CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sophie
I’m finally discharged the next afternoon and on my way back home with Kolan. Thanks to his sister and Nick who brought his truck by this morning when they came to check on me.
Other than being tired and my tummy a little tender, I’m feeling better. Yet, there’s still this cloud of fear and uncertainty hanging over me as I continue to wonder how all of this came to be. I’m still convinced the tests are wrong. There has to be some other explanation. There is nothing logical to support that someone else has been doing this to me, especially when I haven’t been around anyone. Well, except for Kolan, but my mind doesn’t support that idea for a second. My heart still aches that the doctor not only judged him but also insinuated it was him. Kolan brushed it off when I tried speaking to him about it, but I know it must have hurt.
I will never understand how people can think he is this awful person who thrives on hurting others. They don’t see the man who taught me how to defend myself. Who kisses my scars like they are marks of strength rather than weakness. How he took care of me when I was sick. I don’t know how I would have survived these past several weeks without him. Heck, I don’t know how I’ve managed my whole life without him. He’s come to mean so much to me and those feelings only grew after last night. Not only for saving my life but also for staying by my side. He slept in a chair and held my hand all night. It’s something I will never forget.
When Kolan pulls up to my house, he turns off the truck and looks at me. His eyes are soft as he reaches over to gently brush his fingers across my cheek. The small contact calming my turmoil.
“Let’s go inside and get you settled, then we’ll call Cooper to come by, okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, okay.”
Getting out of the truck, he strides over to my side and helps me down.
“Are you sure you don’t need to do anything at the gym?” I ask, not for the first time today. I feel horrible about all the responsibility he’s been putting off because of me.
“Soph, I told you it’s fine. The guys have everything under control and Sarge is taking care of the youth classes.”
I sigh as we begin heading up my walkway. “Okay. But if you need to go for anything it’s completely fine and—” My words stop abruptly when he throws an arm across my chest, halting me. Looking up at him, I see his eyes trained on the steps. “What’s wrong?” My attention moves to where his is, and I see a package sitting on my doorstep. Usually, that wouldn’t be so alarming, but what has fear crawling up my throat is seeing my name in black felt marker scribbled on top.
Not Lia Kay but Sophie Parish.
I blink several times, frozen to my spot.
“In the truck, now!” Kolan orders.
I’m unable to get my feet moving until he grabs my arm and drags me back to the vehicle. Opening the passenger door, he covers me until I’m safely inside then walks around to get behind the wheel. He pulls out his phone after hitting the locks, pressing a button before putting it to his ear. When he leans over to open the glove compartment, my eyes widen in shock at the gun he pulls out.
Oh god, this is not happening.
“Get to Sophie’s place. Now.”
My eyes snap to his as he hangs up. “Who was that?”
“Cooper. He’s on his way.” When he makes another call saying the same thing, I assume it’s Nick.
A chill racks my body, causing a shiver to work up my spine. Crossing my arms over my chest, I look out the window, waiting for that feeling to hit. The feeling of his malicious eyes. The feeling of being watched. But I can’t feel anything other than fear.
It can’t be him. I would know. I would feel it.
No matter how much I try to assure myself of this, I can’t shake the feeling in the pit of my stomach that my time is up. That Daniel has found me once again.
Please, God, don’t let it be him. I’m not ready yet.
“Sophie, are you listening to me?” My eyes snap to Kolan when his voice penetrates my torment. “I want you to stay here.”
My arm shoots out to grab his, fingers digging into his hard muscle. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to show Cooper what’s on the doorstep.”
My eyes move to the side mirror to see Cooper getting out of his squad truck. I hadn’t even realized he pulled up. I shake my head. “Please don’t leave me right now.”
Sympathy washes over his expression. “I’m not. I’ll stay where I can see you and you me. Okay?” My fingers ease the death grip on his arm when all I want to do is cling tighter. Leaning in, he hooks a hand around my neck to pull me in close, our foreheads touching. “Everything is going to be okay. No matter what. Do you understand?”
I nod jerkily but know if this is what I fear most then it will not be okay.
After giving me a swift kiss on the lips, he gets out and slams the door before locking me in. My eyes follow his every move as he meets with Cooper. Words are exchanged before Cooper pulls his gun and starts for the house. Kolan does what he said he would do and stands where I can see him. His arms are crossed, stance tense as he watches the door, making sure to glance in my direction every now and again.
With a steeled breath, I wait for some kind of communication on what’s happening. It isn’t until minutes later that Kolan finally comes over and lets me out of the truck. “Come on, baby. No one’s inside.”
I’m on guard as I make my way into the house, ready at any given moment if I need to run. Cooper gives me a short greeting that I quietly return, my throat tight and dry. When he leads us into my kitchen, I see the package sitting on top of the table, unwrapped. I come to a hard stop, my knees threatening to buckle beneath me. Not from the portable DVD player that sits open with the message ‘play me’ on it. But the white paper that lies next to it with the words, “For you, my love.”
My heart begins to hammer in my chest, blood roaring with a vengeance. “It’s him,” I choke out, my breathing as rapid as my furious heartbeat. I begin to backpedal out of the room but end up knocking into something hard. I spin around with a scream and realize it’s Kolan.
He reaches for me, his mouth moving, but I can’t hear anything he says from the thundering in my ears. My arms stretch out in front of me to keep everyone back, eyes shifting all around the room, waiting for Daniel to emerge from the shadows. Kolan doesn’t allow me to keep him at arm’s length. He breaks into my personal space, grabbing my upper arms to give me a shake. “Snap out of it, Sophie!”
