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“Will do. Just be prepared. She was… It’s just bad.”
“I understand.” I ended the call, holding the phone to my head and closing my eyes momentarily. When the phone rang again, I answered without question. “Is there something else, Steven?”
“Sabrina. It’s Diego.”
Oh, God. Oh… I closed my eyes briefly, doing what I could to keep from begging him to come rescue me.
“I don’t want to talk to you right now. In fact, I’m working. You just need to stay away from me,” I told him.
“You need to listen to me. I believe you’re in danger. I’m on my way to get you.”
“Don’t you dare even try or I will have you locked up. Do you hear me? I don’t need you complicating my life. I have enough to deal with right now.”
“Just listen to me for a minute.”
“No. I’m hanging up now.” I did exactly that, groaning as soon as I did so. As soon as I tossed the phone, I slammed my hand on the counter, almost knocking over my wine.
Then I heard a noise and immediately stiffened.
It came from behind me. Shit. Shit. Shit. What the fuck was wrong with me? I left my weapon in my briefcase. Very slowly, I reached for the butcher block, easing the largest knife from the slot. When I turned around, I thrust it out in front of me, half expecting to see someone standing there ready to pounce or at minimum Diego having burst into the door.
There was no such thing, nothing that drew my attention.
Until the lights went out.
Shivering, I glanced around me, another noise drawing a sharp cry from my throat. Shit. It was a tree limb hitting one of the windows. I laughed nervously, hating myself for being ridiculous. I grabbed a flashlight from one of the drawers, thankful the beam of light was strong. I lost power far too often, so this was nothing unusual.
Keep telling yourself a lie.
As soon as I swung it around to check the door area one more time, I was certain I noticed a shadow moving in front of the window. I moved toward the end of the kitchen space, my ragged breathing creating myriad sounds. This was ridiculous. I was a trained professional capable of handling myself in any situation.
Yet as I flashed the light, I knew I was right. Someone was inside the house. I grabbed the phone, dialing Diego’s number.
But the presence behind me came closer. I let off a sharp yelp when I was ripped backwards by my hair, the force pitching me against the refrigerator. I managed to keep hold of the knife, but the flashlight was yanked away, tumbling to the floor, the bulb exploding. I thrust the knife in front of me, certain I’d connected with someone. After kicking out, there was no doubt my foot had connected with a hard body.
The male grunt allowed me to know I was right. I managed to jump free, or so I thought until the bastard grabbed my ankle, forcing me to the floor. I scrambled, kicking out with my other leg with everything I had.
When I slammed my foot into the bastard’s face, I heard something crack. I didn’t wait to see the effect, jerking up and racing toward the front door to grab my weapon.
I didn’t get the chance, the bastard yanking me backward, wrapping his arm around my neck, managing to knock the knife from my hand. The jerk obviously had no idea what I was capable of. As I spun around, twisting his arm in the process, he howled with agony, his break in the hold allowing me to kick him square in the gut.
However, he refused to go down, lunging toward me again. I had no choice but to try to race for the back door into the rain. I had my keys in my pocket, a habit I’d maintained from years before. If I could make it outside, I might have a chance. I tumbled forward, stumbling over a piece of furniture in my effort to get away.
As soon as I reached the door, I sensed the bastard was right behind me. I managed to fling open the back door, leaping onto the deck. That was the moment I felt a slight prick. Oh, God. He’d stabbed me in the neck with something. A syringe. I was certain of it.
“Bitch,” he growled.
As a wave of darkness fell across my field of vision, images flashed in front of my eyes, every one of them of Diego. I refused to give in, fighting to get away. As I stumbled down the stairs, swaying from one side to the other, I knew the bastard was right behind me, laughing as if this was his moment of glory.
And he trailed behind me as I struggled to get away, taunting me with his ugly words.
“You aren’t going to get away. You will die, little bitch. And no one is going to save you. Including the scum from LA.”
“Diego,” I moaned, my feet like lead. I continued driving forward, moving into the darkness of the forest. Limbs slapped me in the face, brush forcing me to stumble but I refused to give in. I could see Diego’s face, almost like a beacon of light. He was encouraging me, beckoning for me.
“Come on, baby. You can do it. Just keep going. Soon, I will be there to protect you just like I promised.”
“I don’t think I can.”
