“You’re mine, bitch! Do as I say or there’ll be hell to pay.”
With shaking fingers, she reached for her blouse and pretended like she was going to unbutton it. His eyes glossed over, and he cupped his crotch as he licked his lips, focusing on her fingers.
She charged him, shouldering him in the stomach, making him lose his balance. She saw the opened doorway and ran for it and pulled open the door. He gripped her shoulder, yanked her, and sent her flying backward. Her back and head hit the hard ground. She saw stars a moment but couldn’t coordinate her moves. Strong arms reached for her, and she swatted them away as she cried out for help.
She felt each punch and kick. He tore her shirt from her body and dragged her by her hair backward the entire distance she had run only a few moments ago. She screamed and cried and pleaded for him to release her as she used what little strength she had to push on her feet so the pain from his grip wouldn’t burn so badly.
“You are mine now, bitch. You are going to learn to listen and obey me. I’ve waited too long for you, and today you’re going to be completely mine.”
He grabbed her by the throat, and she stared into his evil, bloodshot eyes. She could hardly breathe and her body and face were bloody and sore.
“Lay on the mattress like a good girl, or I swear I’ll knock you out.”
She shivered from the pain and the fear combined.
I’m going to die. I’ll never see Tyler or Matt again.
* * * *
“I’ve got it. It’s one of the houses on Crescent Street,” Monte stated into his cell phone as he spoke with his brother.
“Crescent Street!” the sheriff yelled at Detective Louis, Matt, and Tyler.
“Jimmy fucking Couger lives on Crescent Street!” Tyler yelled then slammed his fist down on the hood of the patrol car.
“Fuck! That’s the farthest house from this list. It’s secluded and the neighbors are, like, acres away,” the sheriff stated.
“He’s a fucking firefighter. He’s our guy. Let’s fucking move,” Matt yelled.
“If he has her, Matt, we need to move in slowly. If we spook him, and she’s unable to fight, then he’ll kill her,” Detective Louis stated.
Tyler rubbed his hand over his mouth then nodded that he understood.
“Okay. Let’s call in backup and head near there as close as we can get. We’ll case the area and move in,” Detective Louis stated. They agreed and headed out.
The sheriff looked at Tyler and Matt. “I know you two have military experience, but you need to let us handle this. You have to stay back.”
“Not too far back. I won’t need a weapon to rip this motherfucker’s head off,” Tyler stated through
clenched teeth, and the sheriff knew exactly how he felt.
They got into the cars and headed toward Crescent Street.
Detective Louis had the SWAT team en route.
* * * *
“What do you think?” Matt asked Tyler as they all waited for a plan of action from Detective Louis and his squad of SWAT officers.
“I don’t like the looks of that house over there sitting by its lonesome.”
They watched as three SWAT officers slowly approached the house. They were making hand signals then pulled out of there rather quickly.
“What the fuck’s going on? Why aren’t they going in?” Tyler asked.
The sheriff spoke into his radio.
“Tyler, the place is soaked in turpentine. He’s got it rigged to go up in flames,” the sheriff informed him, and Tyler and Matt cursed.