The morning breaks clear and cold. The wind has stopped, and along with it all the snow. Reality feels like it’s hit. A strange sense of sadness pulls at me as I watch Knox put on his boots and jacket.

“The storm’s over?” I look out the window, sounding melancholy. I know heavy snow technically poses problems. But when the snow was falling thick and fast, it felt like Knox and I were the only two people on the planet. No one else to worry about, nowhere else to be, we were in our own world. I liked that reality a lot better than anything else I’d ever experienced.

So much of the world I’ve known has been harsh and unfriendly. Kids at new schools making fun of my jacket or my backpack, nothing really wrong other than my newness. My mom’s boyfriends making me look over my shoulder and try to make myself scarce.

And then there’s my father. Moving to Chicago, my hopes weren’t too unrealistically high. I’d never expected that we’d become like some TV sitcom family, the dad offering good advice, maybe weary and middle-aged but still meaning well. But the reality of what happened surpassed even my wildest “what ifs.”

In all my wondering what might transpire in our relationship, it never occurred to me that my father’s misdeeds might get me targeted for kidnapping. Even though my dad and I weren’t close at all, the Corretti family still made the assumption that I could be used as bait. In my heart, though, I know the truth. My father would never trade money for my safety.

“Hey, everything OK?” Knox looks down at me, smoothing his thumb along my forehead as if to erase the creases of worry.

“I don’t know, feeling sad.” I shrug a shoulder and try to shake it off. “After I clean up, I’ll put on my boots and help shovel.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got a plow I can hitch to the front of my truck. It’ll take care of everything.”

“You always do.” I smile and he kisses me, wrapping me in his strong embrace, banishing all my negative thoughts with the solid feel of him. Throwing my arms around his neck, I kiss him like we’re saying good-bye, like I’ll never see him again.

He reaches down, palming my breasts, scooping them into his hands. My pussy throbs in response, growing wet so quickly under his masterful touch. He hisses between his teeth. “Damn, woman, you tempt me.”

I smile at him under my lashes, pleased I have that effect. One look at him makes my blood boil.

“But we need more wood chopped and I’m going to try to catch us some fish.”

“What kind?”

“Bass or pike, most likely.”

I scrunch up my nose, trying to think of what I’d do to cook those. “I’ve never made fish before.”

“We’ll figure it out.” He kisses me one more time, then turns to go. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Then he’s gone. The door closed, the wood stove is heating up the cabin well enough, but somehow I feel cold inside without him. When he’s with me, we’re on an adventure we’ve embarked on together. I’m wrapped up in all the newness, the wonder and mystery of my first real love. But when he’s gone it’s just me in a T-shirt and too-big sweatpants standing in a cabin with nothing to do.

There’s always cleaning. I scrub everything I can get my hands on in the kitchen. Then I wash some clothes, not that we have many, or that we’ve been wearing much. Knox definitely likes me buck naked. The thought makes me blush.

My hands are in soapy water, thoughts back in bed with Knox, when the door opens with a loud pound against the wall.

“You scared me!” I bring a soapy, wet hand to my chest as my heart pounds. I’d been so lost in thought, and I hadn’t been expecting him back that soon.

Only it’s not Knox. “Miss me?” A thick-looking man in a black leather jacket with a scar over his right eye gives me an icy smile. His gold tooth gleams.

“No!” The scream rips out of my throat and I scramble back, away from him even as it bumps me back into the refrigerator. I grab a knife from the countertop. That gold tooth. It’s the man who stuck me with the syringe.

“There you are.” Another guy flanks his side, gun drawn, searching every corner of the room with his eyes. “You alone, doll?”

“Get the hell out of here! Knox!” I shriek, hoping there’s some way Knox is near enough by to hear me scream. Maybe he’s right outside, about to burst through and rescue me again.

“Knox is off doing some ice fishing.” The man with the gold tooth steps closer. That’s when I see the syringe. Exactly like the one he put into my throat back at the restaurant. This can’t be happening.

“What do you want with me?” I grip the knife, breathing hard, getting myself ready to attack.

“Don’t play dumb.” He points the gun right at me. I’ve never stared at the black, metal barrel of a gun before. It’s terrifying.

“Is it my dad? Did he do something?”

“Ding, ding, ding.” Gold tooth moves his hand around like he’s ringing a bell. “Get this girl a prize.”

“But I don’t know anything about what he does. I don’t have anything to tell you.”

“That doesn’t matter. It’s not information we’re after. It’s you.” That smile is the single creepiest thing I have ever seen. It goes nowhere near his eyes. The thought of being unconscious and at this man’s mercy surges power through my every vein.

“Do not come any closer.” I hold the butcher knife out in front of me. My hands are shaking, but I’m dead serious. “I will cut you.” I’m not trained like Knox is, but I will do whatever I need to do to defend myself.

“No, you won’t.” He sounds confident and sure as he takes a step closer. “Because if you do, he’ll shoot you.”

“Knox!” I scream, hating how my voice wobbles.

Gold tooth laughs. “You gonna come easy? Or do you need us to teach you a lesson?”

“Not easy,” I grit out, breathing hard but focused. He’s not going to grab me like last time. Last time I had no idea what was happening. This time, I’m staring right at him.

He lunges quick at my wrist but I’m ready. I lean to the left, then plunge the knife at him. It sinks into his flesh, right into his bicep and the feel of it is sickening.

“You bitch!” He staggers to the side, clutching his arm, shocked. “Fucking cunt!” I’m shaking, watching the blood start to flow down his arm, dripping onto the floor. I did that.

That moment is all it takes. The second guy with the gun suddenly has the syringe and he’s on me, pinning me against the fridge.

“Fuck you! No!” I scream, claw at him and try to get my wrist free from his grasp, but he holds me fast. Then I feel it. For the second time in my life, the cold injection of a needle goes into my neck. “Knox!” I scream one last time, because now I know the worst is happening. They’ve found me. They’re taking me. And this time Knox isn’t around to save me.

Neither of them waste any more time addressing me. They shout to each other, wrest the knife out of my hand, fasten my wrists together. Déjà vu. The cloak of unconsciousness drapes over me quick and heavy. I want to fight it. Panic surges in me hot, mingling with my fury, but neither are stronger than the drug.

I need to keep my eyes open. I need to try to remember as much as I can about where they take me.

But I don’t even make it to the car before darkness falls, shutting down all my senses. I’m gone.