Cat
Past…
HEATH HAS LOST HIS DAMN mind. Gone. It’s nowhere to be found. The light flickers back on and bathes us in its eerie glow. As he pulls his mouth away from mine, crimson dripping down his bottom lip, he wears a manic smile that tells me what little bit of sanity he might’ve had left has vanished. His finger comes up to his lip and he swipes at the blood before he sticks the tip of his finger into his mouth and sucks on it.
I search his eyes for something, anything that will prove he’s still human. But all I see is a crazed man who is so lost in his vengeance he can’t see straight. He can’t think clearly. There will be no negotiating with him. He’s not in a state of mind to see reason. He’s already kidnapped me. Broken the law. He’s not just going to let me go. And it’s clear Helen isn’t going to save me.
Harrison will find me. He will see I never made it home. He will know Heath took me. He will save me. But what if he can’t? What if Heath did something to him?
I can’t wait for Harrison to find me. To save me. What if it’s too late?
My eyes dart around to find something I can use against Heath. An object that will give me the upper hand. I just need to be able to get out of here so I can call for help. Then I remember my cell phone is still in my car. On the side of the road. I need a plan. If I escape but don’t get away, Heath will drag me back, and then who’s to say what he will do to me. As if fate is against me, the light flickers out once more.
The basement is dark again and Heath releases me to rummage through a box looking for something.
“Don’t move,” he commands. I can’t see him, but I’m assuming he’s replacing the bulb. This is my chance. Once the light is on, he’s coming for me. I fumble around as I stand and my hands roam over several rakes and shovels hanging on the wall. On the other wall I know is a door, but I can’t tell in the darkness if it will open. I can’t chance it. My only option is to take him down and run up the stairs and through the house.
He’s fumbling with the bulb. I hear it clanking against the ceiling. His attention is no longer on me and I know it’s now or never. I grab the shovel from the wall, knocking several other tools onto the floor with a loud clatter. As I’m running over to Heath, the entire area illuminates and he’s able to see what I’m doing. He jumps off the chair and comes at me. Bringing the shovel around behind me, I swing it like it’s a baseball bat and Heath is the baseball. His eyes widen momentarily as the shovel hits the side of his body. It’s not enough to immobilize him, but it’s enough that he stumbles back in shock and I’m able to drop the shovel and run up the steps.
I can hear his heavy footfalls and know he’s right behind me. I don’t turn around. I keep running. I swing the door open and scream for Helen.
“Helen! Help!”
And that’s when my body hits something…no, someone. I glance up slightly and see Theo standing there. His face is devoid of all emotion.
“Theo! Thank God! Please help me. Your dad kidnapped me!”
When he doesn’t say anything, I start to run around him. I can’t chance Heath catching me. But just as I’m about to pass him, his fingers grip my wrist, halting me in place.
No. This can’t be happening. Theo wouldn’t…
I yank my arm away, but it doesn’t budge.
“Good, you caught the little bitch,” Heath hisses and then snatches me from Theo. “Maybe you are my son after all.” He grins proudly at Theo and Theo visibly straightens, a small smile splaying upon his lips at his father’s rare compliment. And my heart sinks. There’s no getting away. It’s two versus one.
Remembering Helen is still somewhere around here, I start screaming again. “Help! Someone help! Hel—”
Heath’s hand covers my mouth with one hand, while his other hand wraps around my body, holding my arms down. He drags me back down into the basement. I kick and flail my body, but it’s no use. Heath flings me onto an old wood chair then releases my mouth.
“Help!” I scream again as Heath starts to tie my hands up with rope.
“I saw Helen on my way in,” Theo says. “I locked her in the pantry. She won’t be helping you.”
Heath smiles darkly and gives his son a nod of approval. “Good boy.”
Theo’s lips upturn into a sweet smile like a small boy who has just been praised for making his bed or cleaning his room. And suddenly I’m overtaken with fear.
“You’re both going to rot in hell!” I yell and Heath shoves a piece of cloth into my mouth to silence me. I try to push it out, but without the use of my hands, I only gag myself.
I watch as Heath ties my ankles to the legs of the chair and when he’s done, he stands back and grins cruelly. “My sweet Catrina. You are finally mine.” He walks around behind me and I try to turn to keep my eyes on him, but I can’t move. I’m tied up too tight. His fingers feather across my shoulder and he brushes my hair to the side. My gaze darts to Theo, who is still standing in place, his eyes furrowing in concern. He isn’t lost yet, but soon he will be.
I groan as loud as I can to get Theo’s attention. It’s muffled, but he hears it and his eyes meet mine. I beg him with my eyes. Plead for him to do the right thing. And I think he might. His features turn sorrowful, almost remorseful as he watches from the sidelines.
Heath, on the other hand, mistakes my groaning as a moan, and his lips brush up against my earlobe. “I just want one touch, my sweet Catrina. It’s your blood that runs through her veins.”
My eyes widen in shock. In fear. He’s not speaking to me. He’s speaking to my mother! Theo must’ve heard him as well because he now looks worried, confused. He opens his mouth to speak, and I think he might tell his father to stop.
“Go find the orphan,” Heath demands. “We must make him pay for trying to take my sweet Catrina away from me.”
“You mean from me?” Theo clarifies.
“She is no longer yours! You don’t deserve her,” Heath lashes out. “You didn’t fight!” He steps away from my chair and stalks toward Theo. “Prove you deserve her. Go handle the mangy mutt and then come back once you’re done.” He leaves no room for argument in his tone and Theo obeys.
When the basement door shuts, Heath turns and faces me. There’s a sadistic glint in his eye that sends chills down my spine. He cuts across the room and my eyes squeeze shut in fear of what’s to come. I feel the material leave my mouth and my body flying backward. My lids spring open and see his face only a breath away from mine. He’s leaning me back in the chair. My feet still tied down and dangling off the ground. His fingers dig into my chin.
“I loved you, my sweet Catrina.” His words come out in a choked sob. “I loved you and you betrayed my heart. You chose him over me. You chose to marry him. To have his baby.” He blinks once and a single tear falls. My heart constricts at the reality of what my mother did to this man. She destroyed not only his heart but his mind. I read the events through her eyes, her words, her heart. But it isn’t until now, looking into the worn out eyes of Heath that I’m able to see how muddled her view was.
“I have loved you my whole life,” he continues, his voice strained with raw emotion. I don’t even think he sees me anymore. “You’ve broken me, Catrina. But still I love you. I see you everywhere I go. In my room. In my bed. In the stables. I can’t get your image out of my head. Everything around me is nothing more than a reminder that I’m forced to exist in this world without you. It is only you I see, my love.”
His lips brush against mine and I stay frozen in place. I should bite him or head butt him, do something to hurt him, but I do nothing. Because he is already hurting. And my heart is aching for him.
“Heath,” I whisper against his lips. “I’m sorry for what she did to you. You didn’t deserve what she did. You deserved to be loved.”
Heath backs up slightly and his eyes roam over my face. “She loved me,” he croaks out. “She loved me the only way she knew how. Like crazy.”
His eyes are filled with unshed tears. His face showing of defeat, of a man who has lost everything.