I was thinking.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“It’s nothing terrible, don’t worry. It’s just that after all this time, it appears that Randall may not be done with you yet.”
“Oh, God, you think so, too?”
“Too? Why? Who else thinks so?”
“Justin.”
“Ah, I knew we got along for a reason.”
“Mom is not entirely convinced.”
“Then I’ll convince her, for your sake.”
“You’re scaring me.”
I didn’t want to think about what Randall might do to me when he found me or got me alone. I just wanted to forget he existed at all, and move on with my life.
“He’s going to come for you.”
“Oh, God, no.”
I whispered it because I just didn’t want to deal with the implications of Zack being right.
“He already made it clear that he knows where you are. Now it’s just a matter of time before he makes his move.”
“Why can’t he leave me alone?”
“Because you escaped. Because he wants to make you suffer for leaving. Because he’s a sick bastard that wants to destroy his prey once and for all.”
“How do you know all this?”
“It’s obvious to me. He’s just like a politician.”
***
What had I done? If Randall was just like a politician, and Zack was a politician, then I was so screwed being there with him. I felt the walls closing in around me, and it scared the shit out of me. I reminded myself that Zack was nothing like Randall. It was a mantra I played over and over in my head. Zack loved me, but the nagging doubts entered my mind all the same. I had thought that about Randall in the beginning, too, hadn’t I? What if Zack was just saying the things I wanted to hear, just like Randall did when we first started dating?
Zack was sleeping next to me, but it wasn’t him I envisioned when I looked over. It was Randall, and all the warmth and love Zack had always showed me simply eviscerated, leaving in its wake the pain I once lived through.
“I can hear you thinking from here, and I know it’s not good.”
Zack sat up, turning on the side table light. After my revelation, we’d ended up together in bed with all our previous days’ clothes on, just holding one another.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I replied coolly, hoping he’d let it go and let me ponder my life choices.
“Nothing, huh? Well, how about you share that nothing with me so we can fix it together?”
“I’m not sure you want to know.”
“Of course I want to know. Why wouldn’t I want to know what’s causing you to be so restless? If it affects you, it affects me, too. Remember?”
He may have been a politician, but he was nothing like the ones he’d described to me last night, the ones that compared so well with Randall. If only I could know what to do. If only I could find a way to end this relentless confusion.
He watched me debate.
“I could watch you internalize everything all night, or you could just spill, and we could both figure out a way of fixing it together.”
His calm tone made me calm.
“Okay, but you’re not going to like what I have to say.”
“Try me.”
“If Randall acted so much like a politician…”
I took a breath, hoping he would understand before I had to verbalize it to him and lose any faith in us he may have had.
“You’re worried cause I’m a politician, too.”
He left my side to move to the other side of the bed.
I was so scared that I began to shake. Not like I once had, whenever Randall tormented me, but with the worry that he would realize that I was actually comparing him to a monster. I didn’t want him to leave me.
“Okay, I thought when I made that comment that you might take it the wrong way, but still I hoped you wouldn’t lump me into the mix. Though I’m a politician, I’m not like the rest. From my family’s presence and social standing, how I approach the job is different compared to most that take office these days. My family has a vested interest in this town, and has ever since its founding over a hundred years ago. My politics are basically to keep the best interest of the town in mind at all times. I see myself as a member of this town, not someone who is just looking to gain power. You should know all this about me, though.”
He leaned against me, worn out, resting his forehead against mine.
“Randall is the type of politician who’s constantly looking to gain power. He thrives on it. Possessing power and fear seem to be his key political platforms. Even though he doesn’t hold an office, he sure holds power over those around him. Do you see the difference I am trying to make? He will do anything to keep his power and force his agenda.”
“I know, but I just…”
A solitary tear ran down my cheek at the thought of this man before me being compared to the monster that was Randall Kirkland—even though I was the one making the comparison.
“You have nothing to fear from me.” He kissed first my bottom lip, then the top one, emphasizing his point. “I want to make you feel how happy you make me. I want to share our lives and bring the greatest joy possible to the woman I love. I want to worship every inch of your body and tell you every day how happy you make me. I need to do those things with you. Not because of you. Do you understand?”
I did. I understood what he meant because it was exactly how I felt whenever we were together. I felt as though we could conquer anything so long as we did it together.
“I do understand, Zack. I understand completely.”
