Chapter Thirteen

Laney parked Riser’s truck a block away from the hospital and cradled his Beretta in her trembling hands. If Mark really was here, he wouldn’t let her step foot inside the hospital. Too many witnesses. He preferred to do his dirty work in private. That way he could keep up his good-boy reputation and no one other than his best friend would know he secretly beat his wife.

Horrifying Stephen King-type reels kept playing in her mind. The main actor was always her husband, bearing down on her with a knife, intent on taking her skin for a T-shirt. Only that kind of torture would end her life too soon, and Mark would want to draw it out. He preferred a bit of psychological trauma with his physical beatings, and after the way she’d left him, he’d be sure to dole it out in a way she’d never forget—dead or alive. She’d always been too terrified to watch scary movies, but she was about to get a starring role in her own horror flick.

She shook her head. No, she wouldn’t let herself think the worst. Before she’d been defenseless and unprepared, and she’d made the mistake of thinking she could lean on Mark’s friend for support. She wasn’t going in blind this time. She locked and loaded the pistol and got out of the car, tucking the weapon into the back of her shorts.

Laney bumped the door shut with her hip and marched off in the direction of the hospital, holding her resolve around her like a shield, her anger growing with every step.

She’d broken free of her ex, but some of his poison had stayed with her, like tendrils from a clinging vine. No longer. If he had set her up tonight, if he was lying in wait to beat her, maybe to kill her, he would regret it. Laney rounded the corner, forcing her steps to slow as she approached the manicured shrubs and flowers lining the perimeter of the small hospital’s parking lot.

The solitary working street lamp on the left side of the lot only brought more attention to the shadows, covering the few cars in the lot with darkness. Darkness that was great for her cover, but terrifying all the same.

Laney ducked near the bushes, touching the steel tucked into her waistband. The way the cars were spread out she’d be able to see Mark coming. Now she just had to pray that, if it came down to it, she would have the gumption to pull the trigger.

For practice, she pulled the Beretta from her back, testing the weight. The gun gave her a sense of power, made her feel like she might actually be able to defend herself. But it still felt foreign and heavy in her palm.

The warm, humid air pressed down on her, urging her to stay hidden behind the bushes. Part of her knew it would be safer—wiser—to wait for Riser to show up and help. Despite the fact that she’d stolen his car, she knew he would find a way to get to her. Just like she knew he’d still lay down his life for hers. It was a vow he’d made with complete honesty.

Laney gripped firmly around the handle of the Beretta, trying to absorb the rough grain into her palm and channel her inner G.I. Jane. Cold steel, capable of killing at the twitch of a finger. No, she was here now. She needed to see about Lily. If she waited for Riser, he’d probably drag her away and make her wait on the police.

Laney eased up, using all her strength to straighten her wobbly knees. Crickets buzzed and chirped, a whippoorwill called from somewhere off in the distance. The rural hospital should’ve been a beacon of hope and light in the dark night, but for her it was a beacon of doom. If Mark wasn’t lying in wait for her, if it hadn’t been a trick to catch her, then her daughter was a very ill little girl. Neither option was okay.

Laney forced herself to keep going until she rounded the hedges and entered the parking lot. With no cover and even less experience, she was a sitting duck waiting to be picked off—if that was Mark’s plan. But she at least knew his acts well enough to know he wouldn’t want to finish her quickly. He’d always relished delivering punishment, but simple and straightforward was never his style.

He’d make sure he drew out her torture for as long as she could take it; he’d take pleasure in breaking her.

Laney gripped the pistol in both her hands and held it out in front of her, scanning the parking lot for any hint of movement or shifting shadows. The only living thing she saw was a fat toad hopping across the parking lot a few feet ahead of her, plopping down every foot or so.

The next few feet to the first car seemed like a mile-long obstacle course, littered with snakes and demons, and when she finally made it to the back of the little Corolla, she collapsed against the trunk, heart thundering and gasping for breath. Her fight-or-flight instincts were in a straight-up, all-out battle. And while her brain was screaming for her not to continue her dangerous trek to the hospital, her heart won out by sheer force of will.

Closing the distance to the entryway at the rate of an inchworm headed for mud, Laney broke out in a sweat before she got within ten feet of the doors.

Maybe Mark hadn’t showed—maybe he really didn’t give a shit about her and her daughter. She’d been gone long enough, he would’ve had time to find himself a new punching bag.

A man like him didn’t like to make his own meals or clean his own house; he wouldn’t stay single for long, if he could help it. But then, he probably wouldn’t beat his girlfriend either. He’d wait until he had her locked down with a metal band around her finger, binding her to him for life. It was what he’d done with her.

And all of Mark’s buddies on the police force would make sure she stayed in line. Right up until she stepped into her own personal coffin.

She was almost to the door; she should probably put the weapon back in her pants. If one of the employees saw her wielding a pistol, they would for sure call the cops (if the police weren’t waiting for her here already). Light flooded out of the glass doors of the hospital entryway like a beacon. When she was inside, she would be safe—at least from Mark. Laney didn’t care if she had to give up a kidney and a lung. She didn’t care if she got in trouble with the police; she would do whatever it took to save Lily.

A hand shot out of the darkness to her left, knocking the pistol from her grip. Pain cracked through her wrist. Before Laney could make a sound, Mark’s massive hand was covering her mouth and nose, his other arm pinning her hands to her sides. The door was within view, but very far from being within reach.

His hot breath slithered over her neck. “So dumb and so predictable.” The low menace in his voice promised pain. “Let’s me and you take a little ride down memory lane.”

He started dragging her backwards across the dark parking lot, away from the single light. With his hand smothering her, she couldn’t get air, and his arm was locked too tightly around her chest for her lungs to work. Oh no, she couldn’t let this happen. She kicked back as hard as she could, her heel making solid contact with Mark’s shin.

