Chapter Eight
Three more weeks went by, and Mary was on edge.
Since they’d argued, Mary hadn’t gone to his room at night, even when she’d heard him muttering in his sleep, having dream conversation-nightmares with his sister.
During the waking hours, they maintained an ultra-polite truce. Most of the time, Chase was at work, doing God knows what to Lord knows who. Maybe some distance between them wasn’t such a terrible thing after all. Mary had let her guard down around him.
Today, while Chase was gone, Mary had cleaned and even made chicken noodle soup in the crockpot. It was weird to be domestic, but she had to do something with her time, or she’d go insane. She was used to maintaining a tight schedule with lots of responsibilities. Sitting around Chase’s place all day, waiting to be traded like a baseball card, made her feel antsy.
Mary had stopped trying to escape. She couldn’t get through Chase’s password to use the Internet and Chase didn’t own a landline either. He kept his cell phone on him at all times, too.
She knew her grandfather, Ten, and Jasper would be looking for her, but it didn’t make Mary feel any better. She still wasn’t ready to face them, and maybe she never would be.
Chase breezed in the door around six. She’d gotten used to his comings and goings, and she realized she’d inadvertently timed dinner for his arrival.
Well, crap.
“It smells good.”
“Thanks. Want some soup?” Mary asked. She was already on her second bowl, and the comfort food tasted good.
“Yeah, sure.” Chase made himself a bowlful and sat beside her on the couch.
She’d been binge-watching The Flash on Netflix the past couple of hours. They watched one in awkward silence until Chase grabbed the remote and switched it off.
“All of this pretending is ridiculous. We should talk.”
“Sure. Why not?” Mary folded her arms over her chest.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Chase turned to face her, and he actually seemed sincere.
“I’m sorry, too.” Mary closed her eyes. “Maybe I overreacted a bit.”
“So, are we, er, okay…?”
“Yeah.”
“I almost said, are we friends, but that would be weird, right?”
“Um, I don’t know.” These days, Chase was the closest thing she had to a friend. “I guess, but our lives are odd already, right?”
“Yeah.” Chase chuckled. “Well, I’m glad. These past weeks have been…”
“Awful? I agree.”
Chase smiled. “Exactly.”
Mary leaned back on the sofa. “Anything you wanna talk about?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m curious about something.”
“Then ask me.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
Mary hadn’t gone on a date since her junior year of college. She’d dated a guy on and off for three or four months, but it hadn’t been a big romance or anything. He was nice, and the sex was decent, but they were both consumed with their schoolwork, which came first.
It always would, until she finished her degree.
And then, her job would take precedence for a while, until she was settled into her career and ready to make a commitment to someone, and then start a family. Medicine was a male-dominated profession. Even her pre-med courses were sausage fests, and Mary was always proving herself to the professors and the other students. Mary suspected it would be the same way at work and she didn’t want to be mommy-tracked.
Yes, Mary had everything all laid out, or thought she did, until it had come to a screeching halt. Right now, up was down, black was white, and nothing made sense anymore.
“No, I’m single. What about you?”
“I had a serious girlfriend a couple of years ago, but it didn’t work out.”
“Did she leave when you told her you were a mobster?” Mary imagined not many women could handle criminal activity.
Chase shook his head. “Just the opposite, she was a bit too into the bad boy thing.”
Hmm. Mary wondered if the woman’s acceptance had perturbed Chase because he hadn’t come to grips with what he did for a living, but she didn’t say so. They’d just made peace and Mary didn’t want to drive another wedge between them.
“An adrenaline junkie, huh?”
“Yep, I had to end it.” Abruptly, Chase stood. “I don’t know about you, but I’m restless. How do you feel about getting out of here for a few hours?”
“Really?” She hadn’t left these four walls in forever and she was aching for a change of scenery.
“Absolutely, as long as you don’t try to run away.”
“I won’t.”
It sounded better than staying in the guest room, worrying about her fate or pondering her grandfather’s illegal activities.
“Have you ever been to Vegas?”
“No, I haven’t.”