“So, can we go to bed now? It’s late, and I have an early meeting in the morning that I couldn’t put off until next week.”
“Okay.”
He watched me as I took a shirt from his dresser and removed my clothes to prepare for bed.
“I’m okay with you giving me that show every night for the rest of our lives.”
“Really?”
I swayed my hips as his brows shot to his forehead. When I made to remove the covers to get under them, he stopped me by pulling my hand toward him, causing me to be pulled onto the bed and his awaiting chest. Still clothed, he tried to shift to a more comfortable position with me on top of him in nothing but his T-shirt.
“Hey! I thought you wanted to sleep?”
“That w
as when you were fully clothed. My thoughts have changed.”
“Since when?”
“As of a few moments ago, when I saw your ass showing just beneath my shirt.”
“Oh, really? So what are your plans now?”
“I’m good to forgo the sleep previously discussed to show my woman how much I love and worship her.”
He wiggled his brows, making me laugh. Then he groaned when his pants obviously became unbelievably tight.
“Get up.”
“That didn’t take long. The worshipping over already?”
I rolled onto the other side of the bed so he could get up to remove his clothes, but he balked at my indignation.
“Ha-ha. I’ll show you how long my worshipping takes.”
“Promises, promises.”
With that, he stripped himself bare.
Chapter Nine
I welcomed the sunlight as it streamed across the inviting windows of the new day. Yesterday had been full of dread, but today was full of hope. The anticipation of something new had me giddy, thinking of Zack and his passion for our life together. I was stunned by how much I felt loved, when just a short time ago, I felt despair. I loved him with all my heart, and just thinking that we may not have ended up together in this way had my insides in knots. Thank goodness he wouldn’t let that happen. Thank God he came for me when he did, to the hospital after I got cut by the box that fell on me.
I wondered if we would be where we were today had it not been for the timing of that incident, and all the events that happened afterward. All night long and this morning, Zack had shown me just how much he loved me. His love knew no bounds—something I had often heard but never understood until now. As I tried to move this morning, my sore muscles stiffened with every stretch. But it was a welcome soreness, a pain I would so love to endure throughout all our days together.
Together—it was such a simple word, with the power to hold us under its spell. I was grateful for just about everything this morning, even the life that had led to this moment. Stretching across the soft sheets, I cuddled Zack’s pillow, breathing in his scent.
Making my way across the room toward the adjoining bath, I decided to cross town for some boxes to gather my things and bring them over to Zack’s. There was no reason why we shouldn’t move in together. I wanted us to start our life without the worry of my constant retreating whenever flashbacks or setbacks occurred.
Humming as I pulled my hair together into a ponytail, I wasn’t that surprised at how free I felt. How long I had waited to feel this way after the nightmares I had endured! No amount of therapy could replace the love of this man, someone who’d filled the holes of my abused heart.
Stepping onto the sidewalk, I followed the path that led to the road as noises from the brush captured my attention. When they grew louder, they caused me to turn my head. Startled, I jumped back when a hand appeared suddenly out of nowhere, grabbing for my jacket. Dark eyes met mine for one terrifying moment just before I turned to run.
***
“Katie! I’m home, honey!”
Zack walked through the door, where he was sure he’d find her waiting for him on the other side. Not that he’d expected her to be just sitting there all day waiting, but he was certain that she’d be at his house once he made it back home after his meeting. The meeting had run late, but it had still only taken a few hours.
He continued to walk around the house in his search for her, first to the bedroom, where he found the T-shirt she’d worn the night before neatly spread across the side of the bed. The bathroom towel also hung on the hook, so he knew she’d taken a shower earlier. But where was she now?
“Katie! You here, baby?”
He made his way toward the back office. He was sure she’d be sitting there. Perhaps she’d be reading a book and hadn’t heard him calling
Perplexed when he opened the door to an empty room, he decided to go to the garage. Her car was still parked there, sitting right where they’d left it only the day before. But Katie didn’t seem to be in the house. Trying not to panic, Zack headed out to the backyard. He wasn’t sure why she’d be out there, but maybe she’d decided to get the lay of the land before they had a chance to revisit the moving-in discussion. As he walked further into the yard, he realized that she wasn’t there. She wasn’t anywhere on the property. Racing back inside to see if her purse and jacket were still there, his heart hammered in his chest. The walls seemed to close in on him with every step he took.
