Chapter Four
“You need to eat somethin’ to keep your strength up.”
“I’m not hungry.” Mary picked at her food, pushing a piece of sausage around her plate. So far, she’d only eaten a couple bites of pancake.
Meanwhile, Chase was powering through an omelet with a side order of guilt. He felt like an asshole for taking Mary away from Harvard.
His conscience punched him right in the gut.
He was supposed to protect people like Mary, not deliver them to mobsters. For a long time now, he’d been struggling with his position. Chase knew he never should’ve joined the outfit. Ethics, in this line of work, were a real liability. He didn’t belong here any more than Mary did. If he could go back in time, Chase would kick his younger self right in the balls for getting him into this mess.
They sat in a corner booth at an old greasy spoon, down the street from their hotel. The place had a seventies vibe with its burnt orange and avocado interior. There were even tabletop jukeboxes. Chase couldn’t stand the silence so he’d dropped a couple quarters in and “Stayin’ Alive” blared from the speakers.
It wasn’t even light out yet, so the place was nearly empty, except for a couple of middle-aged men seated at the counter. They both wore uniforms, and Chase noticed their rigs parked outside on the way in. Chase usually ate at truck stops because truckers didn’t put up with shitty food.
“What kind of doctor do you want to be again?” Maybe she’d eat something and calm down if he distracted her.
“A cardiothoracic surgeon, although I need to start medical school first, which is hard to do when people keep trying to kidnap me.”
Chase ignored the bitterness because he couldn’t blame her. She had every right to be pissy with him.
Frankly, she wasn’t what he expected, and maybe that’s why his sense of right and wrong bothered him.
The only time she’d had any freedom had probably been at college and even then she’d undoubtedly studied more than partied. There was a lot she didn’t know about the world. From what he’d gleaned, her grandfather controlled access to her. Cobb had kept her in a bubble, she’d lived a sheltered existence and she wasn’t ready for harsh realities. Chase wished he hadn’t been the one who’d given her an introduction.
And her beauty was a distraction.
Chase had seen photos, of course, but they scarcely did her justice. He wished she weren’t so goddamned attractive. Chase tried to focus on a pretty blonde waitress on the other side of the room but he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Mary. She was his prisoner, not his date, and he should act like it, instead of mooning over her.
Dammit.
And then he remembered she’d spoken. Sure enough, her brows were furrowed, and she probably thought he was an idiot, and Mary had a point.
“You’ll get there.”
“I know.” She viciously poked a sausage. He had no doubt she was imagining skewering him instead.
“You can look me in the eye, you know.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
Chased chuckled. “Have it your way.”
“None of this is going my way.”
He changed the subject. “What made you decide to pursue medicine?”
She shrugged. “I’ve always loved math and science. In prep school, they were my two favorite subjects.”
“Really? I couldn’t stand either of them. I preferred history.” Chase had been fascinated by the World Wars in particular and used to imagine himself standing up to fascism and maybe punching Hitler in the mouth.
Or maybe Chase just wanted to make up for his family’s misdeeds. As if I could ever wipe the slate clean.
She scrunched up her button nose. “I never liked history. I’ve always found all those dates boring.”
“Say it ain’t so. The History Channel’s my favorite.”
“Sorry. My jam is police procedurals and medical shows. “
“Like what? Grey’s Anatomy?” Chase had seen the program a couple of times, and it was mostly about doctors getting it on, in between healing people.
“No, the reality shows, where they show actual surgeries.”
She watched operations in her spare time? Interesting.
“The reality of wounded people is different. When it’s on the screen, you can remove yourself from the gore, but it ain’t like that in real life.”
Her eyes widened. “So you’ve shot a lot of people?”
“Yes, but not how you think. In the Marines, I saw my share of injuries.” For some reason, he wanted her to think of him as a decent guy, even though he’d abducted her.
“How’d you go from soldier to this?”
Excellent question. Chase didn’t have a reasonable answer for her, so he moved on.
“Long story.” It was a total cop-out.
“Well, I don’t have anythin’ better to do than listen.”
“Maybe another time.”
“Whatever.” She set her fork down. “I have to use the restroom.”
“Fine, I’ll come with you.”
“You can’t be serious.” She scowled.
“I assure you, I am. After all, I can’t have you sneakin’ out the window, now can I?”
Chase felt like a jerk, standing there, threatening her. He felt like telling the old man to go to hell, but he couldn’t. Not until he’d punished Faith’s murderer.
Mary went white as a sheet. Clearly, she’d been thinking it over.
“You don’t have to do this, Chase.”
“Believe me, princess, I wish I didn’t.”
“Why do you keep calling me princess?”
“You seem like one.” Truthfully, he hadn’t thought about it. The term had just slipped out of his mouth.
“That’s rude. You don’t know anything about me.”
“I can make some educated guesses.” They both stood, facing one another. “Do you have to use the restroom, or was this merely a ploy to escape?”
Her face flamed red. “Yeah, I do.”
“Then let’s go.”
Chase escorted her down the hallway until they reached the women’s bathroom. He knocked on the door, and no one answered.