In college, she’d come close. A group of her friends had gone together during spring break, but she’d decided to go to a microbiology conference instead. They’d called her a nerd and sent selfies all week, and by Sunday, Mary wished she’d gone with them.
Now, Mary finally had her chance to see what she’d missed.
“Well, you’ve been deprived. I’ve been hanging out on the strip since I was a teenager.”
“Why? You wouldn’t have been able to gamble.”
“Trust me, there were plenty of other things to do.” Chase winked. “Come on, let me show you.” And then he took her by the hand and led her out to his truck.
What have I gotten myself into?
***
As always, the strip was crowded with throngs of tourists. The casinos had bright flashing marquee lights. As they passed by, coins clinked from slot machines. People were smiling and laughing around them.
It was a chilly Friday night, and they walked down the sidewalk together. Vegas was relatively warm in the winter, but at night it cooled down, and there was no humidity to hold in the heat.
If Chase didn’t know better, it would have felt like a date.
Chase wasn’t sure why he’d asked her to hang out with him. Maybe because he wanted to make up with her. Chase realized he needed to make her happy. And if he couldn’t release Mary, a Vegas trip would be the consolation prize.
Keeping Mary against her will felt wrong on every level.
He had the urge to free her. Not only that, Chase wanted his own freedom. As crazy as it sounded, he pictured running away with her, finding someplace far from here where they’d both be safe.
Somehow, he thought bringing her here would lessen the guilt, but it wasn’t working. If anything, he felt worse. She was young, and Mary should be out with her friends, having fun. Although, knowing her, she’d be holed up in her apartment, studying, even on a Saturday night. The point was, Mary should be free to do whatever the crap she wanted to.
“You look awfully pensive.” Mary looked up at him, watching his face carefully.
“Just thinking.” He shrugged.
“About what?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He waved at the casinos around them. “So, pick your poison. What will it be? Slot machines? Cards?” Chase had played all the games, and he loved winning. And he’d teach her to play like a pro.
“I don’t know. Can we go in there?” Mary pointed at Circus Circus. The casino was aptly named because it resembled a giant circus tent, complete with a neon clown sign out front.
“Sure, whatever you want.”
They headed inside, and Mary looked at the slots doubtfully.
“Wanna play?”
“Nah. Do they have any other games? The kind you’d find at a carnival?”
“Yup, let’s go to the midway.” Chase led her through the crowds until they reached the stalls. With the popcorn, elephant ears, and cotton candy it even smelled like the circus.
Carnival music filled the air, too.
Mary smiled, looking around and taking it all in with wide eyes. God damn, she was so beautiful it took his breath away.
“My parents used to take me to the circus or the carnival whenever one came to town.” They were surrounded by booths with a wide selection of games.
“Sure you don’t wanna gamble?” It’s the reason people came to Vegas, but she didn’t seem interested.
“Maybe later. For now, I’d like to play some of these, if it’s okay with you?”
“Of course we can. It sounds fun.” Chase was charmed, despite himself. He hadn’t gone to the carnival since he was a kid. They circulated around the room, trying things. Neither one of them won a prize, but it was fun.
As they were trying to toss rings around bottle tops, a clown walked by, and Mary smiled at him and waved. The clown returned her grin and kept on going.
“Wait, let me get this straight. You actually like clowns?”
“Yeah, who doesn’t?”
“Everyone. They’re disturbing.”
Her brows furrowed. “No, they’re adorable.”
“Adorable? You’ve seen It, right?” He’d watched it on Halloween as a child, and it had scarred him for life. “Pennywise is horrifyin’.”
Her eyes danced with mischief. “Let me get this straight, you’re a former Marine, and you’re afraid of men who wear funny clothes and makeup?”
Chase caught himself unconsciously flexing, as though she hadn’t noticed his muscles.
“I didn’t say I was afraid, I said they’re freaky. There’s a difference.”
Her lips twitched. “I don’t see how.”
“Let’s get back to playing, shall we?”
“Fine.”
As they tossed rings, Mary kept glancing at a big stuffed polar bear hanging from the curtain. He paid for more rings.
“Having fun?” Chase asked.
