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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Barbara Elsborg
ISBN: 978-1-61333-074-6
Cover art by Dara England
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
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Barbara Elsborg
Decadent Publishing www.decadentpublishing.com Chosen
Chapter One
Kate stomped barefoot to the intercom. If whoever had their finger on her buzzer didn’t take it off in the next two seconds, she’d grab a knife and remove the finger herself. Kids fooling around. Someone who’d forgotten their key.
Always a guy. Always her buzzer.
“What?” she snapped.
“Kate Evans? I got a flower delivery.”
Regret for her abrupt tone tempered her disbelief. “For me?”
“If you’re Kate Evans.”
“Who are they from?”
A heavy sigh preceded a rustling noise. “It says, ‘for Kate from a secret admirer’.”
Her lungs locked.
“Going to let me up?”
She pressed the release switch and leaned against the wall, excitement bubbling until she convinced herself it was a sick joke.
But the doorbell rang and through the peephole, Kate saw a fair-haired guy holding a large bouquet of flowers.
She checked the chain was secure and cracked the door. “Could you leave them on the floor, please?”
Once he’d walked away, Kate removed the chain. Before she’d finished turning the handle, the door slammed open and sent her crashing to the floor, flowers raining over her. The door closed and the blond guy dropped to his knees at her side. Kate opened her mouth to scream, and he smiled.
“Marry me, Kate.”
Shock killed the scream in her throat. “What? Who are you?”
“Your future husband.”
His smug look gave her the kick-start she needed. Kate screamed and lashed out. But he slapped a palm over her mouth and nose and sat on her legs. Latex gloves. Kate’s cantering heart broke into a gallop as she struggled to breathe. His hand slid from her mouth to squeeze her neck. What did he want? She had nothing. No jewelry. Less than thirty dollars in her wallet.
“Not a word, Kate.”
He showed her the knife in his other hand, released her mouth and she drew in a noisy gulp of air. An arm around her neck, he dragged her across the floor and tugged the telephone cord from the wall. When he picked petals from her long brown hair and pushed her glasses back in place on her nose, Kate shuddered. Oh God, please let him be a thief.
“Don’t hurt me,” she choked out.
He gave a slow smile.
The loud bang at the door startled them both. His hold on her neck tightened, and she grabbed at his arm.
“Kate? It’s Jeannie. Are you all right?”
He yanked Kate back against his chest, put his hand over her mouth and pressed the knife against her throat. Kate moved beyond fear into paralyzed terror.
“Get rid of her,” he whispered.
The hand came off. The knife stayed.
It was a moment before Kate could speak. “I’m fine.”
“I heard a bang and your phone’s out.”
The knife pressed harder and something slithered down her skin. Oh God.
Blood.
“Don’t try it,” he whispered. “A little old lady with arthritis could never be fast enough.”
Kate inhaled a shaky breath. How did he know about Jeannie?
He nipped her ear and she winced. “Talk to her.”
“Someone sent me flowers. I tripped over the telephone cable and dropped them. I must have disconnected the phone.”
“Oh dear. Sure you’re okay?” Jeannie asked.
The blade tickled Kate’s chin, forcing her head to his shoulder. His breath brushed her cheek. The odor of beer made her shake.
“I’m going to have an early night,” Kate called. “I’ll see you in the morning for coffee.”
She sent a silent prayer for Jeannie not to react, for the guy not to know her neighbor hated coffee.
“All right. Goodnight.”
“Night.”
Kate sensed Jeannie still there, listening. When the knife pressed a little harder, she guessed the man had made the same assumption. A moment later came the sound of shuffling and a door closed. He moved the knife from her throat, but kept her in his arms. Had she made a mistake, lost her chance?
Should she grab the knife? Scream?
He rubbed his face across her head. “You have such beautiful hair, sweetheart, and great legs. Why do you always keep them covered?” Kate’s nightshirt had ridden to the top of her thighs. Thank God she wore panties. She struggled for something to say. “My boyfriend will be here soon.”
“Elegant toes. No cheap polish.”
Had he heard her? “Better go before he gets here.”
“What’s his name?”
“Drew Harrison. He’s a policeman.”
“Not the Drew Harrison that works with you at the library?” Her heart thumped. He knew Drew and where she worked.
“There’s no boyfriend, darlin’. But then you rarely allow the men of San Antonio a glimpse of your beautiful legs.” Kate’s stomach roiled. He’d been following her. A whimper slipped out. She’d been so careful. Four long years she’d done all she could not to draw the wrong sort of attention—never walked alone on dark streets, never wore provocative clothes. This wasn’t her fault.
He pinched her chin and turned her face to his. “Why don’t you wear short skirts at the library?”
“Mrs. Hartford says it attracts perverts.” He sniggered. “Where’s your remote?”
Kate glanced at the couch. He dragged her over.