I try pulling away but his grip is like steel bars, holding me in place. “We need to go. We need to run. He’s here right now, hiding.”
He shakes his head. “No, he isn’t.”
“Yes, he is,” I fire back, continuing to scan all around me. “If we don’t leave now he’ll kill us.”
“Look at me!” he bellows. I swing my gaze back to his. “He’s not here. Cooper searched this place. No one is in this house right now but us.”
“He’s right,” Cooper says, coming to stand next to him. “No one is here. I checked every inch of this place. I promise.”
My eyes shift back to Kolan, watching him blur in front of me.
“Don’t let it pull you in,” he says. “You’re stronger than this, Soph.”
His undeserving words have a sob shattering my chest. My fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt when he pulls me against him. He holds me close, his hand rubbing my back until I’m able to collect myself.
Eventually, he takes a step back to look at me. “You good now?”
“Yes. I’m sorry I panicked.”
“Don’t be. I know you’re scared but you need to fight it. I’m here. Cooper’s here. Nick,” he says, alerting me of Nick’s presence.
I look behind him to see Nick standing next to the table. He gives me a small wave before I bring my attention back to Kolan.
“We’re not going to let anything happen to you,” he finishes, his words a solemn vow to my frightened heart.
I nod and try to inhale a deep breath through my tight chest.
“Why don’t you take her out of here while we watch this,” Cooper suggests.
“No. I’m okay. Really.” They look at me with uncertainty. “Listen, I had a moment, but this is my life and my problem. I have a right to know what’s on it.”
“You’re right,” Cooper says. “You do. It was just a suggestion, if you’re up for it, let’s see what’s on it.”
With a deep breath, I take a seat at the kitchen table. Kolan stands behind me, his large hands resting on my shoulders, the comforting touch conveying the strength I need.
I reach for the DVD player but Cooper stops me. “Just let me touch it. I don’t want any other fingerprints on it.”
At my nod, he brings the screen in front of me and hits the play button.
The first few seconds is static and snow before it switches to video footage. Footage of a man dressed in black, a white mask adorning his face. Even though he is covered from head to toe, there is no doubt in my mind that it’s Daniel. He stands at my kitchen table with my pitcher of brewed tea in front of him, dumping something inside.
My eyes fall closed as my worst fear is confirmed. The next piece of footage is of me in my pajamas, pouring myself a cup before bed and drinking it. The scene after shows me entering my room on wobbly legs. My stomach rebels as I realize there’s a camera in there, too. I watch in horror as I fall onto the bed, my legs hanging halfway off the mattress.
Then it happens. Daniel walks in, standing over me. He was near me, in the same room as me and I had no idea.
I was completely vulnerable to him—at his mercy.
“Jesus,” Nick breathes in disbelief.
Kolan’s fingers dig into my shoulders, but I can’t feel the strength of them. I can’t feel much of anything except for the pieces of my soul crumbling away into a pit of despair.
After arranging my limp body, Daniel gives a taunting wave to the camera before dragging his finger along my cheek. I flinch as if feeling his unwanted touch this very moment.
Next, he leans over me, his face a mere inch from mine. He does nothing but stare at me. Then he pulls the scarf from my neck, brushing his finger along the mangled mess he created, trailing lower to between my breasts.
“Sophie, look away,” Kolan grinds out, but I refuse to follow the order. I can’t. My heart is lodged in my throat, shivers of terror racking my body as I wait for the unthinkable to happen. For a far even greater violation. Something I couldn’t possibly fathom.
Please, God, not that.
Daniel straightens, his hands moving to the zipper of his pants before he lowers it. My hands slam over my mouth, muffling my sound of disgust, as I fight to keep the bile down my throat when he begins to masturbate. He never touches me but the violation is still the same.
“Fucking turn it off now!” Kolan bellows. He moves for the screen but Cooper stops him, and that’s when the footage flashes to the next scene. It’s of Kolan and me in my bedroom the morning after I showed him my scars. My head is thrown back, lost in the pleasure he was giving me. I’ve barely registered what I’m looking at when it cuts out and shows Daniel’s masked face inches from the camera.
A scream of terror shreds from my throat. I flinch back in my chair as if he’s about to jump out at any given moment, his crazy, clear blue eyes bulging out through the holes of the mask.
“Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!” he screams over and over again, his words a deranged mantra.
“Motherfucker!” Kolan’s roar penetrates the insanity of the moment, his hand flying out to pick up the machine and throw it against the wall. I cover my ears as it smashes.
“Fuck, Slade, that’s evidence,” Cooper snaps.
He tears out of the kitchen and down the hall. When Nick and Cooper follow, I do, too. My legs are weak as I move down the long stretch, feeling completely detached from my body.
As I make it to my room, I watch in stunned disbelief while Kolan rips apart my wall in a fit of fury, his fists bloody from where he broke through the drywall. It doesn’t take long before the camera is found.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” he thunders to the machine. “Do you hear me, motherfucker? When I find you, you’re dead!”
His violence penetrates my hands, where I cover my ears. Ripping the camera out, he launches it behind him before swinging open my closet.
“Pack!” he orders, tossing my suitcase on the bed. “We’re getting the fuck out of here.”
I do as he says, my body stiff and heart numb. As I throw my clothes into the suitcase, I look over to see him get up in Nick’s face.
“Find him! Otherwise, he’s as good as dead.”
His words hold conviction. It’s no threat.
It’s a promise.