“Yes, I am.” And the question earned him a genuine smile.
She tossed a ring, and it clattered to the floor. “Dammit.”
“Here, throw them high in the air, so they’ll have a better chance of settling on a bottle.” As a teenager, he’d practiced long hours.
Chase wanted to win her the polar bear. He hadn’t won one for a girl since he’d been in high school. He shelled out twenty dollars for more chances to win and kept pitching them at the painted bottles, hoping to score the prize, but it wasn’t working.
Maybe because Chase had trouble focusing on anything else but Mary.
Damn, what the hell am I doing? Showing off for the girl I’m holding hostage?
I’m out of my mind.
“Hey, it’s okay.” She tugged at his sleeve, but Chase wouldn’t be dissuaded. He might not be able to get her out of this mess, but he’d win her the damn stuffed animal.
“No, I’ve got this.” It took him five more plays, but Chase finally won the bear, even though the toy had cost him fifty bucks altogether. He could’ve bought the damned thing for less, but it was worth it when Mary’s eyes lit up.
“Thank you.” She hugged the stuffed animal to her chest.
“You’re welcome.”
“But you didn’t have to do this.”
“I know, but I wanted to. So, what are you going to name him?”
She studied the bear’s face a moment. “I’m gonna call him Snowy.”
“How about some cotton candy?” He’d distract them both with some gooey sweetness. They walked along the midway together, arm in arm. Mary had a bounce in her step and kept grinning at him.
I’m a lost cause.
“I’d love some.” He bought her a pink one, and she ripped strips off it, melting them on her tongue, before swallowing.
Maybe he had an oral fixation, but there was something erotic about it. Chase bet she tasted even sweeter than the spun sugar, and he wanted to kiss her so bad he ached.
All I want is one little bitty taste.
He wondered what she’d do if he stole a kiss. Would Mary slap his face? Scream for help? Or would she kiss him back? Fall into his arms and let him have his way with her?
The thought was tempting, but sanity won out.
I can’t do this.
Instead, he led Mary outside. They walked down the street together until they reached the fountains beside the Bellagio and watched the show, while he tried to get his equilibrium back. The fountains were famous in the area for the coordinated water and music. Tonight, “Uptown Funk” played, and the water danced to the beat.
Mary tapped her toe and sang along. Then she noticed his scrutiny and gave him another of her spectacular smiles.
Somehow, he had a crush on his hostage. Since that night in his bedroom, when they’d spilled their secrets, he’d been a goner. No, it had started the moment he’d clapped eyes on her.
Chase hated to admit it, but he wanted more. He longed for that closeness, wanted Mary to let him in again. Somehow, Mary had gotten under his skin, liked she’d weaved some sort of spell.
And, before he could stop himself, Chase leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. It was a light, quick kiss, a meeting of mouths, but it rocked Chase to his core.
He’d gotten a taste of her, and now he wanted more, much more. Mary stepped back and touched two fingers to her lips, as though she’d been burned.
Maybe they both had.
Things had just gotten even more complicated.
Chapter Eight
Three days ago, Chase had left for New Orleans and a week had gone by since their kiss.
Mary still didn’t understand what happened. Ever since they’d locked lips, he’d been avoiding her. Apparently, their make-up had been short-lived, although they weren’t together so they couldn’t have had a break-up in the first place.
The point was, things had gone back to being awkwardly polite. Not that Mary cared. Nope, she didn’t care at all.
In the note he’d placed on the counter, Chase said he’d have one of the junior mafia dudes, Alan Woods, watch over her. Mary wasn’t thrilled at the prospect, but she didn’t have much choice.
Sure enough, the downy-faced mobster wannabee had shown up every evening to keep an eye on her. Thankfully, he was more interested in the television or his cell phone, than her.
For the most part, Mary ignored Alan and tried to keep herself occupied.
There was a knock on the door around noon on the day before Chase was due to arrive. Mary went to see who it was, although she couldn’t open the door because she still didn’t have the code.
“Mary, it’s me, Harry.”
“What do you want?” Mary spied him through the peephole and sucked in a breath.
