AFTER DRESSING AND eating a quick bowl of cereal, we retrieved the notes and headed toward my car. I locked all three locks behind us before we set off for the police station. Cale still wouldn’t let me read the second note or tell me anything about it. I glanced over at him in the passenger’s seat. He was staring out the window, deep in thought, tapping his foot wildly with a death grip on the messages. I frowned in fear of what that letter said. From the murderous look he’d had when he’d read it, I could only imagine its contents.
Pulling up to the station, he turned to look at me seriously. “Lia, I need to tell you something. Please don’t be mad at me for keeping it from you. I just didn’t want you to worry unnecessarily.”
My brows pinched together at his words, wondering what he could have possibly needed to keep from me.
“Yesterday, after I left your house, I called the delivery company. They have no records of a Sam ever working this area.” He grimaced, looking down. “Their records show a man named Jose Juarez as the person on this route. But, Lia, we know Sam is definitely not Jose,” he softly told me, grabbing my trembling hand.
Shit. This is not good.
I had made it three years after my abduction without any crazy incidents, and now, I had a freaking stalker. “No, no, no!” I shouted. My hands shook in equal parts fear and anger. It was frightening enough that he was just Sam the delivery guy leaving me harassing notes, but now, the revelation that this man had posed as someone he was not for so long had my heart racing like crazy.
Cale pulled my quivering frame to him and hugged me as if he meant to keep me safe in his arms forever.
“Let’s get this over with.” I tugged away from him and wiped a stray tear.
He tossed one more sad look my way before we got out and walked hand in hand into the police department.
Unfortunately, the police couldn’t do much with what little information we could give them. I provided them with the make and model of his car and a physical description, but that’s really all they had to go by.
On the way to the mechanic, Cale grabbed my hand, stroking it with his thumb. It was comforting as I tried to quiet the thoughts in my head.
What is so special about me that I could get myself abducted and then capture the attention of a stalker in a matter of a few years?
Did something about my personality scream victim?
I was pissed at always being the victim. As much as it was nice having someone like Cale to swoop in and save me, it still sucked feeling so weak.
When we arrived at the mechanic, Cale pulled our joined hands to his lips and kissed my hand. “Everything’s going to be okay Lia,” he assured me. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I badly wanted to believe him.
“Let me run in and pay. Then I’ll follow you back to your place. After we drop off your car, we’ll swing by my place and pick up some of my things so I can stay with you,” he ordered, hopping out of the truck.
Twenty minutes later, we were sitting close together, this time in his truck on the way to his house. I was trying to put thoughts of Sam away and found myself looking forward to seeing a piece of Cale’s life. A smile tugged at my lips as he pulled his truck into the driveway of an adorable duplex not far from my house. It was well kept and the lawn was neatly manicured.
“It’s just temporary till my house is roofed and the drywall’s in. I’m building something new out by the lake,” he told me as he put the vehicle in park.
We stepped out of the truck and with hands intertwined we made our way inside. I was eager to finally see where he lived. Once we passed through the door, I grinned as I looked around. The inside of the duplex was decorated with modern décor and housed chic furniture. It was really nice.
“I’m going to pack a bag, Lia. Make yourself at home.”
I smiled at him as he turned and strode out of the room. After walking over to his end table, I picked up a frame. It had a picture of an older man and woman who were smiling, a definite contrast of the description he’d given of his parents. They didn’t really look like his parents, but the age had to have put them old enough to be.
“That’s Ron and Linda,” he spoke, coming up a few minutes later and wrapping his arms around me from behind. He was studying the picture over my shoulder, and I could feel his smile. “Ron took me in as his apprentice after I quit college and was disowned by my father. He taught me all I know about home building. That man was a true craftsman. His wife, Linda, was awesome too. They allowed me to stay in their garage apartment for next to nothing. She’d always bring me food and we were always together for holidays. Those two people became the parents I never had. Losing them was especially hard on me,” he choked out, his body tense around me.
“Cale, I am so sorry. I had no idea you suffered so much loss. It makes me realize that maybe I am just a weakling for being unable to handle my past when you are such a great guy having been dealt a terrible hand.”
He brought his mouth down to my ear. “Tell me about your past,” he whispered, causing my body to shiver.
“I want to. I really do. Today just doesn’t seem like a good day for that. Are you hungry?” I was attempting to shift his interest from the topic I never really wanted to discuss.
“Whatever you say, babe,” he murmured with a disappointed sigh into my ear before pulling away to grab his bags.
Even though he tried to remain lighthearted, I could sense that he was upset with me. And dammit, I couldn’t help but hate the feeling.