CHAPTER 22 - DREAM

I had only opened the door thinking that Chance had come back in the house, but then I’d realized right away what a huge mistake I’d made.

Nick stood at the back door, his gun pointing right at me, and his sinister smirk gave me chills. The footsteps I’d heard had been his. “I knew I’d find my little slut hiding in here.”

He closed the distance between us so fast, I didn’t have time to get away, and since I’d closed the basement door, I had nowhere to go anyway.

I was frozen with fear and shaking so bad that I could barely walk. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close, jabbing the gun into my side. “So where’s your boyfriend, sweetheart? Did you two think I’d given up on you? You know I can’t do that.”

At that moment, the front door opened, and I heard the sound of footsteps as Nick warned me not to make a peep.

The barrel of Chance’s gun preceded him, and then once he stepped around the corner, his eyes widened with fear that lasted only a brief moment before pure rage took over.

“Drop it,” said Nick.

“Let her go.” Chance kept his gun on Nick, but I knew he wouldn’t dare shoot him with me in danger.

“I’d rather shoot her in her pretty face than let you have her. So maybe you should be the one to drop your weapon. Go ahead. Then we can talk about what you’re doing with my wife.”

I felt a wave of nausea as he tightened his grip on my arm. The pain shot down and through my elbow, causing my fingers to feel tingly.

“Don’t be a hero, soldier,” Nick whispered. Chance lowered his gun. “Good boy, now lay it down and slide it over.”

Chance kept his eyes on Nick and squatted down to place the gun at his feet, then he slid it over, and Nick put his foot on it and kicked it behind us.

“Let her go, and you and I can talk this out man to man.”

“I think we should all go sit down, don’t you?” Nick gestured into the living room and then forced us both to sit beside one another.

I wanted to ask Chance if he was okay, to hold his hand, touch him, anything. But I couldn’t make a move for fear it would only make things worse.

Austin was supposed to be on his way, so I had no idea what would happen when he showed.,.

“So tell me, Chance. Did you enjoy sticking your dick in my wife?”

Chance’s expressions didn’t give anything away, but I glanced back and forth between the two men as they stared each other down.

“I said, did you enjoy fucking my wife?”

“What do you really want? I can’t see you giving a shit about her, so what will it take to make you go away?”

“You think I need something from you, boy?” Nick threw his head back and laughed. “You really have an ego. See, I thought I asked you a question. Maybe I should ask her instead.”

He walked over and stood just in front of me, his feet touching my own as he leaned down in my face. “Did you like his dick in you?” He stood up. “Come on, you can tell me. I mean, it’s expected. Your wife runs off, she’s bound to have a place to go, another man in her life.”

“I didn’t come here for him. I came here to get away from you. I just met him.”

“So you fuck everyone you just meet?”

I turned my head not wanting to look at him.

“Leave her alone.”

“Aw, honey. He likes you.” Nick laughed. “Let me tell you something about her. She likes it wild in bed, but I guess you know that. Yep, she’s all about pleasing in the bedroom, but she’s a lousy fucking wife. Selfish and greedy. Believe me, I know. I could never give her enough dick or money.” He laughed. “Did she tell you that she had a little pill problem too?”

I jerked my head up and gave him a wild stare. “You had me hooked on those pills! You kept me in pain.”

He shook his head and laughed. “See how she blames me for her addiction. The truth is, she couldn’t cope with killing our baby.”

“You killed our baby, you sick son of a bitch! You did that, not me!” I screamed at him, feeling myself losing control. “You never even loved me. I was nothing to you but your punching bag.”

He rolled his eyes. “Of course, I loved you, Jessica. But you just kept running away. Then you started telling lies, forcing me to lose my temper with you.”

“You beat me, but you didn’t break me and you never will. I’m not going home with you, Nick. Never again.”

“You think you can make a fool of me? You think you’re the one who decides when this is over? I don’t think so. You’re coming home, and you’re going to behave.” He turned to Chance. “So tell me, did she beg you to fuck her hard? She likes a good pounding.”

I got to my feet. “Leave him alone!” But Nick pushed me back.

“You do that again, sweetheart and I’ll put a bullet in your boyfriend’s good leg before I put one in your head.” He turned his gun on me. “Maybe I’ll make him watch while I show him how a real man fucks a slut like you.”

He reached for his zipper, and in a blink, Chance was up, and the gun was flying across the room. He had Nick down on the floor in a hold that had Nick’s face turning blue. “Go to the kitchen and get the zip ties out of the drawer. Hurry!”

