Gabrielle lunged for the knife. Her fingers barely reached it as the men punched and fought, banging against the opposite counter. Brad had Marvin in a chokehold as Marvin elbowed him in the face.
With a shaking hand, Gabrielle gripped the knife and sawed at the plastic ties binding her ankles until they popped free.
“Let him go!” Gabrielle screamed, searching the kitchen for something to break up the fight.
The men grunted as they collapsed to the floor, rolling from side to side. As they took turns gaining the upper hand, Gabrielle scrambled over to the stove, eyeing a cast iron skillet. She stuffed the knife in her pocket, grabbed the heavy pan, and heaved it toward Brad.
He yelped in pain as it made contact with his back.
The move gave Marvin the opening he needed. Two quick jabs flew into Brad’s face, knocking him backward. Marvin leaned over, grabbed the skillet, and swung it against Brad’s head.
The loud sound of metal cracking bone filled the air.
Marvin swung again.
And again.
Blood spurted from Brad’s head, spraying red droplets across the linoleum floor.
Marvin held the skillet over his head and swung down one last time, crashing it into Brad’s face. The man fell limp to the ground, his face and head a bloody, battered mass.
Staggering, Marvin dropped the skillet on the floor and turned toward her. He breathed deep heaving breaths. “Are you okay?”
“I am now,” Gabrielle said through the tears pouring down her face. She ran toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms encircled hers as they held on to each other tightly. “Thank you. Thank you so much for saving me.”
She pulled back. Marvin looked dazed as he stared down at Brad.
“I think … I killed him,” Marvin said, shaking in her arms.
“It’s okay. It was self-defense. You saved me, but we need to get out of here.”
“No … we need to call an ambulance. Call the police,” Marvin said.
Gabrielle shook her head. “We can do that later after we leave this house. Brad has lured a dangerous stalker here. A man named Tony Brooks. He wanted Tony to do God knows what to me so he could pretend to arrive and save me. Tony will be here any minute, and we can’t be here when he shows up. He could … he could kill both of us.” She insisted, grabbing Marvin’s hands in hers. “We have to go. Now.”
“That’s crazy. Why would he do that to you?”
“I will explain all of that later,” Gabrielle said, tugging his arms. “Did you drive here? We need to leave. We can call the police on the way back to King Estate and explain everything. I promise you won’t get in trouble for saving me. But we need to leave now.”
“We need to call an ambulance. We can’t leave him like this,” Marvin said, pulling away from her. “I’m a doctor. I shouldn’t have done this.” He dropped to his knees and pressed his fingers against Brad’s neck, feeling for a pulse.
His head drooped as his hand fell away.
“He’s dead …”
Gabrielle shuddered. “Marvin, we need to go. A dangerous criminal will be here, and we may not be able to fight him off. Let’s go.” She tugged at his arms until he stood up and faced her.
“Okay, you’re right. I was here earlier to get things ready to sell the property. When I got home, I couldn’t find my phone and thought maybe I’d left it here. But I can’t find it. Where’s your phone?” Marvin asked.
“It’s back at the main house. I forgot to bring it when I met up with Brad, and then he kidnapped me,” Gabrielle said. “All the more reason for us to get out of here. If Tony Brooks shows up, there’s no way we can call for help. Marvin, let’s go!”
Marvin reached a hand toward her face and caressed her cheek. “I can’t believe you want to save me. You’re helping me.”
“You saved me first. It’s the least I can do,” Gabrielle insisted, growing panicked.
Marvin grabbed the keys resting on the counter.
When he turned back to face her, she saw his bare chest beneath his ripped shirt.