“I’m here to watch you, of course.” The door handle rattled as he opened it. She stepped back and once inside, he punched the code into the panel, and the beeping ceased.
“Chase left me with you? I thought Alan was coming over again.”
“Change of plans. Got a problem with it?”
As a matter of fact, I do.
Mary didn’t say anything though, but she seriously doubted Chase had left her alone with Harry. She hadn’t missed the way Chase had eyed him earlier. He didn’t like the man any more than she did.
“So what are we gonna do to pass the time?” he asked. “You could watch the game with me. Want a beer?” Harry helped himself to one from the fridge.
“I’m not really into sports.”
Harry leaned closer. “Then you can keep me company.”
Yeah, no thanks. I’d rather help Ten clean his guns. Mary intended to hole up in the guest room and ignore him.
“Well, I was gonna do some cleaning, so I’ll stay out of your hair.” Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and headed upstairs.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Harry seized her wrist before she could get away from him.
“Like what?” She stared at his hand until he removed it.
“You didn’t ask me for permission.” His gaze slid over her.
He had to be kidding. Mary fell somewhere in between a guest and a hostage, but Chase never tracked her movements in the house. And they might’ve kissed, but he didn’t leer at her either. Even after a few moments with Harry, Mary felt like she needed a hot shower to scrub herself clean.
She gritted her teeth. “Can I go upstairs?”
“Sure.”
Mary headed up the staircase, and he stayed at the bottom, watching her, probably ogling her butt.
Please come home soon, Chase.
She didn’t even have a way to contact him because she didn’t have access to a phone.
Mary wasn’t sure she could even make it through the next few hours. Regardless, she occupied herself the only way she knew how. She’d dusted, vacuumed the carpet, changed the sheets, and even scrubbed out the bathtub, in preparation for the long, cleansing shower.
The guest bedroom was tiny so cleaning didn’t take much time. There was only a twin bed, a dresser, a nightstand, and a small attached bathroom. Like the rest of the house, it had the neutral carpet and walls.
An hour later, there was a knock on her bedroom door.
Mary tensed. “Yes?”
“Let me in.” Harry tried the door handle, but she’d locked it. Evidently, his game was over. Dammit, she’d been hoping he’d be distracted for the rest of the evening.
Mary hesitated. “Um, what do you want?”
“Open the door, or I’ll break it down.”
With a sigh, she opened it a crack and stood in the doorway, blocking him from entering.
“So who won?”
“The other team and now I’m in a shitty mood.”
Fantastic. “Sorry to hear it.”
“I was thinkin’, you could make it better.” Harry leered.
“Oh?” Mary definitely didn’t like the sound of that.
“Yup, you could make it all better.”
“Actually, I still have some cleaning to do.” She swallowed and backed away from him.
“Don’t be ridiculous, it can wait.” Harry kept advancing on her. “Did I ever mention how I know your grandfather?”
Wherever this story was heading, it wouldn’t work out so hot for her. Who knows what Tucker had done?
“No.”
“Yeah, our paths crossed a couple times over the years. He knew my fiancé, too. Did I ever tell you about her?”
“No, you didn’t.” Mary tried to think of a way out of this but didn’t come up with anything.
“This happened eleven years ago. She was so fucking beautiful, a blonde with big brown eyes and even bigger tits.”
Yeah, he sounds really sentimental about her.
“Your granddad’s got a thing for blondes, too. Did he ever tell you?”
“No.” Who knows what other secrets he kept from her?
“Yeah, Cobb loves high-priced escorts. Every once in a while, he flies out here and orders two or three of them at a time.”
Um, eww. There’s one image I’ll never get out of my head, my granddad cavorting with hookers.
“Anyway, I digress, we were fixin’ to get married in June of that year.”
Her mouth went dry. “What happened?”
“Your grandfather killed her.”
She gaped at him.
Tucker Cobb killed a woman? Sure, she understood her grandfather was a mobster and a bad man, but she couldn’t picture him harming somebody who was completely innocent.
“Why would he hurt her?”
His hands fisted at his sides. “We did things different back in the day. At the time, women and children weren’t off limits.”
