Taken (Dark Desires 1)

That was all I needed to hear. I couldn't stop the river of tears rolling down my cheeks as I thought of the beautiful little helpless life inside my belly. It was Marty's. There was no doubt about that. And every day and night I thanked God for that knowledge. But I was terrified because there was a devil out to hurt not just me but everyone around me. I shook my head.

"You are the only one who knows. Don't say anything."

"Who am I going to tell?"

I looked at Diamond seriously.

"He might try and find you. Joshua might try and hurt..."

"Please, Nat. It'll take a little more than some rich spoiled brat to intimidate me. If he went after Denise she is an older lady. An easy target, no disrespect."

"Just be on guard is all I'm saying."

"You too, you two." and she pointed at my stomach making me chuckle a little.

I told her when I'd be getting in to my parent's house and that if she talks to Marty not to tell him.

"You mean he doesn't know? Nat, are you sure that is a good idea?"

"I just need some time to think. Time away from photographers and wealthy people and homes with more rooms than people to stay in them. I just want my quiet home for a while."

"How long will you be gone?"

"Just the weekend. I don't want to miss work, right?"

Diamond smiled but I could see she wasn't exactly happy with my decision.

"I'll be alright."

We left the coffee shop and while helping me carry my bags to a taxi I heard Diamond sniffle.

"Are you kidding me?" I said, laughing through my own tears and wiping a tear off her cheek with my thumb.

"I'm just worried about you. Call me, okay, and right away as soon as you are settled. Promise?"

"Yes." I promised.

And I did just that. I called her as soon as I got to my parent's house. But she didn't answer the phone. She didn't answer the second time I called or the fourth time. She didn't answer her phone.

JOSHUA

“Now, we are going to go through this one more time and if you don’t tell me what I want to know you’ll be eating your food through a straw for the rest of your life. Kay, sweetheart? ” I said.

Diamond. She was looking so tasty just lying there on the floor, her hands tied behind her back, her nylons torn and her blouse untucked from the waistband of her skirt. It certainly did cross my mind to have some fun with her before beating the information I needed out of her. But, that just isn’t my style.

You hear cops always talking about how with rapists it’s always about the power not the sex. I had power. I had power wrapped in tissue paper stuffed in my closets. I had so much. And right now I just needed to convince Diamond that it was for the best of everyone involved that she tell me where Natasha was. Perhaps I started off on the wrong foot, I wondered recalling how I got in touch with Diamond in the first place.

She helped Natasha get into a cab and before I could get my car the taxi had merged with a dozen other yellow cabs. It would have been too difficult to try and figure out which one held my beautiful, deceitful ex-girlfriend. But, as the Universe never closes one door on Joshua Hewitt without opening another, Diamond just turned and walked slowly down the sidewalk. She must not have felt like a cab ride. Lucky, lucky me.

Police also warn women to always be aware of their surroundings. As I walked behind Natasha’s friend I let my eyes wander just a little to the other females walking along the sidewalk. It was getting dark already at this early evening hour. The streetlights had another half an hour at the most before they would flicker on causing the city to take on a more ominous appearance.

So why not walk with your purse just hanging loosely over your shoulder. No one will swipe it in broad twilight. Keep your face buried in your cell phone as you walk. No one will sneak up on you. And truthfully, those of my own gender were really no better. They yapped on their cell phones and stomped around heading in this or that direction wrapped up in their own thoughts.

With everyone on the sidewalk preoccupied I thought I’d conduct a little experiment. You see, when you are virtually untouchable and so much more elevated than the average Joe walking the beat you have to continually hone your skills. To become complacent, to settle into mediocrity is an affront to the Universe. I would never do it.

With long strides I quickly came up on Miss Diamond and walked right past her without her even noticing me. She was too busy on her phone. I made it about a block ahead of her and quickly ducked down an alley. Once in the smelly, stagnant gangway I stepped into a shadow and waited.

Sure enough Natasha’s friend reached the opening still gazing at her phone.