“What would you like, Kate? A comedy?” He flicked through the channels and clicked up the volume.
“My father’s calling in tonight.” She had to keep trying.
“Don’t lie, sweetheart. You were having a quiet night in. Alone. Like every other night. I bet you were reading. Will I find a book on your bed?” Yes. Books were all she had, her safe passport to a more interesting life, one in which she could eavesdrop on the conversations of others and share thrills she’d never bring herself to experience for real.
He brushed her nipples with gloved fingers, and Kate bit her lip.
“Books are your world. They make you cry, make you laugh and I bet they make you come, but they can’t beat the real thing. You’re about to have the biggest adventure of your life. Don’t waste it waiting for a knight to rescue you.
I’m your knight and I’m already here.”
He gave her a broad grin.
Oh God, he’s insane.
“I’m going to let you up. Don’t try anything stupid.” He pulled her to her feet but Kate could hardly stand. Her knees shook, he
r body ached.
“I want you to pack.”
“Pack?”
“We’re going away and you’ll need clothes.” He sounded so calm and sensible as though this was something normal. When he guided her toward the bedroom, Kate stumbled. What the hell was she doing?
She wrenched out of his grasp and fled, managing to wrap her fingers around the door handle before he reached her. Kate fought but he was so much stronger. He knocked her to the floor, pinned her down with his body and clamped his hand over her mouth. Only when she stopped struggling did he move it.
“Please…don’t…hurt…me.” She could barely speak.
He yanked her up, dragged her into her bedroom and closed the door.
“Pack,” he said and let her go.
Kate scrambled to the other side of the room and pressed her back to the wall.
He sighed. “Find a bag or I’ll fuck you, tie you up, go fuck your neighbor and then you’ll pack.”
Kate grabbed a green sports bag from the bottom of her closet and put it on the bed.
“Show me your clothes. I’ll tell you what to put in.” He tossed items to the floor or bed. Most hit the floor. Maybe this was a TV stunt, Kate thought, showing how people react to incredible situations. The knife could be fake, though a glance in the mirror showed a streak of blood on her neck. He tipped out her purse. The cash and cards went in his wallet with her driver’s license. Kate’s heart skipped when she realized he hadn’t noticed the zipped pocket.
He held up a condom. “Always prepared, Kate? Ribbed. Extra sensitive. You like to give your partner pleasure?”
Oh God. She stuffed clothes in the bag. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him studying a framed photograph. Her and her parents. None of them looked happy. He laughed and put it back on the shelf before picking out a short denim skirt, a gray jacket and a T-shirt from the pile of clothes on the floor. He threw them at her. “Get dressed.”
Kate decided to co-operate. Maybe if he’d been going to rape her, he’d have done it by now. He wanted something else.
“Could you turn your back?” she asked.
“Hell, no.”
He helped himself to a handful of M&Ms from the packet next to her book, letting the brightly colored candy fall into his mouth in a rainbow stream.
She put the skirt on under the nightshirt and managed to get her bra and Tshirt on without showing an inch more flesh than necessary. She tugged on the jacket and slipped her favorite sandals on her feet.
“Toiletries,” he said.
He followed her to the bathroom and leaned against the doorframe. When Kate reached for a bag from the cupboard under the wash basin, she had an idea.
“Could I use the toilet on my own?”
He stared at her. “Exit via a fourth floor window not something I’d advise.”
She exhaled when he left. Kate picked up a strawberry flavored lip balm and wrote HELP across the top of the toilet seat. A noise at the door stopped her writing more. Her heart pounding, she gave the toilet an unnecessary flush, washed her hands and returned to the bedroom. He snagged her wrist and pulled her back. Kate kept her eyes down as he looked around.
“What have you done, sweetheart? Lipstick on the mirror? Soap on the shower door?”
He checked everywhere except the toilet lid and surge of triumph rushed through her. He picked up her bag and dragged her into the living room.
“I want your social security number, birth certificate and details of your bank account.”
“That box.”
He let her take a blue carton from the top of her bookshelf and she removed the paperwork. Maybe he didn’t want her, but her identity.
“Put them in the side pocket of your bag.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
He guided her around the couch by the elbow. Kate’s eyes lingered on the card lying with the flowers.
“Read it,” he said.
She picked it up. ‘ So happy you said ‘yes’, Kate. Meet me at ten at our place.
We’ll be together always. Love Jack.’ The card fell from her fingers. “Is that your name?”
“Didn’t I introduce myself? I’m Jack Thompson.” Oh God, why did I ask? I don’t want to know. Her heart rate rocketed. He didn’t care whether she knew his name because he intended to kill her. A massive lump erupted in Kate’s throat. If she was going to die, she might as well know everything. “What did I say yes to?”
He tsked. “I asked you to marry me.”
