Realizing I was staring at him like a love-struck fool, I quickly looked away.
“I won’t melt from a bit of water.”
“I’m not talking about the rain; I’m talking about you walking home in the dark.” His tone was crisp, curt. Like he was genuinely concerned about my well-being. For someone like me, that was incredibly kind. Not even Janice had tried to stop me from walking home in the dark.
“I’ll be okay; it’s a small town. The walk doesn’t take me long.”
“Small towns have dark secrets.” He gently nudged me to the side, taking my spot by the door. “ I’ll give you a ride home.”
I could feel my eyes nearly bug out of my head; I also realized the entire diner was watching us. My awkward disposition returned as I took a step back.
“I can’t get in a car with–”
“Jesus, I’m not going to kidnap you, Katie. I’m taking you straight home,” he laughed, cutting me off, “Do I look like someone who kidnaps little girls?”
Did he just call me a little girl?My face flamed crimson. Seriously, the guy was a bit of a jerk.
“Stay here; I’ll have the car pulled around.”
Before I could object again, he was out the door. Keeping my back to the diner patrons, I watched the rain swallow him whole.
What was one car ride going to hurt?
Chapter Seven
Mason came back for me, armed with an umbrella.
He guided me from the diner to an all black sedan, pulling the back door open for me. Shooting him a wry smile, I got in the car, sliding across a leather seat. When he slammed the door shut, a lock clicked into place. There was a balding man in the driver’s seat who didn’t react to anything going on around him until Mason got in.
Has he been outside the whole time?
As soon as the other door clicked shut, the driver began making his way down the street. I waited for an anxiety attack or some other emotional meltdown to happen, but nothing drastic occurred.
Mason had resumed typing away on his phone, and I relaxed, but it was short-lived. I figured out pretty quickly we weren’t going towards my house.
Glancing over at Mason, I saw him fiddling with something on the floor.
“What are you doing? Where are we going?”
“I want to get this out of the way, so there’s no confusion later.”
“Get what out of the…” my voice trailed off when I saw a brown cloth in his hand. Countless movies and television shows flashed through my mind.
“Mas–” He covered my mouth and nose before I could finish. Every emotion I’d just been feeling was replaced with panic.
I grabbed at his hands, but he was much stronger than me, and there was only so much room to maneuver around in. My back hit the seat as I jerked backward. Mason leaned over me, keeping the rag clamped down on my face.
“Just go to sleep. You’ll be home soon.”
Struggling was fruitless, and my attempts at holding my breath failed miserably. I had no other choice but to inhale the pungent, sweet aroma. Within seconds, my extremities began to go numb. My vision and hearing went out together. The last thing I heard him say was that he wasn’t sorry.
Chapter Eight
Acquisition is the act of acquiring or gaining possession of something, and that’s exactly what I had just done. Gained possession of someone.
Sweet, little Katie. We were finally together again.
I gently stroked a thumb over her cheek, watching the rise and fall of her chest, cradling her head in my lap. All the photos I’d seen in the past three years didn’t do her an ounce of justice.
