Page 68 of Risk Assessment
Exhaustion ate away at her consciousness. She just wanted to go home. Be safe in her own bed. Her throat filled with unshed tears as she opened her eyes.
Josh limped over and sat down on a rickety chair a few feet from her. “There you are.” He smiled. “You know, I should’vekept you sleeping for a while longer so I could go back to the reception, but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave you. It’s just so exciting to finally have you with me. All these years, we’ve been apart but now we’re back together as we should be.”
His voice dropped to just above a whisper. “Soon, we can really be together.” His eyes lingered on her breasts.
She almost vomited, and her entire body shuddered.
His voice back to normal, he said, “And now that you hurt my foot, I have a good excuse for not attending.” He held up his hands. “Don’t worry, I know it was an accident, but you must never do it again.”
His voice was ice. A weird light shone in his eyes. He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her. He was capable of killing her. She knew it. She began to shake.
After clearing his throat, he said, “I’ve been thinking. It’s only a few months before the election. I know I’m only an assistant now, but I’ll be an equal once Calvin wins and names me deputy mayor. Your parents will accept me then.
“Then with you by my side, I’ll be able to run for Congress or the Senate. I’m sure your parents will support us and of course they’ll get their friends to support us as well. We are an unbeatable couple just like back in high school.”
She frowned. What was he talking about? High school? The drugs were still fogging up her brain. Did she know him back then? She’d gone to a private school. Her class hadn’t been huge maybe eighty kids but surely she would have recognized him if he’d gone to her school.
“Until then,” Josh continued, “you can write articles to support Calvin’s campaign. No one will know we’re together, so they’ll have no reason to doubt your word. And once the election is over and we’re married, well, it won’t matter. You’ll have quit so you can take up your rightful place on my arm.”
What in the name of God was he talking about? Her parents would find him worthy? Her parents would never find him acceptable. Hell, her parents didn’t find her acceptable. What hope did he have? She tried to sit up, but he pushed her back and she cried out.
“Honey, don’t be upset. I know you’ll miss your little friends in New York, but it’ll only be for a few months, and then you can reemerge and take the city by storm.”
Not in New York? Where was he going to take her? For how long? Fear danced along her spine as the thought of being held captive for months permeated her brain.
“It’s so good you got to meet Jenn and her friends. They will be your new friends once we announce our engagement and I have the new job. They are the right crowd for us.” He frowned as he looked down at her. “It would’ve been much better if you hadn’t chosen her ex-fiancé as your boyfriend. That was really poor planning on your part. Seriously, I expected more from you.”
The anger in his voice sent ice through her veins. Rage burned in his eyes.
“You cannot be that sloppy ever again. How are we going to move up in politics if you’re not giving me one hundred and ten percent? You need to work harder.” His voice was getting louder. “That mistake might have cost us Bill Harris’ endorsement. What were you thinking?” He was yelling now. Spittle pooled at the corners of his mouth and sprayed in droplets through the air.
He continued to rant. She had to say something to calm him down, but what? Her mind was blank.Focus.Okay, what would be a good reason for her to have brought Dylan to Jenn’s wedding? The wheels spun in her mind.
She tried to speak, but her mouth was dry. She coughed and tried again. “I brought him so we could commiserate later.” Her voice was rusty and dry. Josh’s ranting stopped so she keptgoing. “I thought that bringing Dylan would make Jenn realize Andrew was a much better choice.” Speaking was hard. She needed water.
“I was going to wait a few weeks before breaking up with him. Then I figured Jenn and I could bond over our common enemy.” Dread filled her chest as the silence lingered Would he buy her story? She closed her eyes and prayed. He needed to believe her.
“Darling, you’re more precious than I ever dreamed.”
Oh, thank God. She took a quick look at Josh’s face. He was smiling.
“It was a very risky plan, but I can see where it would work. It would give you and Jenn something in common besides your upbringing. Oh, I like it,” he crowed and rubbed his palms together. He continued, “Of course, we’ll have to modify it now that you won’t be seen until after the election, but no matter. We have lots of time to figure out the details. The election isn’t for a couple of months.”
Why did he keep saying she wouldn’t be seen? Where was he taking her?
“Josh, where are we going? Shouldn’t you go back to the reception? You don’t want to upset anyone,” she croaked.
“Don’t you worry. They won’t notice I’m not there, and Calvin can reach me if he needs me. I’ll just tell everyone I was working on paperwork for Calvin. I have the perfect place for you to stay. A cabin in the woods like Snow White’s, only without the dwarfs.” His chuckle was childlike, making it even creepier. “You can write articles about me and Calvin and email them to Max.”
Fear spiked her heart. Would she ever see the light of day again if Josh had his way?
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Dylan’s heart pounded so hard it nearly drowned out the sound of his feet on the gravel. Dear God, please let her be alive.
Josh had been stalking her for weeks. He wouldn’t kill her just like that. He wanted to spend time with her. He’d been planning something. She must be still alive, but he needed to find her pronto.
Dylan stalked around a curve on the overgrown path and froze. There was a cabin further down on his left. A lot of scrub and bushes were on the far side of the path. He’d have to use it for cover. He pushed his way through the scrub to the other side and ducked down. He pulled out the gun from his waistband.