Kate’s brain fogged in bewilderment. “But I don’t know you.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“We’ve never met.”
Had she upset someone? Was this a bet?
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“I’m trying to figure out why you’re doing this.”
He tilted his head. “Any theories?”
“You win money if you marry a stranger. Or maybe you’re a drug dealer…or a money launderer or…a slave trader.”
He might be laughing, Kate thought, but she had something right. Slave trader was over the top but not drug dealing. She’d worked hard at not standing out in a crowd and maybe that’s what he wanted. Some plain Jane for a stupid mule.
“Got everything you need? You won’t be coming back.” Yes I will.
“I’d like the TV. You can carry it.”
He chuckled. “A joke. I’m impressed. Get a glass of water.”
“Get it yourself.”
Jack jerked her closer. “Making me laugh is one thing. Pissing me off is something else entirely. Don’t. You won’t like me when I’m angry.” She didn’t like him now, but she poured the water.
“Swallow this.” A white pill sat on his palm.
Kate clamped her lips together.
He sighed. “Do as you’re told and play my game, darlin’. It’s only something to calm you down, help you sleep.”
“I don’t want to go to sleep.” Oh God, I sound like a child.
Jack’s eyes glittered. “You need a lesson in learning to do as I say.”
“You’re going to kill me anyway. Why should I make it easy for you?” The words might be brave but her voice shook.
“If you don’t take the pill, I’ll show Jeannie how fast I am with my knife.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Jack pressed his lips to her ear. “Don’t tempt me.” She forced back a whimper.
“Take the fucking pill, sweetheart.”
She put it in her mouth and took a gulp of water.
“Open wide.”
Jack grasped her jaw, forced it open and put his gloved finger inside. Kate gagged. Yanking on her hair to pull her head back, he tipped the water straight into her mouth. She choked and spluttered, but the pill went down. Jack lifted her glasses from her face and put them in his pocket.
“You need a handicap. Carry your bag and purse. Don’t call out. Don’t run. I don’t want to hurt you, but I won’t be kind to anyone who tries to help you. Understand?”
Kate nodded, but she didn’t understand. Less than twenty minutes ago she’d been safe inside a Stephen King novel. Seduced by a flickering hope that someone might like her, she’d let flowers pierce her armor. Four years of being careful thrown away because she’d made a stupid mistake. Maybe a fatal one.
He turned off the TV and pulled her toward the door.
Chapter Two
Just another couple walking in the street, no one paid them any attention.
Jack’s arm stayed tight around her waist, and hidden by her jacket, he pressed the knife against her ribs. Kate’s heart and head pounded. She could hear him talking, feel his breath hitting her ear but she focused on one thing. Escape. The memory of how she’d behaved four years ago twisted in her brain. This time she had to fight back.
There were people around.
Scream. He can’t kill everyone.
But would he stab her? He wanted her alive, otherwise she’d alrea
dy be dead.
Kate drew in her breath.
“Don’t try it.”
His arm pulled her closer.
Dart into traffic.
They crossed the road safely.
Don’t get in his car.
As they turned the corner, Kate saw two men approaching, the nearest they’d been to anyone.
Now!
Jack’s reaction was as rapid as hers. As she began to call for help, he jerked her around and pressed his face against hers, using the knife-free hand to keep her head in place.
Kate dropped her bag and kicked his shin, trying to bring her knee into his groin but he forced her tighter against him, holding her bottom lip between his teeth and pressing the knife against her ribs. When she struggled he bit harder.
Kate whimpered and stopped moving. Several more seconds passed before he released her lip. The men had gone. Jack stared at her for a moment before stuffing her bag in her hand and yanking her down the street.
He aimed a remote at a dark Chevy Suburban and headlights flashed. As they reached the passenger side, Kate made another bid for freedom but a blow to the head sent her stumbling and the door closed with her inside. She wrenched at the handle, persisting too long before she thought to sound the horn. Jack pulled open the driver’s door and as his fist struck the side of her face, Kate screamed.
Her bag hit the rear seat and his hand grasped her jaw. “Do as I say and you don’t get hurt, fight me and you will.” His voice grew louder. “It’s not that fucking difficult to understand. Do you think I’d be stupid enough to make it easy for you to get out?” He threw a box of tissues on her lap. “Clean up your mouth.” Kate tasted blood on her lips and ran her tongue over the indentations left by his teeth. Her jaw hurt.
“Seat belt,” he snapped as he pulled onto the road.
She stifled the crazy impulse to laugh at his regard for her safety. When she glanced behind, she saw a sea of bags and boxes. “Where are we going?”
“An ATM. What’s your PIN?”
“5528.” She blurted the number. He could have her last cent if he let her go.
Kate tensed when he turned into the parking lot of a shopping mall. She’d used this ATM before. Design or coincidence? Someone already stood at the kiosk.