She patted me on the chest. “And in those five minutes it takes for you to get your boots, I’ll already be more than halfway to work. I’m fine driving myself, Hero.” She pressed a kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you after work.”
“Maybe I’ll walk over later.”
She beamed up at me. “Now that sounds like a good idea. I have a little lull this afternoon that you could fit perfectly in.”
I wrapped my arms around her. “You know I fit perfectly with you, Sunshine.”
“Mmm,” she hummed. “You sure do.”
I delved my fingers into her hair and tipped her head back. My lips connected with hers and just like every time we kissed, it was better than the last.
“I’ll see you later, Sunshine.”
“Promise,” she whispered.
*
Chapter Twenty-Two
Reva
“Hair of the Dog. You got Reva.” I wedged the phone between my ear and shoulder and continued brushing Buck the gorgeous German Shepherd who unfortunately did not like baths. My shirt and pants were soaked, and my shoes were mushy.
“Reva. It’s Mickey. I’m on the way over to your place right now.”
Not the best timing for my landlord to call, but I could make it work. “Uh, okay. I just have to finish up here and I’ll be over.”
“Sounds good. I’ll wait for you out front.”
I managed to finish brushing Buck, put him in one of the spacious kennels I had in back, and locked the front door behind me.
Ten minutes later, I parked in front of my duplex, and Mickey’s van wasn’t there yet. I had time to run inside and change into dry clothes before he came in. After today, I was going to keep a dry change of clothes at the shop. I was sick of having to be uncomfortable in wet clothes all day when one of the dogs got a little rowdy in the bath.
I dropped my keys and purse on the kitchen counter and kicked off my shoes on the way to the bedroom. I pulled my shirt over my head and screamed as it dropped to the floor.
“You’re home.” Harry stood in front of my open closet, a ladder behind him, and a rope in his hand.
I pivoted on my heel, escaping my only thought, but Harry lunged toward me and grabbed my wrist. He yanked me down onto the floor and covered me with his body. He wound the rope around my neck and tightened it. The fibers of the rope dug into my skin, and a sick smile stretched across his lips.
His legs clamped down on mine, and he pinned me into place. “Your skin is even prettier when you’re awake.”
I clawed at his arms trying to get away. “No, please no,” I pleaded.
He grabbed my wrists with one hand and wrapped the ends of the rope around them. “The more you struggle, the more I’m going to hurt you.” He leaned down to me and licked my cheek. “I like to see you hurt,” he hissed.
My mind raced with a thousand thoughts and panic washed over me. “Harry, please. I don’t know what I did. Please just let me go.” Why was he doing this? What did he want? How was I going to get out of here? What should I do?
My eyes darted around frantically looking for something to help. He had me pinned in front of the closet, and I saw the hatch to the crawl space was hanging open.
Oh, my God.
I quickly connected the dots in my head.
Harry had been sneaking into my place through the crawl space. But how? Why? There wasn’t access between his place and mine. At least, there shouldn’t have been.
“We don’t have much time,” he said it out loud, but he wasn’t saying it to me. I looked around frantically but didn’t see anyone else in the room with us. “Because her fucking boyfriend will be here to fuck her.” He yanked me off the floor, the rope around my neck loosening.
“Harry, stop please. Listen to me.”