“Anyone in there?”
No response.
So he pushed open the door. Thankfully, it only had one stall. Sure enough, there was a window on the far wall. He brushed the curtains aside, to see the parking lot.
“Well, come on, do your business.”
“What? You’re gonna stand there and watch me?”
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m some kind of pervert who’s gonna get off on this.”
Dammit, why does her opinion matter so much? Chase had a feeling he really didn’t want to know the answer.
“Can’t help it, you’re the one who wants to watch me pee.”
“I don’t! For the record, I’m not into urine.”
“Like you’d admit it if you were.
Chase clenched his jaw. “Go, if you’re going. I don’t have all day.” He turned his back on her and counted down from ten, as he struggled to keep his temper in check.
“Fine.” And yet, she hesitated, not making any move toward the porcelain throne.
“Let’s go, princess.” The double entendre had been unintentional, but he had to suppress a laugh, anyway.
He heard Mary unzip her jeans and sit down. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered and buzzed, and they sounded abnormally loud due to the silence.
“You’re going to have to talk, or something.”
“What?”
“I need noise.”
“Why?”
“I have shy kidneys. Meaning, I can’t use the restroom with some Neanderthal standing there, listening in.”
“I’m not a Neanderthal, and I’m not payin’ attention, or I wouldn’t be if you weren’t talking to me.”
Did she think he was stupid? Although, if she got into Harvard, she probably was smarter than him.
“Fine, what do you wanna talk about?”
“Did you try to abduct me at the library in Texas? Or the beauty shop? Or the grocery store?”
“Not me personally, or I would’ve gotten the job done, but yes, people who work for my father tried to grab you, or worked for him, as the case may be.”
Chase was disappointed for a moment. He thought she might ask a personal question. No, you wanted her to be curious about you, too.
“You used the past tense.”
“Yes, I did. One of them’s no longer with us.”
“What do you mean? He quit?”
Chase hesitated. He didn’t want to lie to her, nor could he tell her the whole truth.
“Figure it out with that big brain of yours.”
“You mean he’s dead, don’t you?” Her naiveté was almost charming if it weren’t so dangerous.
“I don’t know for sure, but I haven’t seen him since he was sent to retrieve you.”
“You’re not implyin’ my granddad killed him, are you?”
Chase bit the inside of his cheek.
“Nope.” Him personally? Probably not. So, it wasn’t quite a lie.
“Then who?”
“I have no idea.” Chase refused to elaborate.
“And the grocery store guy?”
“He came home empty-handed.” And Noah hadn’t been forgiving about the soldier’s failure.
“But he came home?”
“Yes, he’s still alive, just like the man outside the library.” Barely.
“And what do you want with my grandfather?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why not? I’m obviously involved in this already.”
“Hurry up, we’ve gotta get on the road.” Chase refused to have this conversation.
“Fine. Where we going?” Mary stood and zipped up her pants before heading over to the sink to wash up.
“Sin City.”
***
They’d spent the remainder of the day traveling.
Chase drove like a speed demon and insisted on singing off key Keith Urban songs the entire way. Earlier they’d grabbed a quick meal at another diner and now they were all alone. Mary was grateful to finally stop, although she was troubled by the sleeping arrangements.
“I double checked with the front office, and they didn’t have any cots left or cancellations, so we’re stuck with the one bed.”
They were at another low rent hotel. It was a far cry from the four-star motels she’d stayed in with her grandfather. Mary figured he was picking places where he could pay with cash instead of a credit card so he wouldn’t leave an electronic trail, which was a shame because Vick, another of her grandfather’s employees, could’ve tracked them down.
While Chase had flipped through channels on the aging television and called the desk, she’d taken a quick shower.
“Well, that sucks.” Mary stared at the bed doubtfully.
The room came with a king-sized bed, which was large enough for the two of them, but she wasn’t looking forward to sleeping next to the man.
Actually, I’m fooling myself.
Somehow, the thought of lying next to him didn’t bother her as much as it should, which was warped so Mary chose not to dwell on it.
They’d developed an uneasy truce. Mary wasn’t afraid of him anymore, although she was still cautious around Chase.
“I’m not lying. Check with them if you want.” Chase sounded oddly defensive as he picked up the phone on the nightstand.
“No, I believe you. Besides, we both know you won’t let me use the phone.”
Chase sighed, but didn’t respond.
Although, she had another problem: Mary felt disgusting.
Out of desperation, she’d washed out her underwear in the sink and then hung them near the radiator.
“Okay, I’m starting to get ripe. I need new clothes.” She’d worn the same thing for two days in a row. “Even the garbage man would find me stinky.” She’d just showered and bundled up in a dingy white bathrobe, provided by the hotel. Mary couldn’t bear to put her jeans on one more time.
“Tell you what.” Chase stood. “I’ll go down to the gift shop and get you something to tide you over. And when we get back to my place, I’ll take you on a shopping trip.”
That made Mary nervous. She hadn’t intended on staying long enough to need a new wardrobe.
“No thank you, I only need a change of clothes. I assume you’re gonna contact my grandfather soon anyway.”
