I scream when the door is kicked in and flies to the wall, breaking the seat off the toilet. He steps in and turns his head to me. His hair is longer than I remember, shaggier, and he has a cut on his face from where I hit him over the head with the wooden plank.
I’m frozen in fear. I can’t move. My body is paralyzed as the man of my nightmares comes closer. What do I do? I don’t know what to do. Tears fall down my face as I begin to shake all over. He stands in front of me and braces his arms on either side of my head.
Something Owen loves to do, something I’m not afraid of when it comes to him.
I’ve learned. In this moment. That it isn’t the action I’m afraid of as much as it is the man. This man in front of me, every move he makes scares the hell out of me.
“What … what do … you want?” I stumble through chattering teeth and a dry tongue. “Please, leave me alone.”
“I can’t do that.” He shakes his head and reaches a hand up to my new hair, humming in appreciation from how soft it is. “You know I can’t.” His presses his nose against my temple and inhales. “I’ve missed the smell of you, Jolie. I’ve missed you so fucking much.”
“Leave me alone!” I open my mouth to finally scream when the present comes crashing down on me, but he throws a hand over my mouth and presses his body against mine. I can feel his pathetic cock against my thigh, and bile forms its way up my throat.
I can’t live through this again.
“You know, I was going to leave you alone. I was. Truly. I didn’t know for sure you were with Owen, not until I crawled out of that river and found my way home to stitch myself up. When I was better, I went to the Cliff House, and I saw you there. The anger for that man grew again, and I knew I had to ruin him just like he ruined me. Do you understand? Do you understand that he cannot be happy? He stole from me.”
“You stole from him. His pregnant wife!” I gather spit in my mouth and hock it into his face. The sick fuck licks it off his lips and wraps his hand around my throat.
“My wife was pregnant too when those machines failed. The machines that were supposed to keep her breathing. What would happen if I used the same machines on you?” He twists his head in thought. “I wonder how he would feel then.”
“They’re going to be looking for me soon. Someone is going to come in here. You weren’t quiet. You fucked yourself.”
“Stupid bitch,” he says, sliding his finger down my nose. “You think I ever do anything unprepared? Everyone in this hospital is asleep. And you will be too in about…” He looks at his watch. “Two minutes.” He licks the outer shell of my ear and grunts. “It’s amazing what a little gas can too in the air vents.”
“You’re going to be asleep too,” I say, starting to feel the grogginess, but I’m not going to let him know that.
“No, I won’t be.”
That’s when I notice the backpack straps on his shoulders just as my vision starts to go fuzzy. He releases my throat, and I fall to my knees. I do the o
nly thing there is left to do.
I crawl toward the doorway.
“Oh, look at you. Always the fighter.” He kicks my side, and I fall to my back, crying out in pain as he places his face in front of mine, which is covered with a mask. “You won’t be fighting much longer; don’t you worry.”
I’ll always fight. If there is one thing I have learned from being in his clutches, it’s I gave up on myself too soon. I thought I was dead. No, I was dead. I died inside when I convinced myself I was goner. There was no fight left for me.
I will never make that mistake again.
“Go to hell,” I wheeze.
He chuckles maniacally, the heated laugh as dark and forbidden as a sin casted by the Devil. He pats my face and brings himself closer to me. I can see the wild brown eyes behind the mask, and even though I can’t see his lips, he is smiling. “I’ve been there, and you know what? It isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be.” He picks up my limp body and throws me over his shoulder.
The gas is starting to take effect. As we walk through the hall, I see Jaxon and Owen laying on the floor, unconscious, and I want nothing more than to run to his side.
But I can’t move.
I might not be able to move now, but that won’t always be the case. I gave up on myself once before, but I let won’t it happen again.
This man took everything from me.
And I plan to take it back.
Twenty-Two
Owen