Page 102 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
Before Ray can answer a deputy comes running in, “Sir, Melissa Carmicheal is here saying she has information on Miss Julia’s whereabouts.”
I bolt out the door with everyone close behind me. Melissa stands nervously by the front desk, sporting a black eye. Suspicion rears its ugly head…
Fuck! I should have known!
She backs into the counter looking scared shitless when she sees me storming towards her. She shakes her head, “I’m sorry. We were only supposed to scare her…”
I grab her arms roughly, “What the fuck have you done? Where is she!?”
She starts crying but I feel no sympathy, “Wyatt’s holding her at some fishing cabin that’s 20 minutes from here. He’s expecting me to pick him up in an hour to take him to the airport. His private plane is waiting for him… I swear I didn’t know it would escalate to this.”
“Why would you help him? She never did a goddamn thing to you!”
Anger flashes in her gaze masking some of the fear that was just there, “She took everything from me! From the moment she fucking moved here everyone flocked to her, especially you!”
Jesus, all this over fucking jealousy?
“You make me sick,” I shove her away from me, “If anything happens to her or my baby that she’s carrying I will come back and make you fucking pay.”
She pales, “I didn’t know she was pregnant. We were only supposed to scare her. I didn’t think he would take it this far.”
Cooper cuts in, “Directions now!”
Melissa shakily hands him a paper with directions written on it, “This is what he gave me.”
Coop looks to the deputy, “Take her into custody. And keep Ray here too, don’t allow him any phone calls.”
Fuck! Please let me make it on time.
“Goddamn it Melissa, pick up your fucking phone. Listen the cops already know I have her. It’s only going to be a matter of time before they find the cabin. Get here now!”
I hear Wyatt’s agitated voice as I start coming around again. I’m not sure how many times I have faded in and out of consciousness since he beat me with my phone repeatedly until it finally shattered against my face.
A strong smell penetrates my senses, burning my nose. I open my eyes and fight against the wave of pain it brings. Looking over I see Wyatt dousing the walls with gasoline.
So he was telling Jaxson the truth, he is going to burn me alive. I had begged, pleaded and fought Wyatt with everything I had left in me and it only ended with cruel taunts, inappropriate fondling and severe beatings. It was then I had accepted I wasn’t getting out of here, at least not alive. My broken body was already close to death, I could feel it.
Pain washes over me, knowing that I couldn’t protect the beautiful little life inside of me from Wyatt’s twisted rage. Knowing I’ll never get to meet, hold or kiss my baby. I knew I had taken a serious risk telling Jaxson I loved him in front of Wyatt. But I needed him to hear those words from me, needed him to know that despite everything that had happened I still loved him. My heart aches knowing I will never again feel his touch, see his ice blue eyes or his sexy smirk. And most of all I ache knowing that this is going to kill him, because even though he acted the way he did about the baby, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jaxson loves me.
“Ah you’re awake again. About time. It’s no fun for me if you are asleep.”
Instead of fear, Wyatt’s taunting voice only fuels the anger inside of me. I hate him for doing this to me, for taking away everything I had always wanted.
Wyatt drops the gasoline can down and stalks over to me, pulling his shirt off in the process. “Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to take my time with you Julia, plans have changed so we are going to have to make this quick,” then he grins maliciously, “but I promise it will still be fucking good.” He rubs his erection that strains the front of his jeans.
I turn my head away, not wanting to watch what comes next and pray for the darkness that dances along the edge of my vision to take me under again. It was close, one more hit would probably do the trick.
Wyatt crawls on top of me, his hot breath hitting the side of my face. I close my eyes and try to keep the numbness in place, not wanting to feel his naked chest on mine, or the erection that settles between my thighs.
“Look at me bitch!”
I ignore his demand and keep my eyes tightly shut, “I said fucking look at me!” He slaps my battered face and I clench my teeth from the pain, black spots dance behind my eyes but unfortunately doesn’t pull me completely under.
Feeling a cold sharp object along the curves of my breasts has me springing my eyes open. Wyatt stares down at me with a cruel smile, dragging a large knife across my chest. I keep my face expressionless, knowing any fear I show will only give him satisfaction.
He slips the blade under one of my bra straps and freezes, “Tell me you want me,” he pants heavily with lust, his eyes raging wildly with hunger.
“No,” my response is quiet but firm. I will not let my last words be anything that will satisfy him. I’m hoping he will get mad enough to end my life quickly.
He chuckles as if enjoying my defiance, “Wrong answer sweetheart.” His hand wraps around my throat firmly, allowing only a small bit of oxygen through, then the sharp blade slices through my bra strap.
“Tell me you’re mine!” he seethes through clenched teeth grinding his erection against me.
He eases up on my throat so I can speak and I know the next words I choke out will be my last, “No! I’m not yours, I never have been. I have only ever been Jaxson’s and I hope when he finds you he makes you die a slow and painful death.”