“Regardless, we’ll get you some clothes. It wouldn’t hurt to be on the safe side.”
Mary couldn’t stand it. “How long will I be with you?”
Her first day of classes was on Monday, and she’d miss it. And if she missed more than a couple of days, there’s no way she’d catch up to her classmates in time so she’d have to delay. Again.
Due to block scheduling, she wouldn’t be able to start until next fall. So, they might’ve taken an entire year from her. Becoming a doctor was a lengthy process anyway, and she didn’t need any extra time thrown on to the total.
Chase shrugged. “It ain’t up to me. My father will decide.”
“Fine.” She blew out a long breath, trying to control her temper. So far, since the first night, Chase hadn’t been threatening, and she definitely wanted to keep it cordial.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
“Then let me go.”
“You know I can’t.” Chase scrubbed a hand down the length of his face.
“Yeah, but it never hurts to ask.”
So, here she stood, wearing an old bathrobe on the road trip from hell, in a two-star hotel with her abductor.
I hate my life.
“But I swear, nothing’s gonna happ—”
“Yeah, so you’ve said.” Mary knew he didn’t want to hurt her.
And what if he does something to your granddad?
The prospect troubled her. She noted Chase hadn’t made the same sort of assurances about Tucker. Mary didn’t know what to think or believe anymore. Chase evidently had no love for Tucker, and from what she could figure out, Mary was the bait for a trap.
This is such a mess.
“I need to take a shower.”
Chase switched off the TV, and he grabbed socks and underwear from his duffel bag. They were neatly folded into little squares.
In college, she’d lived down the hall from a couple of ex-Navy guys and their room had been immaculate, all hospital corners and nothing out of place. Mary was a neat freak, but they put her to shame. Evidently, Chase was the same way.
“Okay.” Thanks for the information? Mary didn’t care one way or the other, and she was sinking into another foul mood.
“You don’t understand. I can’t have you wandering off.”
“What if I promised to stay put?”
“Because we trust each other so much?”
“You’re right. Thanks for the reminder. I don’t trust you.”
“Glad to hear it. I wouldn’t if I were in your position.”
“And I still think you’re a jerk.” Mary had grown bolder with familiarity, but she kept the tone teasing, in case he decided to take offense.
Chase chuckled. “Damn, you never stop surprising me.”
“What did you expect?” Mary asked.
“A spoiled rich girl.”
“I had advantages growing up, but it never went to my head.”
Tucker had insisted she get a part-time job in high school to pay for some of her expenses. Sure, he’d given her money now and then, but he expected her to contribute. And after seeing some of the snobs at Harvard, Mary was grateful he had. Some of the people she’d gone to school with were arrogant assholes who looked down on everyone. As though being born into privilege made them better or more worthy than anyone else.
Mary never wanted to be so disconnected from people.
“Regardless, I have to tie you up.”
“Oh, come on, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Sorry, but I’m not.” And then he pulled a pair of handcuffs from his back pocket.
What the crap…? “Why do you have handcuffs?”
“They come in handy, in my line of work.”
“I wasn’t aware kidnapping was a profession.”
“I liked you better when you were terrified of me.”
“Yeah? Well, too bad.”
Oh, my God. Am I flirting with him?
“Don’t worry, I won’t be gone long. I’m used to showering fast. In the military, I could get in and out within five minutes.”
The sentence hung there between them, and tension filled the room.
“Although, I don’t do everything fast. There are some things I’d take my time with.” His voice dipped an octave, the sound low and full of gravel.
Mary had a visceral reaction to it, a longing she couldn’t understand and didn’t want to examine.
She swallowed. “Like what?”
Another, er, pregnant pause.
“Shaving.” And then he held out his hand. “Give me your wrist.”
Instinctively, she shook her head.
“Please?”
With an exasperated sigh, Mary offered him her arm. He manacled one wrist and attached her to the headboard. Chase took his time, checking the cuffs to make sure they were tight, or was it merely an excuse to touch her?
So there she was, tied to his bed.
It felt slightly kinky, even though this was supposedly a security measure.
Evidently, Chase thought so, too, because he stood there for the longest time, staring down at her with the oddest expression on his face. His nostrils flared, and his cheeks flushed a deep red.
Everything fell away.
And for a moment, Mary felt like she was drowning in his eyes.
Mary forgot he’d taken her against her will. She wasn’t worried about her grandfather or missing school. Hell, she even had trouble remembering her own name.
There was only her and Chase.
And was it her imagination, or did he look taller? More muscular? Even more handsome? If that was possible.
She licked her suddenly dry lips, and his gaze tracked the movement. Mary should be wary of him, but her body had other ideas.
Chase cleared his throat. “Tell you what, before I shower, I’ll get you some clothing. Yeah, you need somethin’ else to put on—a sweatshirt and maybe a coat. I’ll be right back.” He headed for the door, and then paused to turn around. “What’s your favorite kind of soda?”
Did he really think some soda pop and a new t-shirt would make her feel better?
“I like Diet Pepsi.”
“Coming right up.” And then he practically ran out the door.
What is going on here?