Where was she? Had she just gone off for a walk, and he was worrying over nothing? She wouldn’t have left completely. Heck, her car was still in the garage. At the front door, he confirmed her jacket and purse were indeed gone, so he knew she must have them with her. Placing a call to her cell, he thought she would set aside all worries as soon as she picked up the phone. It wasn’t like her to worry him like this, so he knew she would pick up right away when he called. Instead, the call went to voicemail without even ringing beyond the first connection. That was odd. She never turned her phone off. She always tried to answer, just in case her family were trying to contact her.
Trying not to panic, although his body was betraying him, Zack felt as though something was terribly wrong. Katie wouldn’t just leave like this after everything they’d discussed. After all, the demons had been put to rest once and for all, and they’d figured out how to cope with things together. As though he’d just heard her scream, he whipped his head around to stare out the front window before taking off into a run out the front door.
“Get off me!”
He saw her struggling with a hand that reached out from the bushes halfway down the block. The hand had a firm grip on her jacket, but she was desperately trying to free herself from the garment before it could pull her in.
“Katie!” he shouted as he raced toward her. “Get off her, you asshole!” he yelled as he approached moments later. Once he’d arrived, she was not only free of the unknown assailant’s hold, she was also running to meet him before he made it to her.
“Oh, God, Zack!”
“Jesus, Katie!”
They said it at the same time as they embraced each other. Then Zack pulled away a bit so he could get a better look at her to make sure she was okay. His security detail ran past them toward the bushes where the hand had come from, trying to reach the person before he or she got away.
“You okay?”
Breathing rapidly and unable to control himself, he pulled her toward him again without giving her the chance to answer.
“Doesn’t matter. Let’s get you home first, then we’ll decide if you need a doctor. In fact, let’s just call Justin to check you over.”
They had walked a few feet before he bent over, picking her up and carrying her the rest of the way. Security stood outside his door.
“Check the property. Make sure there are no intruders before we get inside.”
Both guards looked at one another, then said something into their sleeves before entering the residence.
“Fuck this, we’re going to the condo.”
Zack often had to work in the city, and the condo he kept there ensured he was able to get some rest between meetings.
“Yes, sir.”
The security guards ran for the car. Opening the door, Zack and Katie barely made it inside the vehicle before it pulled off onto the road toward town.
“Can you talk, honey?”
She was tucked under his arm, firmly against his side as the car made its way across town.
“Yes.”
She sounded so lost and so scared that it almost broke his heart. After everything she’d been through, an attack so close to his place was the last thing she needed right now, especially when everything else was falling into place.
“Where was security? I expected you guys to be watching over her!” he barked at the two men in the front seats.
“You could have been taken, or worse…”
Not wanting to verbalize the unknown scenario, Za
ck just narrowed his eyes into the mirror so the driver could see his dissatisfaction.
“I expected better of my security detail. I expected much more than this from all of you.”
“It’s not their fault. I just left without thinking. I didn’t fill them in on where I was going.”
“That’s irrelevant. They should have been watching you from the time you left the house. If something were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself.”
His shoulders slumped as his head hung down. He was unable to contain himself as he began to shake violently. Whether from fear or anger, she wasn’t sure, but what she was certain of was how close a call it had been just moments ago, when some man had tried to nab her in broad daylight. Her whole body stiffened at the thought.
“What is it?”
Zack turned his head to look at her as he felt her body stiffen next to his.
“I realized he was trying to take me, and it scared the daylights out of me.”
Holding her closer to him, unable to separate himself from her even for a moment, Zack unbuckled her belt to pull her onto his lap.
“Oh, God, baby. Are you okay?”
“No! Yes. Well, maybe. I don’t know. I’m not hurt, if that’s what you mean. Not physically, at least.”
“What the fuck happened out there? What were you doing walking around the streets instead of staying inside to wait for me?”
“Hold it right there! You expected me to just sit there waiting for you to return like a good little girl?! Is that what you expected?”
“No! I wasn’t expecting that, I just was wondering why you left the house when you knew I’d be back shortly.”
“I, uh…”
“What?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
Shaking his head as he loosened his grip, Zack saw how raw she looked and decided it unwise to provoke an argument right now. There was no point discussing the merits of her leaving when Randall could be anywhere right now, just waiting to get her alone.
Isolated Encounter Page 14