I turned and ran to the kitchen where I checked the only drawer they could be, where I knew he kept utility items and a few tools. Then I rushed back and saw that Nick was unconscious.

“He won’t stay out long, so you better get over here and put one on him.”

“What are you going to do with him?” I slipped the tie around his one wrist and then pulled it tight. Then I slipped it around and through the other, pulling it tighter. Nick was already starting to come around.

“Austin should be here any minute. As a matter of fact, he’s late, which is unusual.” He passed me his phone and then pulled Nick up to drag him over to the couch. “Call him.”

As he looked down at Nick, he had a look on his face that sent chills down my spine. I dialed Austin’s number and waited until he answered the phone.

“Hey, man, I’m sorry. I had to stop for gas and then I got pulled over. I had to sweet talk my way out of the ticket, but I’m back on the road.”

“It’s Dream. Nick’s here. Chance has him detained, but I think you need to hurry.”

“Don’t leave him alone with the guy, okay, Dream. I’m about ten minutes out.” The phone went dead, and I looked up at Chance who was still pacing in front of Nick who was trying to rouse.

Austin’s warning had sent chills down my spine, and I wondered if Chance would actually kill Nick if I left them alone. Part of me thought I might step out of the room, and let him do whatever was running through his mind. Staying, I was only Nick’s protector, and the irony wasn’t lost on me, but it wasn’t just him I was protecting. I couldn’t let Chance do something stupid and knew he’d be the one to have to live with the consequences or the guilt. He’d been through enough.

“He’s only ten minutes away. He stopped for gas and then got pulled over for speeding.” He’d no doubt been trying to make up for lost time.

He stopped pacing in front of Nick and looked up at me, the gleam still in his eyes. “You should go put on some warm clothes. We’ll go get Star and Cynthia and bring them home together.”

“Star.” The sound of Nick’s voice speaking her name sent chills through me. “I won’t forget that name. Perhaps I’ll pay her a visit one day.” He laughed wickedly and then cut his eyes around to me. “You know I’ll never stop. Not until they carry you in a pine box.” I heard the click of the gun and looked over to find Chance ready to fire.

“Go get dressed, baby. Maybe take a nice hot shower first.”

“You’ll never get her stench off me, Chance Owens. You think I don’t know who you are? You think I didn’t look into the man fucking my wife?” He continued his raspy talk, and Chance looked up at me with a dead stare.

“Go.” His jaw was so tight he could barely speak the words.

“No, I can’t. He’s not worth it, Chance. Not worth the trouble or the guilt.” He looked up at me, his blue eyes still as dead as before. “You think I don’t know why you’re sending me away?”

“You heard him. He’ll never leave you alone. He’s practically begging for it.”

Just then the phone rang. “I’m just up the road, I don’t want to get shot coming in,” said Austin.

“Please hurry. I’m not sure I can hold him off much longer.” I turned off the phone and walked to the door. “Austin’s nearly here.”

“Go out to wait for him.”

“I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

“He beat you. He killed your child.”

“Yes, and he’ll pay for it. But I don’t want you to have to live with it.”

“I live with worse. I’ve killed before.”

“Do it, you piece of shit. Plug me.” Nick laughed as Austin’s car pulled into the drive. “You don’t have the guts.” Nick taunted him like he wanted to be killed, but I couldn’t let it happen. Not in Star and Chance’s home, not by Chance’s own hand.

“Looks like I got here just in time.” Austin stared at Chance and then reached out. “Give me the gun, brother.”

“He threatened to keep coming back, and he threatened Star.” Chance turned his eyes on Austin. “It’s now or later, man. I should just save myself another hunt.”

“I feel you, brother. And I have a call in to the FBI. I told them things might get ugly and I have been authorized to use deadly force if necessary when bringing him in. Let me bring him in.”

“You think you’ve got connections in the Bureau,” Nick laughed and taunted the men. “I’ll be out in days.”

The men exchanged a look and Austin held out his hand. “Let me.” Whatever was going on between them, Chance finally gave in and let Austin have the gun. Once he stepped back, I rushed into his arms, and he held me tight.

“Get him out of my sight.”

“I’ll be back, just you wait.” Nick laughed as Austin picked him up and dragged him out of the house.

Chance drew me close and pressed my face to his chest tucking me beneath his arms. He tensed as a shot rang out from the front yard, and I knew what it had meant. It was the sound of freedom, and I knew that it would stay with me for the rest of my life.