He grunted and loosened his hold, just enough for her to breathe. Then he drew his arm back and landed a punishing blow to the side of her head with his open palm. Agony exploded on her right side, and her ear started ringing instantly, so loudly she couldn’t even hear the insects chirping around her. The world seemed to tilt at an angle, and she quickly blinked, fighting to stay upright.

“Don’t fight me. You and I both knew this was inevitable.” Mark slapped his hand back over her mouth and continued to drag her. Laney wiggled; she kicked; she screamed. None of it was a match against Mark’s bulky strength.

“You know, you’ve given me a good long time to think about what I’d do to you when I caught you. Part of me wanted to just kill you and dump your body, but I could never do that to my wife.” He forcibly tilted her head to the side and pressed a kiss to her neck.

She shivered, revulsion rolling through her like poison. How could she have ever welcomed this man’s touch?

He paused long enough to slide his hand down to her hip and squeeze painfully. “Where would the fun be in that?”

With terror fueling her adrenaline, Laney kicked her legs high in the air, attempting to knock him off balance just enough so she could get free. They’d already moved into the back, nearly black, corner of the parking lot.

Mark gave a violent heave and suddenly Laney was flying through the air. She slammed into solid metal and crumpled to the ground. Her cheek and shoulder throbbed, her hips screamed. She pulled on her reserves and planted her hands on the ground, the rough pavement digging into her soft palms as she tried to stand. Mark let her get to her feet before knocking her down again.

It was all a game to him. He was the lion and she was a lamb, only Mark was toying with his meal instead of devouring her whole. Well, she was done playing. She glared up at him, letting him see the hate blasting from her gaze. “You’re just as much of a pussy as I remembered.”

His nearly black eyes widened in surprise and an evil grin spread across his lips. He crouched down in front of her, and she finally got a good look at him up close. He’d lost a few pounds since the last time she’d seen him, and grown a moustache. His uniform hung around his waist, and his arms stretched the fabric of his fleece.

He’d never bothered working out or fighting off the pudginess that had started to swell at his waist after their marriage; apparently, he’d changed. The veins popped on the back of his hand as he cupped her face; the caress as much of a threat as any knife or gun. “You’ve given me lots of time to prepare, baby. Just wait until you see our old hunting cabin, it’s been completely redone. Just for you.” He tapped her on the nose as if she were a child.

Laney ground her teeth together so hard she was surprised her back molars didn’t crack. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Before she could blink, Mark grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked her head back, sharp pain bringing tears to her eyes.

“You don’t really have much of a say in the matter, bitch. After we’re done catching up, I’m taking you and Lily back home – and if you ever disobey me again I’ll start on her.”

She expected him to throw her to the ground again, but instead he pulled her up by her hair. Laney stumbled to her feet, clawing at his hands and trying to pull free. He kept her bent over at the waist, and she was forced to look at the ground as he moved her around like a puppet. She caught a glimpse of the bottom half of a dark-green SUV as he pulled the door open and threw her inside.

She used the force of his momentum to keep going, launching to the opposite door of the vehicle. She managed to wrap her hand around the door handle before he grabbed her ankle and yanked her back. He fell on top of her, his body covering her back, pinning her face first to the seat with his heavy weight. Laney struggled, and then she felt something else pressing against her hip. Something that made her freeze in shock and fear.

The struggle was turning him on.

Laney started to shake.

Mark shifted her until her legs dangled over the edge of the seat, pressing firmly against her ass, making his arousal known. He grabbed her hair again, her tender scalp screaming as he yanked her head back. “Oh, yeah, I’ve got all sorts of fun planned for us.”

Mark bit her shoulder and then slithered his tongue up her neck to her earlobe. Bile rushed up her throat and the terror stole her every thought. He planned to rape her and beat her. Maybe again and again.

For some stupid reason, she hadn’t even thought of that possibility. She could endure Mark’s fists, but the thought of him violating her body, especially after what she’d just shared with Riser…

“How about a little taste?” Mark shoved his hand up her shirt and painfully squeezed her breast, twisting her nipple until she cried out. “No! Stop!”

Laney tried to rear back, but he had her trapped in the car. All she could manage was a few wild jerks that brought her no closer to freedom. He twisted her in his arms, and before she could have a hope of stopping him, he shoved up her shirt once more and his disgusting, wet mouth latched around her nipple. He drew hard, agony ripping her breast. His hands roamed her body in a frenzy, touching her everywhere, hurting her everywhere. A free hand went for her shorts, and straight-up fear drove her beyond reason.

As he got the button unsnapped, she planted her nails in his cheeks and dragged down with all her might, savoring his yell and the sight of blood pouring down his cheeks.

Mark stumbled back and Laney darted past him, running for the doors to the hospital. Running for freedom. She drew in a breath to scream for help, but there wasn’t time. He’d already dived toward her, and he threw her bodily to the ground, knocking all the air from her lungs. Stars flashed across her vision, teasing her consciousness.

“You fucking whore. You’re going to pay for that.” With a meaty arm around her throat, Mark dragged her back to his SUV. She struggled again, unwilling to give up. Maybe someone would come out of the hospital doors at any moment. Anyone.

Maybe—was it too much to hope?—Riser would show up at the exact moment she needed him. Mark slapped her, and she tasted blood in her mouth. Her already wobbly vision teetered, as she fought to stay awake.

She was dimly aware of him tossing her in the back seat, slamming the door, and then the engine gunning to life. She tried to blink, to focus on the specks of gray in the cushion—anything to keep awake—but her mind felt hazy like in a fog.

The last thing she heard before she fell unconscious was Mark’s sinister voice, “Enjoy the ride, sweetheart.”