Who are these people? They lived in a world she wanted no part of.
“So he hurt her, to get to you?”
They were less than a foot apart now. Mary had run out of space, and her back was against the wall. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, not from Harry, and certainly not from this knowledge.
“Yes, ma’am.” His eyes narrowed. “Do you know Buford Beauregard?”
“Of him, yes, he’s one of Byron’s family members.” All of the Beauregards had “B” names.
She’d never met the man, but from what she’d heard, he was a creep. Eventually, he’d been gunned down in a bar brawl after trying to rob the place.
No wonder Byron was so screwed up. His brother, Braxton, had just as many issues. Apparently, they were both hitmen, and the vocation must run in the family, or something.
“Well, he and your granddad took a particular interest in my girl, Alice. That was her name, Alice Spencer.”
Mary trembled, unable to speak or move.
“They took turns with her.” He flattened one palm on the wall by her head. “Holding her down, raping her. Alice must have screamed and cried, begging for help.”
“I’m so sorry.” Her voice quaked and quivered.
“What did you say?” Harry leaned closer. “I didn’t hear you.”
“I said, I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Please, let me go.”
Mary could feel his gun pressing against her hip. Was Harry planning on raping and then killing her too?
She thought back to the Walmart bathroom and the phone she’d held in her hand.
I should’ve spoken up then. If I had, I wouldn’t be in this predicament. Wait, no, I should’ve escaped that night in the hotel room. I could’ve shot Chase in the shoulder and ran to safety.
The point is, Mary had two opportunities to flee, and she hadn’t taken either of them.
“No, not until I’m finished with you.”
Finished doing what? Mary was afraid to ask the question, so she froze, trembling like some kind of frightened mouse. She couldn’t even move.
“Know what I learned from the situation?”
You’re a psychopath in need of counseling?
She licked her dry lips. “No, what?”
He ran a hand down her body, a long, lingering touch.
“That I need to be ruthless, as well. I let nothin’ stand in my way. Not morals or sentiment, or even common human decency. Not anymore.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do. Weakness will get you killed in this business.”
Mary squirmed. “Don’t do this.”
“Oh, I’m gonna do anythin’ I want with you.” Harry caressed her cheek, then stroked the length of her neck, before sliding down her chest to cup one breast and then he tweaked a nipple.
She stifled a pained groan.
“I’m not to blame for what happened to your fiancé.” Evidently, working for these people and losing Alice had warped his mind.
“No, but this will pay your granddad back for what he did to her.”
“I’m so sorry about Alice.” She’d deliberately used the woman’s name, trying to connect with him, spark any tender emotions he had left.
“We both know you’re not, but you will be.” Harry grabbed her and tossed Mary down on the bed.
Mary screamed. She tried to roll away from him, but he got on top of her, pulling at her clothes.
“Let me tell you exactly what happened to Alice.”
“No.” Tears streamed down her face. She tried to fend him off, but Mary wasn’t strong enough. He had at least seventy pounds on her, and he was so determined.
Harry pushed his hands up under her shirt, grasping her breasts. She tried to tug the fabric down, but couldn’t. Harry squeezed them, pinched the nipples. He dragged one to his mouth and nipped it hard.
Mary howled.
“They caught up with her after work one night, followed her home, and stalked her. The police found her naked, battered body in the ditch. She’d been raped, and they found semen in every single hole.”
“Oh God.” Mary still couldn’t believe what Tucker had done. She felt sick, like she might vomit, and Harry’s hands on her didn’t help either.
After he finished sucking and biting her nipples, Harry groped one thigh and tried to push his fingers between her legs, but she kept them clamped together.
“Harry, don’t. I had nothing to do with her murder.”
“Oh, I ain’t gonna hurt you, not like that. You’ll walk away from this.” And then he tried to kiss her.
So he was fine with committing rape, but murder was too far? What kind of twisted moral compass did he have? Mary turned her head away. Hot tears poured down her face, and she kept gagging.
“Get off me!” Mary shoved at his chest, but it was like a brick wall.
“No, not until I’m finished with you.”
