Page 62 of Rescued by a SEAL

Taylor saw Amy standing near her car, glancing at the stairwell.

Part of her expected Eric to come racing down any minute, but maybe he was still passed out drunk in her bed.

Although a part of her felt guilty for abandoning her friend, Amy could’ve run, too. She’d taken one look at Taylor’s frightened face and called the police immediately. Followed her down the stairs but paused at the bottom to talk to the 911 dispatcher.

Taylor huffed out a breath, scanning the lot.

Cars were pulling in as they arrived home from work, and it was crazy how it seemed so normal out here when she’d been trapped in her own apartment. When Eric had been waiting for her and refused to leave.

A rustle behind her in the trees had her turning, and then a man was beside her, holding a cloth over her face as she struggled. She tried to scream, but whatever chemical was on it was too strong.

She slumped over as the world faded to blackness.

***

Taylor awoke on a hard, concrete floor, the air inexplicably smelling of gasoline and oil. She was cold, scared, and nauseous, and she hesitantly pushed herself up to a sitting position, trying not to vomit. Her eyes slowly began to adjust to the darkness, and she heard a car engine outside.

Squinting, as if that would somehow help her see where she was in the darkness, she looked around.

Where had Eric taken her?

How had he gotten downstairs in her apartment building to come after her? Hadn’t he still been passed out on her bed? She should’ve seen him in the stairwell. Crossing the parking lot. Coming toward her.

It made no sense.

A light suddenly flicking on overhead had her shielding her eyes. Heavy footsteps treaded across the room, and she looked up.

Eric’s friend Jake stood towering over her, his arms crossed, a smirk across his face.

“Where’s Eric?” she croaked.

“Arrested, probably. I watched the police come into your bedroom. They dragged him out of bed and took him away in handcuffs.”

“You were…watching?” Confusion washed over her. Worry churned through her. Had Jake been in there, too?

“It was quite a show. As soon as I saw you sneaking out of your bedroom while Eric was passed out, I knew I had to come get you for myself.”

Awareness suddenly blossomed within her.

The cameras Eric had set up in her room.

The videos.

If Jake had seen the police come in and arrest Eric, then had he seen her all the other times, too? Eric hadn’t just secretly recorded her, he’d set up a live feed. Let his friend and who knows who else watch her in her bedroom.

She turned and vomited on the concrete floor, listening to him cross the room. The strong smell of gasoline in the air was making her nausea even worse. Jake handed her a paper towel and bottle of water, and she took them with shaking hands, wiping her mouth.

Staring at the full bottle of water.

“Eric set up a feed,” he confirmed. She looked back up at him. “He owes me money. A hell of a lot, actually. He can’t hold down a job to save his life, so I’ve been helping him out. When he still hadn’t paid me back after you guys broke up, he said that I could watch you, too. I saw you walking around naked and with that boyfriend of yours. Watched him screw you in your bed. The thing is, I’m ready for the real thing.”

Scrambling to her feet, she backed away from Jake.

The concrete was cold beneath her feet. She shivered as he stalked closer.

“Since I haven’t heard from that Navy SEALs of yours about your car, I’m guessing he’s not around. He wasn’t there earlier to stop Eric from coming in. Lucky me.”

Her gaze swept around the room, taking in the inside of the body shop. The cars and tools lying around. The oil stains on the ground. The windows. The door, which felt like it might as well be a million miles away.

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