Mary struggled beneath him, trying to push him off, but she didn’t make any headway. He was too big and too strong, and absolutely relentless.
Harry undid the button on her jeans and then tugged them down while she thrashed beneath him. She kept clenching her legs together, but he pried them apart, and then he pushed himself between them.
“No, don’t, please don’t.” Mary tried to twist away, but she couldn’t move. Harry had her pinned down.
“Be quiet, bitch.” He clamped a hand over her mouth, and she bit him, sinking her teeth into the tender flesh of his palm. Harry yowled and then backhanded her.
Blood spurted from her nose and trickled down her lips. Mary closed her eyes and sagged against the pillow because she saw stars. The room spun around her, like she’d gotten on the Tilt A’ Whirl.
Meanwhile, Harry continued to undress her. He tugged the panties down her legs and cupped her sex in one hand.
“Hmph, dry as a popcorn fart, but don’t you worry, darlin’, I’m gonna get you wet.” Harry licked his fingers and then rammed them deep into her pussy.
It hurt, and she winced in pain.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
Mary instantly recognized the voice. Chase stormed into the room, and she sagged in relief. He’d come home early!
Suddenly, Harry’s weight disappeared, and he slammed the other man against the wall. Chase punched him in the face once, twice, three times.
“Get off me. I’m teaching the little bitch a lesson.” Harry clipped Chase under the jaw.
Mary was too stunned to move, so she just lay there, shivering on the bed, rolling into a ball and trying to cover herself.
“What lesson?”
“To show some respect.”
“Why would she respect a motherfucking rapist?” Chase shoved him toward the door. “Now get out of my house, before I shoot you right between the eyes.”
“You’re defendin’ her? She’s gotta pay for what her people did. Her granddad killed my fiancé and your own sister! What kind of traitor are you?”
Mary moaned. No, it can’t be true.
Tucker killed Faith?
She couldn’t stop sobbing and moaning. Mary didn’t know what to do or how to handle all of this, so she laid there, shivering, shattering into pieces.
“You’re tryin’ to punish her for somethin’ she didn’t do and it ain’t right.”
“Your father will hear about this.”
“Go right ahead and while you’re at it, why don’t you tell him you’re forcin’ yourself on women.”
With a muttered curse, Harry headed down the stairs, and she flinched when the front door slammed behind him.
“Are you okay?” Chase asked, once Harry had gone. He knelt beside the bed and reached for her, but she shrank away from his touch.
“Yeah, he didn’t…” Mary couldn’t say the words. She’d come pretty damn close to being violated.
No, he violated me, so don’t try to downplay it or hide from the reality.
While he hadn’t put his penis inside her, Harry had stuck his fingers in her, penetrated her, and if she tried to run or hide from it, the pain would come boiling to the surface later anyway. Might as well deal with it now.
“Are you sure?” he asked gently. “Your panties are on the floor.”
Her eyes slammed shut. “He used his fingers, but he didn’t g-get any further.” Mary’s teeth were chattering as though she’d plunged into ice water.
Chase ran a hand through his hair. “Mary, I’m so sorry. I didn’t tell him to come over here.”
“I didn’t think you did.” She barely breathed the words.
“I don’t even know how he got the fuckin’ code. Maybe one of the soldiers let it slip?” His expression was fierce. “I’ll find out, one way or the other.”
“I need a shower.” She sat up in bed and tugged the t-shirt down. Mary felt even more disgusting than when she’d been running around in dingy old clothes.
“Sure, I’ll be right outside the bathroom. When you get done, I’ll work on your injuries.”
“Injuries?”
“You’re bleeding.” He gestured to his own mouth.
Mary placed a fingertip to her lips, and it came away bloody. She stared at it for the longest time, mesmerized by the blazing red on her pale skin.
“Mary?” Chase hovered over her.
“Right. I should get up.” Somehow, Mary stood and made her way to the bathroom. She got in the tub, and turned the dial all the way to the left, forcing the water to get as hot as possible. She wanted to scrub every trace of Harry off her skin.
Somehow, Mary doubted she’d ever be clean again.